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Restored nuclear bunker goes under hammer

SDL Property Auctions The black-painted concrete entrance to the bunker stands on a grass mound, with wooden edging on the side and a fence around the perimeter.SDL Property Auctions
The nuclear bunker in Pontefract was designed to accommodate three people in the event of an attack

A 1950s nuclear bunker designed to accommodate three people will go under the hammer later this month.

The Royal Observer Corp (ROC) bunker on New Road in Badsworth, Pontefract, is one of more than 1,500 monitoring posts built to protect volunteers who would measure blast waves and radioactive fallout in the event of an attack.

The bunker, which has been restored to its original condition by the current owner, would have contained enough food and water for 14 days, with land line and radio communication facilities.

The bunker will be offered by SDL Property Auctions on 21 November, with a guide price of £15,000 to £20,000.

SDL Property Auctions The interior of the bunker, with a desk, shelving and strip light.SDL Property Auctions
The bunker would have had enough food and water to last 14 days, as well as communication facilities

The bunker has direct road access with a fence, gate and its own land, and once featured on Channel 4 property show George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.

Andrew Parker, auctioneer and partner at SDL Property Auctions, said: “There are only a handful of ROC nuclear bunkers left in the country so to have this lot for sale in our auction is quite unusual.

"This is only the fourth time we have had a bunker for sale, and the previous three that we have sold generated a lot of interest, and we’re confident this lot will do the same.

“Some of the interested parties are simply curious to see what the inside of a nuclear bunker looks like, however, many are genuinely considering purchasing to secure their own piece of history.”

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