A once-secret Cold War nuclear bunker buried beneath St Boniface Down in Ventnor has been explored on camera for the first time in 12 years, revealing the deteriorating condition of the important historic site.
The R1 ROTOR bunker was built in the 1950s and housed up to 200 radar operators and other staff at the peak of the Cold War. The site was eventually leased to the Isle of Wight Council who used the site as an emergency operations centre, but this was wound up in the early 1990s.
St Boniface Down is now home to important radio telecommunications for the Civil Aviation Authority and NATS and it is NATS who have ownership of the bunker. Sadly, the decision was made to seal the entrances once the Council had moved out and it has been left in an abandoned state ever since.
In 2008, a number of local explorers managed to gain entrance to the underground bunker through an emergency exit. Shortly after the visit, the entrance was filled in with rubble and then concrete capped. That was the last time anyone had stepped foot inside the bunker.
Now, a video produced by urban explorers Abandoned Isle of Wight has allowed a greater insight into the layout and condition of the underground building. The video was filmed in 2016/2017 – some 8 years after the last visit – but has only just been published. Unfortunately, there has been noticeable deterioration to the flooring and the lower level pit has flooded even further.
Island Echo previously made contact with NATS to explore the opportunity of a caretaker group gaining controlled access to the bunker to prevent it from deteriorating further. However, NATS expressed that the area (above ground) is an important operational site and therefore no access will be permitted, not even to pump out floodwater to prolong the life of the bunker.
Do you think such a historically important site should be preserved? Join in the discussion below…
All such building should be protected, especially if volunteer groups can do the work for free, or as cheaply as possible.
As we now see with CV, any Nuclear attack would have left us living a very different life, but imo, with the type of people the UK now have, the living would have very soon envied the dead, as gangs, well versed into using violence, knives, guns and cruelty would have controlled our land very quickly making survival a terrible ordeal.
We can only hope that seeing a world pandemic will shock countries leaders into seeing a little of the reality of what a global disaster really means, and the normal ones would not wish for such.
Sadly as we see with extremists now in our midst, those sort, if leaders, are quite prepared to die themselves for their twisted thinking, so the risk of world obliteration has hardly receded by much.
Would suggest they change the bedding just in case, but as it is flooded now, doesn’t bode well as Nuclear rainfall would fill the place causing cancers, and bits to drop off the body if locked in underground for any length of time should some oddball launch a strike.
I guess most builders would just blob a bit of silicone in the leaking gaps, charge a couple of grand and be gone nowadays.
Bedding it should be opened up and taken care off
Jay, any nuclear attack would have left us living very different lives…your words.
Did you actually believe the protect and survive propaganda? Because “living” would not happen afterwards. M.A.D was the acronym, mutually assured destruction.Happy days.
Wow what a great video! They Island has such a huge amount of history, it’s a shame that it isn’t on public display.
If you could get funding for this to be brought back up to a good condition and information buildings on the site. I feel this would be a valued historical site. The island itself has so much history that it would be a vita site to bring back….
How very interesting
What a fantastic project this could be in the right hands. Something useful for people to get to grips with. What we need now is a leader with a ‘can do’ attitude to come forward. It is part of history and must be preserved.
I don’t understand how the fact that the CAA site is active precludes any possibility of even minimal agreed stabilisation works such as pumping taking place.
I also don’t see what is to be gained by preventing such works – The existence and purpose of both the bunker and CAA station are in the public domain.
Their relay station won’t be much use if flooding in the bunker leads to subsidence and the whole thing disappears into a big hole in the ground.
Very interesting great narrating on this subject glad you could film it as this is our islands History and would be fabulous if someone could save it for future generations.
I went to visit it in the mid 1980’s with a couple friends as it was open for public viewing for a day. We actually arrived a day late but were told as we were the only takers they would show us around. Very interesting as it was still fitted out an emergency bunker with all the emergency services having specific locations and tasks. It was an Army Colonel that took us on the tour saying in the event of a nuclear strike he would let in as many people as could fit. Shame to see it in such a sad state.
An excellent documentary ….. my father was the chief civil engineer in charge of the Ventnor nuclear bunker building project 1951/52 for MOD…..(just wish that he was around to have enjoyed viewing this splendid film)… He stayed at my mother’s hotel (Windsor House opp British Legion) for the duration (and I was the result)… He enjoyed giving talks about the project during retirement years detailing the Irish work force , the tons of and type of concrete used and thickness of the walls and foundations… The logistics of getting the ballast and cement from the mainlandand getting up the downs was another nightmare… I agree that this construction should be preserved.
Wow, great video, an important and interesting piece of local history that I was not aware of, shame it’s just being left to rot.
So ‘breaking and entering’ doesn’t apply.
Brilliant video, thank you for showing us this.
Wish it could be open to the public, but with the ‘claims culture’ we have today, can’t see it ever happening, so, as we do, we have to witness everything on a screen, missing out on atmosphere, feelings and reality.
Great to see what we did though.
The island echo really shouldn’t be promoting a YouTuber (urban explorers Abandoned Isle of Wight ) that breaks into peoples building! Then refuses to stop breaking into a certain owners building because it’s entertaining to its followers
Maybe if they got funding and made a tv programme for Discovery Channel just like the ones that raid Myan temples and the Egyptian pyramids or the concentration camps it would be acceptable
Those places aren’t used anymore this is and has air traffic control computers etc within the adjacent building in the secure grounds. Never get permission in these times because of national and international security.
Not very secret now
Perimeter fence and Whole area sealed impossible to get to now. Site is on working CAA land and monitored.
This building is sealed for a reason. It’s is unsafe. Don’t they realise it is a stupid and dangerous thing to do? The floors aren’t stable it’s flooded and have they even considered the asbestos everywhere? I agree it would be lovely to have it restored and open to view but let’s get real, who would stump up the thousands of pounds it would cost plus the fact it is right next to a working busy radar station that affects worldwide air traffic and within a site that needs special security clearance to enter.
These people have got into this site and building illegally with no thought for what would happen if they’d been injured. The perimeter fence is all secure and monitored now . It’s a shame but that’s the reality.
Great in site to a piece of island history.
Just be aware mate there is bound to be asbestos in there.
Yes there is lots of it
Yes Yes Yes . History should be preserved and I believe this bunker could not only educate the public but turn a decent profit and draw tourists to the Isle of Wight
Very sad to see the state of this bunker. Pretty sure that where these have been rescued and restored the effort has proved worthwhile. Annoying to see public interest discouraged in what is clearly a valuable historic site.
The island needs to work hard on its visitor attractions…this could easily be one.
Super narration and content.
There’s simular nuclear bunker in Essex Kevelden hatch near Brentwood. They’ve kept it as a tourist attraction.
what a really interesting video
CAA actually now NATS Just being awkward, not my problem attitude ,the entrance is on edge of site away from operational buildings, the boundary could be easily altered So bunker entrance outside perimeter.
Would make a great cold war and ww2 museum especially as ventnor could do with some life injected into it and getting its trains back !!