Drakelow Tunnels Worcestershire Camera Club May 2016
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Header: Les Bailey
Cover Tessa Mills FRPS
A group of WCC members and friends took a photo tour of the intriguing Drakelow Tunnels, near Kidderminster. This site is a former Top Secret underground military complex near Kidderminster, built between 1941-1942 as a “Shadow Factory� for the Rover car company. Parts for aircraft engines were machined in more than three miles of tunnels throughout World War II. After the war, the tunnels were used to produce parts for tank engines. In 1958 the tunnels were handed over to the Ministry of Supply, and later the Ministry of Works. In 1961 the British Government converted half of the tunnels into a top secret facility, Regional Seat of Goverment 9. Drakelow, along with 12 other facilities scattered across the UK, formed a national network of highly classified nuclear bunkers that the British Goverment would use as their base in the event of nuclear war. In 1980, Drakelow was re-designated: Regional Government Headquarters 9.2. The tunnels were also upgraded to bring the complex up to full nuclear bunker status. Throughout the 1980s Drakelow operated under complete secrecy until the end of the Cold War in 1990. In 1993, it was deemed surplus to requirements, and the entire complex was decommissioned and sold. The Drakelow Tunnels Preservation Trust has been restoring the entire complex to its original condition, aiming to become the largest Cold War Museum in the UK. It also the largest underground space in the UK open to the general public. See http://www.drakelow-tunnels.co.uk/ for more details. Enjoy a small selection of the pictures from the visit...
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Eric Williams CPAGB
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When coffee cost 6d 4
Non-computer keyboard
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The Gatekeeper’s chair
Kitchen vents
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The oven switch 8
It’ll need more than a Brillo pad!
Stop tap 9
The Lost Photographer
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Prototype Internet 11
Done lathing 12
Proper plumbing 13
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26A Progress
Paul Dewdney
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Henry Tomsett
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Judy Knights
DPAGB
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LRPS
A body, perhaps? 33
All mod cons 34
Floor growth 35
In the kitchen 36
Music while you work
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In the red zone
Photographers at work
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The chair 40
Cold war technology 1
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Cold war technology 2
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Tessa Mills FRPS
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Harry Wilkie
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Sabre 1
Sabre 2
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Sabre 3
Sabre 4
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Sabre 5
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62 Showers
Wall
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Tunnel
Mixer
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Les Bailey
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Hedgehog brush
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Who’s been sitting in my chair?
Door latch
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Wired for sound
Face in the lid
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Graffiti
Bad hair day
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Gruesome 1
Gruesome 2
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Mist
Door
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Molotov
Naughty Forties graffiti
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Duncan Locke
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Stewart Bourne ARPS
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a sense of place
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a sense of place 2
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don’t ask
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clock 95
communications 96
infestation
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nest
taps
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will you not stay?
volunteer
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pilgrims
Ruth Bourne LRPS
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Photographers Les Bailey Ruth Bourne Stewart Bourne Paul Dewdney Judy Knights Duncan Locke Tessa Mills Henry Tomsett Harry Wilkie Eric Williams
Compiled by Ruth Bourne WCC 2016