A relic of Britain's Cold War past is teetering on the brink of destruction, with a former nuclear monitoring station on the East Yorkshire coast believed to be just days away from collapsing over a cliff and into the sea.
A Race Against Time on the Eroding Coastline
The brick structure, situated above Tunstall beach between Withernsea and Hornsea, was constructed in 1959 as a lookout station for the Royal Observer Corps (ROC). Originally built approximately 100 yards from the cliff edge, nearly seven decades of relentless coastal erosion have left it perched precariously just 25 feet above the sand and waves below.
Amateur historian Davey Robinson has been documenting the bunker's final chapter, uploading footage to his YouTube channel, Timothy's Travel. Based on his observations of the rapidly deteriorating cliff face, he estimates the building is now 'a few days away' from crumbling into the North Sea.
A Hidden Piece of Cold War History
This hidden structure was a key component of the UK's civil defence network during the Cold War. Commissioned and operated by the ROC, its primary role was nuclear blast detection and radiation monitoring in the event of an attack.
The bunker featured two small underground chambers designed for short-term occupancy, mainly by volunteers. It was decommissioned in the early 1990s following the end of the Cold War. The Ministry of Defence, which originally requisitioned the land, returned it to the private landowner along with all infrastructure, transferring responsibility.
Public Warning and Management Stance
In response to the imminent danger, East Riding Council has issued a stern warning, urging people to avoid the area both at the cliff top and on the beach below. A council spokesperson emphasised the risks, stating: 'Recognising the risk posed by the structure, the council would ask that people avoid the area... due to the risks associated.'
The council confirmed it has no statutory responsibilities for the bunker. The location falls within a Shoreline Management Plan policy unit where the approach is 'no active intervention', meaning the coast is undefended and natural erosion processes are allowed to continue.
This policy reflects a stark reality: East Yorkshire has one of the fastest-eroding coastlines in the United Kingdom. Historical data from the Environment Agency indicates that since Roman times, the land has retreated by an astonishing around 3 miles along this stretch of coast.
The fate of the Tunstall bunker now lies in the hands of the elements, serving as a tangible and dramatic symbol of the powerful natural forces reshaping the British coastline.
