This museum is now closed, and its future has not been publicly anounced at time of writing. I suspect it will be back in some form, probably with even more show biz razamataz! This bunker began life as an Anti Aircraft Operations Room, built in 1951 and operated until 1955. From 1964 until 1993 this was Essex County Councils war headquarters. There was going to be a number of sites, but in the end this one was to take full responsibility. From 1996 to December 2002 this museum was open to the public. There are many types of museum and this was set up by the team that opened the first "Secret Bunker" type museums. If I don't sound too enthusiastic, thats just my taste. I prefer something more original, but then again that is perhaps too subtle to attract customers. However, lets have a look round. The bunker is on two levels, one above one below ground. The main well spans the two levels, and there are rooms off the ring corridor round each.

This shows the comms mast and the bunker.


The entrance proclaims the imminent closure and gives a taste of the carnival atmosphere to come.


Compare this clean and shiny corridor and display with some places, like Paddock!


Some of the rooms, filled with equipment, much collected by the lorry full from elsewhere, all together just "too tidy".








The central well seen from various angles. There were painfully noisy film shows going on all the time in here.