Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery within the historic grounds of Scarborough Castle, they have found a Cold War nuclear bunker that had been hidden from view for nearly 50 years, beneath the historic grounds of Scarborough Castle.
This military bunker was built as part of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) monitoring system in 1963 to detect and report nuclear detonations during an intense period of international conflict. The bunker was one of over 1,500 locations across the United Kingdom, and its precise location was lost when it was sealed in 1968, after being in operation for about 5 years. The location of the bunker was determined following an extensive examination of historical records, together with modern methods such as ground penetrating radar, and is now available for public viewing, providing a unique perspective on how the UK prepared for a potential nuclear attack.
A bunker of cold war time found hidden beneath Scarborough Castle
According to English Heritage, the bunker’s design accommodated three ROC volunteers, who were tasked with monitoring nuclear detonations and tracking radioactive fallout, particularly from nuclear detonations occurring over the North Sea, due to the potential for tidal surges caused by such detonations. The site is a large concrete building, largely made of reinforced bricks and designed to withstand the effects of a nuclear blast, although it also lacked any type of heating to provide comfort to those who served there.
Scarborough’s military history through the ages
For thousands of years, Scarborough Castle’s high point has been used as a significant lookout point. Bronze Age settlements on this high point; the Romans built signal stations to use the high point from which to signal nearby settlements and fortify those settlements in the Middle Ages. By the twentieth century, this strategic point in relation to national defence was still being used with the installation of a concrete bunker by 1963.
According to English Heritage, even though the bunker is flooded nearly to the ceiling, the variable water level within the bunker has kept other internal structures in very good condition, such as the wooden door, which has remained solid and appeared to have a fresh coat of paint.
The evolution of the ROC from aircraft spotting to nuclear surveillance
The Royal Observer Corps (ROC) was a civilian defence organisation that had a huge impact on British military history. Initially formed to spot aircraft during both World Wars, the organisation adapted to monitor for nuclear threats through the Cold War era. Volunteers at the Scarborough site, as part of the UK Warning and Monitoring Organisation, used their instruments to plot the ground zero and determine radiation levels.
The discovery of this site is part of a much larger project celebrating the Royal Observer Corps centenary, and to highlight a part of national service that has had little recognition for the service and sacrifice of its members.
