The Royal Observer Corps Post at Gilbertfield was built in the 1960's as part of a network of sites across the country designed to report and monitor on the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the United Kingdom.
At it's height, there were 1563 underground monitoring posts across the UK, situated approximately 8 miles apart. The posts were excavated to a depth of approximately 25 feet, before a reinforced concerete building was cast, bitumen taked and then covered by a soil mound. Entry was by way of a ladder in a vertical shaft from the surface which led to a single room, providing acommodation for three observers to live and work, with a seperate compartment for a chemical toilet.
Air was circulated from ventilation stacks at each end of the post. Electricity was provided by way of a 12 volt battery, charged when needed by a petrol electric charging set. Instumentation inside the post would allow observers to monitor peak overpressure from a nuclear burst, the burst location and size and radiation levels around the post
The ROC was stood down in September 1991.
The Post at Gilbertfield has been undergoing restoration to bring it back to how it would have been in the early 1990's.
The cache is a 35mm film canister marked with a Geocaching logo. Please be wary of muggles and the jaggies when replacing!
Please note that the bunker is empty and securely locked when not manned.
