After the second world war ended, and people all over the world celebrated, it was not long before a new world threat came about – with even more catastrophic consequences than the world had ever seen before. The Cold War pitted the USA and the UK against Russia, with tension a divided Germany growing, at points it seemed inevitable that the world would end with both sides destroying each other with nuclear weapons. Of course, this led to bomb shelters being made all over the world, to protect people from the results of a nuclear explosion.
Protect and Survive booklets were issued by the British government during the 80’s to encourage the general public to prepare themselves for the worst, and instructions for how to build a bomb shelter and what they needed to stock it with for survival. Local councils had their own underground shelters to ensure the survival of local government. They were terrifying times to live in, as the world sat on tenterhooks whilst the two sides squared up to one-another.
The largest bunker in the UK is situated near Corsham, and was designed to host top military officials and even the Royal family, some say that it even has a Royal suite! Nowadays, it is believed to serve as a large storeroom!
If you want to see and experience how it was to live through these times, and see an underground shelter as it would have been during the cold war, visit Hack Green Secret Nuclear bunker. It is a great family day out, and is fascinating to see the bunker set out as it would have been in preparation for attack. The bunker is near to Chester, Chester taxi company www.chestertaxiservice.co.uk can get you there if you are staying in the local area.
The bunker features some real (decommissioned – don’t worry they won’t go off!) nuclear warheads, a bomb shelter experience (not for the faint-hearted!) and a fascinating selection of artefacts used by local governments during the Cold War.
Many of these bunkers still remain abandoned in the UK countryside, their original use forgotten. A few have been converted into stores but most of them lay underground, a reminder of a war that, thankfully, never caused these bunkers to be used.