Anyone been down the green mile? please log in to view this image I've never heard of this place, apparently there's a 35,000 sq ft nuclear bunker built 100 ft underground at RAF Holmpton. Built in 1953 as a radar station, it was used for various different military activities until it was opened to the public in 2004. It's just been renovated and from this summer you can go and view the main bunker for the first time, there are also various presentations, demonstrations and exhibits. This is a public information post, brought to you by the East Riding Tunnel Association...
Try this one, too. It's at Bempton, on the right as you walk past the RSPB centre towards the cliffs/sea: http://www.hackhull.com/ontour/bempton/bempton-underground.html
Great find. I went to Fort Paull the other day - huge potential, but needs a good chunk of money spending on it to bring it back up to scratch, but could be a major visitor attraction as an addition to Hull's tourism offering. You've then got the remains of the old World Wars gunning stations at Stone Creek and Sunk Island, along with this tunnel at RAF Holmpton - that's 4 military attractions within short distance of each other, yet no joined up thinking or effort to publicise them together. ...According to Fort Paull, there is a tunnel that runs underneath Bridlington too. From the sea front somewhere - it says it is still there today. It was used by Queen Maria Henrietta - Charles I's wife, as she was chased by Parliamentarians who found out she was in the area.
I've done the Holmpton one. Worth a look if you're in the area. They had to make an additional exit to comply with H&S, which tickled me given its purpose. They went into detail about how they could survuve under there in the event of nuclear attack, ready to surface when it was clear. But it left me wondering what they'd be coming out to. I think I'd rather get smudged in the first bit.
Yes i've been there, the tour is fantastic. Well worth a visit. The video they show of a dramatised nuclear attack on London/ South East is quite graphic, but it's certainly an eye opener of how quick they had to respond to potential threats from the East.
When the other tunnels were mentioned (Ferensway/Station Hotel) and it was said they can't be explored because they're unsafe, it did make me wonder how secure the buildings above could be.
The channel tunnel is still the most impressive But just a shame it links us with France. Thought that the Green Mile was a film starring Tom Hanks ?
http://www.rafholmpton.co.uk/15.html Brilliant place to visit. The tour is fascinating, and quite unsettling when the sirens go off to simulate a nuclear attack. They didnt realise at the time, but there were 2 nuclear warheads aimed at the bunker. Odd that the Russians knew it was there but the locals didn't! Costs about 7 or 8 pound for an adult to get in.
I spent about 3 months down RAF Holmpton installing a telephone system back in the 80's. We used to travel down the sloping tunnel on a hand cart with all our gear. At the bottom there is a bend and a big pair of steel doors which we hit at about 30 MPH and nearly broke our necks. We used to kip in the sleeping quarters after a dinnertime session in the George and Dragon in Holmpton village. I was once on the bog down below when my mate turned all the lights off, I couldn't even find my arse it was that dark. ****ing spooky when your down there on your own and you can hear the sheep on the surface through the airconditioning shafts.We had access to all the Op's rooms and equipment areas. The room with the massive water tank is the worst because of the accoustics and the fact that it reminded me of a horror film I'd seen and I always thought i was being watched.(Fanny). I liked the public information leaflets that told you to remove all your house doors and paint them white in the event of a nuclear attack. Apparently you where supposed to lean them against a wall and hide behind them. Also you where advised to wrap any dead bodies in polythene for collection later. Like someone said I 'd have rather tried to head the bomb then survive a nuclear attack.
What's it like? Is there any tunnels? Always wondered lived skirlaugh pretty much all my life and only just found out that the bunker is real not just village myth.
On holmpton beach just outside patrington there's a very large bunker that looks like parts are blocked up I'd love to know the history! Really scared me as a child :mad