Monument record TQ 53 NE 470 - The War Room at Tunbridge Wells

Summary

The War Room at Tunbridge Wells was constructed during the early 1950s to provide a safe seat of government in the event of nuclear war. By the late 1950s it had become redundant for this purpose with the advancement in nuclear technology. It was later re-used as a police communications centre, the home to the first Police National Computer. However, in later years it was used as a document store. The bunker was demolished during September and October 1997 and the site is now occupied by new Land Registry Buildings.

Location

Grid reference TQ 5960 3883 (point)
Map sheet TQ53NE
County KENT
District TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT
Civil Parish ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

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Full Description

TQ 5955 3880. The War Room was a heavily protected, reinforced concrete double-storey, surface bunker. It was constructed about 1953 for the Regional Commissioner of Home Defence Region 12 to provide protection against the effects of atomic weapons. This role was, however, short-lived and with the advent of the H-bomb the War
Room became redundant in its original role. It was, nevertheless, reactivated in the 1960s as a Sub-Regional Control - a role it fulfilled until 1972. Subsequently it was used as a police communications centre.

At the time of the RCHME investigation, in September 1997, the War Room was being demolished. A photographic record was made of the exterior of the War Room and a written report has been produced. (1-1a)


<1> Duncan Campbell, 1983, War Plan U.K. (Monograph). SKE58547.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Monograph: Duncan Campbell. 1983. War Plan U.K..

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  • None recorded

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Record last edited

Aug 18 2025 11:45AM