Tuesday 12 August 2008

Hack Green Nuclear Bunker

Still moored at Coole Pilate.

Rather than move the boat about a mile we walked the towpath up to bridge 85 which is less than 1/4 mile from Britain's best kept secret during the Cold War. The Hack Green Nuclear Bunker was built to accommodate the Government and its various departments so that they could carry on with the business of running the country in the case of a nuclear attack from Russia.

Since being de-commissioned the bunker has been taken over by private enterprise and set up as a museum of the Cold War era which in actual fact is just as relevant today with so many country's insisting on their right to own nuclear arm's.

The bunker had its own power generators and air filtration plants so that up to 40 people could live down in the bunker for several month's or until it was safe to emerge back out into the open air. It was fully self contained with a hospital, BBC TV station, radio and telephone systems and sufficient food and water for a long enforced stay.

The displays are from both Britain and Russia ranging from uniforms, protective clothing and equipment to many audio visual display's one of which is a 45 minute film simulation of a nuclear attack and its effects. Let's hope that it never happen's again, Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Chernobyl should be reminder enough of what nuclear weapons can do to mankind.

No comments: