The blockhouse was
built for use as the fighter sector operations block, it is shaped as
an “L” and painted light green. In 1986 the blockhouse was partially
rebuilt and converted into the Epping Forest District Council
Emergency Centre.
A blast wall and
blast door protects the main entrance to the blockhouse, the door is
made of steel and concrete. Through this entrance is a lobby area, on
either side of the room are doors leading to filter rooms. Straight
ahead is an airlock with two gastight doors, through here is a
corridor to the left, it has a door on the right that leads to two
small rooms. Inside these are remains of telephone equipment used by
previous owners Raynet. At the end of this corridor you can find the
ventilation plant room with everything still in place.
Also found in the
lobby area is a door into the main operations room. This room is two
tiered and you enter onto the higher level. There are steps down to
the lower level where wooden tables can be found. The upper level
has three offices each with a window looking out to the operations
room. There is a hand pump at the far end possibly for the
ventilation and next to this is another door. This door leads to the
canteen, which has a small corridor leading to more rooms. One room
is the kitchen still with appliances in place, another door leads to
the male and female toilets and the last one leads to a small room
that holds the ECN unit. A door from this last room leads to a shower
cubical with steps leading up to it and another door. Through this
door is a short corridor that leads to the standby generator room and
the electrical switchgear room. There is another door that leads to
the emergency exit that is protected by a blast door.
The internal
gastight doors are painted bright yellow, this is the same as the
blast doors, unfortunately there has been a fire within the blockhouse
that has caused smoke damage inside.
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