Record Details

NHER Number:36959
Type of record:Monument
Name:Cold War nuclear bunker

Summary

The nuclear bunker here was built during the early 1980s by a private individual. It was constructed following guidelines issued by the government and has concrete walls and a steel, concrete, polythene and bitumen roof. It retains its original internal features and fittings, including a spa bath. This site is recorded to have been constructed on the site of an earlier World War Two site.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TG 1742 1386
Map Sheet:TG11SE
Parish:TAVERHAM, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

The probable World War Two underground structure previously recorded under this number is now recorded under NHER 61121.

Garden of 'Wildwood', 73a Fakenham Road.
Formerly part of NHER 7850.
Early 1980s private nuclear bunker.
See papers in file.
D. Gurney (NLA) 21 February 2002.

Walls of concrete blocks with reinforcing rods. Roof of steel mesh, steel girders, rods, concrete, polythene and bitumen.
Measures about 9m by 3m, covered with about 2.4m of soil.
Retains original features and fittings, including spa bath.
Built following guidelines issued by the government in 1970s/early 1980s.
See (S1) and (S2).
D. Robertson (NLA) 7 November 2005.

November 2009.
Grid reference corrected to TG 1742 1387. Was TG 1745 1367.
D. Gurney (NLA), 26 November 2009.

26 November 2009.
Designation proposal submitted to English Heritage.
D. Gurney (NLA), 7 December 2009.

The central grid reference for this site has been altered from TG 17427 13879 to TG 1744 1389.

November 2010. Listing decision.
The bunker was not considered for listed building status as it was less than 30 years old and was not under threat as it has been carefully maintained by the current owner. It was deemed to be of local interest and as such could be included on a local list.
See (S3).
S. Howard (HES), 25 October 2011.

February 2014. Resubmitted for designation.
D. Gurney (HES), 17 February 2014.

2 May 2014. Designation visit by English Heritage.
Position of bunker plotted more accurately. Previously centered at TG 1742 1387, now centered TG 1742 1386.
D. Gurney (HES), 6 May 2014.

Monument Types

  • NUCLEAR BUNKER (Cold War - 1945 AD to 1992 AD)

Associated Finds - none

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. The Cold War's own cosy corner. 21 January.
<S2>Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2002. Bid to list 80s nuclear bunker as monument. 14 March.
<S3>Designation: Roberts, G. (EH). 2010. Nuclear bunker, Taverham, Broadland, Norfolk.. 170000.

Related records - none

Find out more...

Norfolk County Council logo Heritage Lottery Fund logo

Powered by HBSMR-web and the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd, and mojoPortal CMS
© 2007 - 2024 Norfolk Historic Environment Service