Top Secret Bunker Commended for Spilling the Beans - 11 December 2006

Issued By: English Heritage

Issue Date: 11 December 2006

News Release

The re-telling of Britain's chilling Cold War past has earned York's nuclear bunker a glowing accolade.

The once top secret facility in Acomb, now managed by English Heritage and which opened to the public in May, has won a prestigious commendation in the Interpret Britain and Ireland Awards.

Judges praised English Heritage for "bravely attempting to tackle this raw and emotionally powerful subject," adding that "everyone should go to see the York Cold War bunker and hear the story it has to tell."

Since opening its bomb proof doors following a £200,000 restoration project, thousands of visitors have ventured into the building's depths to gain an insight into Britain's response to rising post war tensions with the Eastern Bloc.

Back then the fear was of "Mutually Assured Destruction" and those disturbing times are tackled head-on using film footage and the testimonies of men and women from the Royal Observer Corp who were stationed here, along with carefully conserved rooms, fittings and machinery.

Martin Allfrey, English Heritage Head Curator, said:

"The commendation is major recognition for all our efforts. The Cold War is a difficult period to describe and also a very alarming one. Most visitors are startled that such preparations were being made for Armageddon under their very noses. Our approach has been to use highly trained guides to lead people through the bunker and to retain the evocative atmosphere."

Next month the bunker celebrates its 45th anniversary - it was commissioned on the 16 December 1961. The paint had hardly dried before it was put on red alert during the Cuban missile crisis, with staff working around the clock. Had history taken a different course, it would have gathered data from a cluster of sub-bunkers on the location and yield of nuclear detonations and radio activity levels.

The bunker is open weekends during December (except 23rd and 24th). Entry is by pre-booking on 01904 646940, or by emailing yorkbunker@english-heritage.org.uk Tickets can also be obtained in person at Clifford's Tower in York. Admission is £5 adults, £4 concessions and £3 for children. English Heritage members are admitted free. Exclusive specialist tours and education packages are also available.

NOTE TO EDITOR

The York facility was one of only 12 semi-sunken bunkers out of a total of 1,561 Cold War nuclear shelters built in the UK. It was stood-down in 1991 with the signing of a non-aggression treaty between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries.

The Interpret Britain and Ireland Awards scheme is in its 22nd year and run by the Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI), with support from English Heritage, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales. The awards recognise the best examples of interpretation - the art of sharing the stories and significance of natural and cultural heritage. Winners had to score high marks against a range of rigorous criteria including imagination and innovation, good interpretive planning and a clear commitment to accessibility, training and maintenance.

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