The diplomatic brinkmanship between Russia and the West over Georgia has brought back memories of the dark days of the Cold War. But the return of tension and recent defence budget cuts has raised disturbing questions over the preparedness of Britain's civil defence system, which was all but scrapped after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The most ambitious element of Britain's civil defence plan was a 35 acre subterranean Cold War City, surrounded by 100ft-deep reinforced concrete walls within a subterranean 240-acre limestone quarry, almost one mile in length it was blast-proof and boasts over 60 miles of roads, set in a New York grid system of streets and avenues.
A former Bath stone quarry, the city, code named Burlington, was to be the site of the main Emergency Government War Headquarters - the hub of the Country's alternative seat of power outside London. Completely self-sufficient the secret underground site could accommodate up to 6,000 people, in complete isolation from the outside world, for a period of up to three months. Rumoured that the Prime Minister (Harold MacMillan), the Cabinet, Royal Family, Crown Jewels and National Treasures be given refuge here, it was the most secure government area of its time, containing an underground lake and treatment plant, endless kitchens, store rooms, hospital, offices, briefing rooms and a fully functional underground train station. The city was also equipped with the second largest telephone exchange in Britain along with a BBC radio studio where the PM would address the nation.
Until a few years ago, the existence of this complex, was classified, mystery and conspiracy has surrounded Burlington for decades, many believing it to be Britain’s version of Area 51. It remained ready for emergency use by military high command and the Prime Minister until Margaret Thatcher refused the £40million cost of upgrading its 1960s furniture and museum-piece equipment. Burlington was decommissioned in 1992 and later declassified, its top-secret status was only revealed to the public on the day of the Thailand tsunami. Again it fell out of reach from the public’s glare. All images used with the kind permission from the Ministry of Defence.
Biorgaphy: Studied MA Photography at LCC University of the Arts London 2006, BA (hons) Photography at the University of Plymouth 1996. I am a Senior Lecturer in Photography at The Arts University College at Bournemouth and a member of the practice led research collective Land2 (coordinated via Dr Biggs for the University of the West of England) I have exhibited nationally since the mid 1990's at various galleries.
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