Royal Observer Corps monitoring posts are underground structures all over the United Kingdom, constructed as a result of the Royal Observer Corps' nuclear reporting role and operated by volunteers during the Cold War between 1955 and 1991.
The site of the ROC post near Streatley, Berks.The site of the ROC post near Ruskington, Lincs.
In all but a very few instances, the posts were built to a standard design consisting of a 14 foot (4.3 m)-deep access shaft, a toilet/store and a monitoring room. The most unusual post was the non-standard one constructed in a cellar within Windsor Castle.
Almost half of the total number of posts were closed in 1968 during a reorganization and major contraction of the ROC. Several others closed over the next 40 years as a result of structural difficulties, e.g. persistent flooding, or regular vandalism. The remainder of the posts were closed in 1991 when the majority of the ROC was stood down following the break-up of the Communist Bloc. Many have been demolished or adapted to other uses, but the majority still exist, although in a derelict condition.
The first prototype post was built at Farnham, Surrey, in 1956 and on 29/30 September of that year a trial was conducted to ascertain the usefulness of the underground posts. Of the two crews of four personnel engaged in staffing the post during this trial, the second group of four, two ROC and two Home Office Scientific Advisory Branch, were sealed inside with rations bedding and barracks equipment. With a few minor changes, mainly to the hatch and air ventilation louvers, the posts were built as per the prototype.[1] The protection provided by the concrete roof and compacted earth mounded above the post was estimated to reduce any external nuclear radiation by a factor of 1,500:1.
Construction of the original 1,563 posts was overseen by the Air Ministry Works Department and the ROC and undertaken by local contractors. Once a site was chosen (usually the site of an aircraft observation post), a hole approximately 9 feet deep was excavated. Within this hole, a monocoque structure was cast using reinforced concrete with a floor about twelve inches thick, walls about seven inches thick and a roof about eight inches thick. The whole structure was then bitumen 'tanked' for waterproofing purposes. Soil was compacted over the structure to form a mound leaving the access shaft, doubling as an airshaft, protruding above ground. At the opposite end of the building, a further air shaft was formed. Two metal pipes, one 5 inches in diameter and one 1 inch in diameter, protruded from the roof and above the four-foot mound to be used with operational instruments. The air vents were covered by downward-sloping louvers above ground and sliding metal shutters below ground to control air flow during contamination by radioactive fallout.
The Home Office wanted 100 posts built in the first year (1957) and 250 a year thereafter. By mid-1958, only 94 posts had been handed over to the ROC with 110 under construction. The cost of building the underground posts was approximately £1000, but rose to nearer £8000 in some instances.[1]
Restorationsedit
Above ground view of a monitoring post; Skelmorlie ROC post has been restored
Today, most posts lie derelict and abandoned. Approximately half of the posts built have been demolished, either on stand down by the ROC or by private owners in subsequent years. One post, in York, has been incorporated into a house and forms a handy cellar.[2]
A small number of posts have been purchased or leased and restored to show how they were used and usually opened as museums with guided tours by prior arrangement, these include; Skelmorlie (Scotland), Veryan (England), Chop Gate & Castleton (England), Rushton Spencer (England), Broadway Tower (England), Portadown (Northern Ireland), Cuckfield (England), Kettering (England), Arbroath (Scotland), Abernyte (Scotland), Threlkeld (England). [2] Several more are planned or are under development.
To date, only two former Group Control buildings have been restored and opened to the public. One is run by English Heritage the HQ 20 Group York, Shelley House at Acomb, York. The second is the Caledonian Sector Control in Dundee, run by 28 Group SCIO where it is possible to organise private tours. [3]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Observer Corps posts.
Royal Observer Corps Heritage Team
A 3D Simulation of an ROC Post
Portadown ROC Post Museum
November 03, 2023
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Royal Observer Corps monitoring posts are underground structures all over the United Kingdom constructed as a result of the Royal Observer Corps nuclear reporting role and operated by volunteers during the Cold War between 1955 and 1991 The site of the ROC post near Streatley Berks The site of the ROC post near Ruskington Lincs In all but a very few instances the posts were built to a standard design consisting of a 14 foot 4 3 m deep access shaft a toilet store and a monitoring room The most unusual post was the non standard one constructed in a cellar within Windsor Castle Almost half of the total number of posts were closed in 1968 during a reorganization and major contraction of the ROC Several others closed over the next 40 years as a result of structural difficulties e g persistent flooding or regular vandalism The remainder of the posts were closed in 1991 when the majority of the ROC was stood down following the break up of the Communist Bloc Many have been demolished or adapted to other uses but the majority still exist although in a derelict condition Contents 1 Construction 2 Restorations 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksConstruction editThe first prototype post was built at Farnham Surrey in 1956 and on 29 30 September of that year a trial was conducted to ascertain the usefulness of the underground posts Of the two crews of four personnel engaged in staffing the post during this trial the second group of four two ROC and two Home Office Scientific Advisory Branch were sealed inside with rations bedding and barracks equipment With a few minor changes mainly to the hatch and air ventilation louvers the posts were built as per the prototype 1 The protection provided by the concrete roof and compacted earth mounded above the post was estimated to reduce any external nuclear radiation by a factor of 1 500 1 Construction of the original 1 563 posts was overseen by the Air Ministry Works Department and the ROC and undertaken by local contractors Once a site was chosen usually the site of an aircraft observation post a hole approximately 9 feet deep was excavated Within this hole a monocoque structure was cast using reinforced concrete with a floor about twelve inches thick walls about seven inches thick and a roof about eight inches thick The whole structure was then bitumen tanked for waterproofing purposes Soil was compacted over the structure to form a mound leaving the access shaft doubling as an airshaft protruding above ground At the opposite end of the building a further air shaft was formed Two metal pipes one 5 inches in diameter and one 1 inch in diameter protruded from the roof and above the four foot mound to be used with operational instruments The air vents were covered by downward sloping louvers above ground and sliding metal shutters below ground to control air flow during contamination by radioactive fallout The Home Office wanted 100 posts built in the first year 1957 and 250 a year thereafter By mid 1958 only 94 posts had been handed over to the ROC with 110 under construction The cost of building the underground posts was approximately 1000 but rose to nearer 8000 in some instances 1 Restorations edit nbsp Above ground view of a monitoring post Skelmorlie ROC post has been restoredToday most posts lie derelict and abandoned Approximately half of the posts built have been demolished either on stand down by the ROC or by private owners in subsequent years One post in York has been incorporated into a house and forms a handy cellar 2 A small number of posts have been purchased or leased and restored to show how they were used and usually opened as museums with guided tours by prior arrangement these include Skelmorlie Scotland Veryan England Chop Gate amp Castleton England Rushton Spencer England Broadway Tower England Portadown Northern Ireland Cuckfield England Kettering England Arbroath Scotland Abernyte Scotland Threlkeld England 2 Several more are planned or are under development To date only two former Group Control buildings have been restored and opened to the public One is run by English Heritage the HQ 20 Group York Shelley House at Acomb York The second is the Caledonian Sector Control in Dundee run by 28 Group SCIO where it is possible to organise private tours 3 See also editCommandant Royal Observer Corps Aircraft recognition Royal Observer Corps Orlit Post Operational instruments of the Royal Observer Corps AWDREY Bomb Power Indicator Ground Zero Indicator Fixed Survey Meter United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Four minute warning Royal Observer Corps Medal Skywatch march RAF Bentley Priory Aircraft Identity Corps Canada Volunteer Air Observers Corps Australia Ground Observer Corps USA Civil Air Patrol USA List of ROC Group Headquarters and UKWMO Sector controls List of Royal Observer Corps United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Posts A E List of Royal Observer Corps United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Posts F K List of Royal Observer Corps United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Posts L P List of Royal Observer Corps United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Posts Q Z References edit a b Attack Warning Red Derek Wood Macdonald and Jane s 1976 a b Subterranea Britannica ROC Posts page Home 28 Group Observed Retrieved 3 May 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Observer Corps posts Royal Observer Corps Heritage Team A 3D Simulation of an ROC Post Portadown ROC Post Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Royal Observer Corps monitoring post amp oldid 1165001520, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
