Not the most exciting photo I've ever taken, but it does show a fascinating piece of recent history. On a quiet suburban street to the west of York city centre lies a reminder of the Cold War - a Cold War bunker.
York's Cold War bunker was one of 29 similar facilities across the country. They were semi-secret posts whose purpose was to observe and monitor nuclear attack. In a time of attack up to 60 people would have lived in this bunker sealed from the outside environment. They were linked to many hundreds of smaller posts, and information from the smaller posts was collated here and past to government and other authorities. They would monitor the intensity and position of nuclear blasts, and the movement of nuclear fall-out that would follow.
It was built in 1961, of reinforced concrete, and much of it is buried beneath sloping grass banks. It was used for a period of almost 30 years, being decommissioned in 1991.
After a period of disuse it was taken into the care of English Heritage for preservation and is now open to visitors. A tour is a fascinating experience and gives a great insight into the period of the Cold War - but it is a little unnerving to find a period through which I lived is now history!
Nice shot of this bit of history. Reminds me of bunkers in our state of Delaware that faced the ocean. They were used for submarine spotting during WWII.
I didn't know any of these still existed. It was a scary time, when we thought we'd be annihilated at any time - but then subsequently it was said that we were safer then because of the power balance. I'd love to visit this bunker.
Interesting history and a great pic. to it. What have become from all those fear we are inform to those day`s.? Looks to me , one big mislead.
Thank you for the fav. I`m very pleased with it.
Like you say photos are not all about looking pretty and beautiful wild life and people etc photos with history like this one are just as interesting fav
Thank you Molly, it's an amazing place to tour and gives quite a fascinating insight into the Cold War. I'd forgotten the underlying tension in the background of our lives in those days. If you are ever in York we can recommend a visit to this site. Most of the summer it's open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Thank you Ferry - hopefully the world is a safer place now than it was when this place was in use, although the current troubles in Ukraine don't fill me with confidence.
Thank you Steve and Pam, glad you find it interesting. Thank you for the follow, we look forward to seeing more of your photos and hearing your thoughts on ours.
Thank you for the fav. I`m very pleased with it.
Thank you Graham, and thank you for the fav! - more of the bunker to come.
Ian
Thank you Ivan - it was a fascinating place to visit and tour round.
Ian
Thank you Bob - it was a fascinating place to tour, and everything was quite primitive there.
Ian
Thank you Molly, it's an amazing place to tour and gives quite a fascinating insight into the Cold War. I'd forgotten the underlying tension in the background of our lives in those days. If you are ever in York we can recommend a visit to this site. Most of the summer it's open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Ian
Thank you Bruni- much of the technology here was not much more advanced than that available in the Second World War.
Ian
Thank you Ferry - hopefully the world is a safer place now than it was when this place was in use, although the current troubles in Ukraine don't fill me with confidence.
Ian
Thank you Steve and Pam, glad you find it interesting. Thank you for the follow, we look forward to seeing more of your photos and hearing your thoughts on ours.
Ian
Thank you Tony - fascinating that York was on the front line in the cold war! - and this was a really interesting place to tour round.
Ian
Thank you Brian - we did do the tour round it and found it fascinating. Katharine has posted a collage to show it today.
Ian
Thank you Rose - I really enjoyed the tour round it.
Ian
Thank you Pete - it's good to see this has been preserved and it gives a great insight into the Cold War. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit.
Ian
Thank you Therese, glad you like it.
Ian
Thank you Gill - it was amazing to find this in the middle of an area of housing!
Ian