A rare Cold War bunker designed to shelter three people from nuclear fallout has been listed for sale at £24,000. The Royal Observer Corps underground post sits beside an unnamed minor road in the Aberdeenshire countryside near Alford.
Built in 1962 to monitor nuclear fallout
Constructed in 1962, the bunker was intended to monitor fallout from any nuclear attack and accommodate three people for up to two weeks. It contains an underground monitoring room and a chemical toilet, and remained in service until 1991, when it was closed, secured and padlocked.
The listing describes the bunker as an extremely rare find that remains “very neat and tidy” with many original items inside. These include a WB1401 carrier receiver and WB1410 filter unit – Cold War communication equipment used in the UK's national nuclear attack warning system, known as Handel.
Original items and historical artefacts
Other surviving items include a tool board, wall-mounted shelf, mirror, visitors log, papers, ROC magazines, fire blanket, dustpan, original canvas folding chair, kettle, saucepan, washing bowl, pickaxe and a newspaper cutting about the post. Some items have been donated to Alford Heritage Centre, which has an ROC Room containing artefacts from other local posts and Aberdeen Group HQ.
Written on the bunker wall is “Stand Down - Best Post 29 Group”, marking the official stand-down order given to the Royal Observer Corps in September 1991. A wooden sign also reads “47 Post Alford”.
Never used for its nuclear role
The auction listing says the bunker was never required to fulfil its nuclear war role and is being sold on a freehold basis after the British government cancelled plans for an upgrade as international relations changed. It remains secured by a padlock, with surface features intact, although some of the khaki paint is flaking.
The listing describes Alford as a Donside village with local shops, public transport and primary and secondary schools, with access to Aberdeen and the surrounding countryside. It notes the Lecht Ski Centre and School is around a 30-minute drive away.
The bunker is being listed by Glasgow-based Future Property Auctions with a guide price of £24,000. Bidding will take place via an online auction on Thursday, October 8.
