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The
Cold War
The
primary purpose of the Central Government War Headquarters was to
direct the survival and restoration phases following the commencement
of a nuclear attack on the UK. The vast bunker’s role was
not static but adapted to the changing political environment of
the Cold War, and the development of policies in response to the
threat of nuclear attack. From here the Prime Minister and a nucleus
of officials would have made the ultimate decision such as whether
to authorise nuclear retaliation. During the Cuban Missile Crisis,
when the superpowers came closet to nuclear conflict, the facility
stood ready. During the Korean War, the Berlin airlift, and throughout
the Cold War, the Central Government War Headquarters was stocked,
upgraded and improved, ready for the worst.
Completed
in 1961 and fully operational for some 30 years, it had the capability
to survive independently from the outside world for 30 days. The
bunker was designed to accommodate the Prime Minister and a nucleus
of Ministers and Senior Officials as well as 4,000 staff. The striking
feature of the bunker is the immense planning involved in its construction,
illustrating the intensity of the political stand-off at this time.
The facility is also remarkably basic, with none of the comforts
of Whitehall.
Shut
off from the outside world, all welfare facilities had to be contained
below ground including a canteen, a hospital an industrial scale
laundry and bakery. Communication
with the external environment was of paramount importance, and large
areas are dedicated to this including a BBC
studio and telephone exchange.
Vast areas were also dedicated to plant and the storage of necessities
to sustain life. Fortunately, the bunker never came into operation
that has also led to a remarkably high level of survival both of
the structural fabric and historic artefacts.
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