Copyright © undergroundkent.co.uk 2002-2012
CROWBOROUGH - RGHQ 6.1 & ASPIDISTRA
The site of this bunker in Sussex was originally built in the Second World War to house a broadcasting transmitter, which soon became known as Aspidistra. The BBC had partial use of this transmitter during the war for its European Service, which continued after the war for its World Service. When this service finally closed down, the site was obtained by the Home Office who converted the site to a cold war RGHQ, replacing the inadequate Dumpy level beneath Dover Castle.
The Home Office made huge changes to the original Aspidistra site; it was firstly completely gutted, then a new mezzanine floor was added. At the top of the bunker a new wing was added which house the generators, air conditioning plant and other vital machinery as well as the addition of a new entrance. So major were the changes at the wartime Aspidistra building that all that remains of it is the entrance tunnel on what is now level 1.
Crowborough Bunker was closed in 1992, along with all other RGHQs as the Cold War essentially came to an end. Today it is owned by Sussex Police who use the area for training purposes.
On looking at the site, the main visible buildings are four concrete ventilation towers. These are part of the 1984-86 refit when the site replaced Dumpy level at Dover as RGHQ. The main entrance is through a blast door, which leads to a lobby protected by a further three blast doors, the smallest of which is the main entrance to the interior of the bunker. Personnel who had ventured outside of the bunker following a nuclear attack would have gained access back into the bunker via another entrance which took them directly to the decontamination area.
The filtration and ventilation equipment is still present and in good working order. The continued running of this equipment, including the pumps, has ensured that the lower levels have remained dry. The constant presence of Sussex Police and their regular training means that the standby generators are tested regularly and well maintained.
Along the passageway are the canteen and kitchen which would have served the 150 personnel who would have been living here had their been an attack. Beyond this area are the dormitories, and although the beds and cabinets have been removed it is still easy to envisage how little space there would have been for people. The beds were double bunks and each cabinet was actually shared between two people.
The middle level of the bunker was the administrative area, and the lowest level contained governmental areas such as the BBC studio and the Minister’s bedroom.
While the constant presence of the police has given the Cold War bunker a modern and multi purpose use, the remaining Second World War buildings at the Crowborough site are in a very poor state. These include the original 1930’s transmitter house, wooden ancillary buildings and a large generator building.
Location: Crowborough, East Sussex
Condition: Very Good
Date Of Visit: 14/04/11
Plan: N/A
Video: N/A
More Info: Owned by Sussex Police
The power house to the complex.
CROWBOROUGH - RGHQ 6.1 & ASPIDISTRA
The entrance tunnel into WW2 Aspidistra bunker.
The kitchen area.
Inside the ventilation room.
One of the large dormitories, now taken over by Sussex police.
The canteen area.
In the main corridor.
