Panter-Downes: "Strong men who normally wouldn’t touch a piece of candy... now brood over the idea of milk chocolate with morbid passion." https://t.co/98N97X0P2z
New York Times columnist Mollie Panter-Downes reports from London on rationing: "The classic English topic of conversation, the weather, has vanished for the duration- everyone talks about food." Weekly ration for two people: https://t.co/7vzDWlDp16
1000s dead in central Chinese cities- new Japanese policy "Burn to ash strategy", of destroying civilian communities who provide any shelter for Kuomintang or Communist fighters. https://t.co/YEMrMZV2D4
Nazi authorities announce all Jews in German-occupied regions of the USSR must wear a yellow Star of David at all times: https://t.co/hQL12lDGKD
Stalin's orders condemn to death the 100,000s of Red Army troops currently encircled & trapped by Germans: either now in futile combat, or as traitors to the USSR when they surrender. https://t.co/5D02sS2o8O
Germans announce they have captured Stalin's son Yakov fighting in USSR. Nazi propaganda proclaims: "Do not shed your blood for Stalin! If Stalin's son has saved himself, then you are not obliged to sacrifice yourself either." https://t.co/Vb5syTOnSp
Heavy clouds have brought a merciful end to week of heavy Japanese bombing in China- capital city of Chinese Nationalists, Chungking, is in ruins https://t.co/FAjzGO93lq
Japanese government informs German allies that they intend to stick to neutrality pact with the USSR: they will not invade Soviet Union from the east to assist Operation Barbarossa. https://t.co/EB0fWLWUUo
SS guards at Auschwitz chose 10 prisoners to starve in an underground bunker- reprisal for an escape attempt. Hearing one of the condemned, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cry out for his wife & children, Kolbe offered himself in the man's place. https://t.co/SeF7a0ClO6
Polish Catholic Friar Maximilian Kolbe has died in German concentration camp of Auschwitz. Two weeks ago, he volunteered to be starved to death in order to save a stranger's life. https://t.co/RW1OWfhxTS
After a four-day meeting in Newfoundland, Churchill & Roosevelt announce a new "Atlantic Charter"- USA & UK's common principles "on which they base their hopes for a better future for the world": https://t.co/WdvoPZ1tze https://t.co/JqBWg9h1LL
2 Cologne factories now on fire- but bitter toll of 13 Royal Air Force planes lost to flak & fighters. British hope daylight bombing will smash German morale. https://t.co/z9LA963ZIo
Visiting the Bunker
At the moment, there are no visits to the bunker.
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Hello,
I work at St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Kenton (just round the corner from the bunker). This term we are studying World War 2, not being from the area I did a bit of research about the war in the local area. I couldn’t quite believe that there was such a perfect resource so local to the school and couldn’ t think of a more inspirational and engaging way to interest the children in the war.
I wondered if you knew how I might go about arranging a class trip to the bunker? Are you the person I need to speak to?
Kind regards,
Alasdair Bright
I’m sorry to report that there is, unfortunately, no possibility of any visits in the near future.
Thankyou Colin (apologies for not responding sooner as I have only just seen your response.)
I wonder if you could help me attempt to bend a few ears with regards to accessing the bunker by answering a few questions.
Who currently owns/is responsible for the bunker? Is it still Taylor Wimpey Homes? If I pursue this, are you certain that there is no possibility of a visist? Sorry for all the questions but I definitely think this would be worth twisting a few arms for (so to speak!)
Thankyou.
Alasdair Bright
Hello Alasdair
In reply to your questions about visiting the bunker. I am afraid this is just not possible at the moment for a number of reasons.
1) The bunker has in recent months been flooded in the lower levels, there is ongoing works to repair and remedy the long term flooding issues.
2) The current owners do not have insurance for public access to the bunker.
3) The bunkers internal condition is not as you can see on the photographs on this web site as these photos are a few years old and the bunker has flooded a number of times in the last few years .
4) A recent asbestos survey has also seriously limited access to the bunker for non essential visits and certainly would preclude members of the general public entering the bunker.
The above points are just a small selection of many problems that currently exist which prevent the general public from entering the bunker. Please be aware the bunker is essentially a building which has been disused for many years it cannot safely be opened to the general public without allot of remedial work and surveys etc. I am sure you can understand that a risk assessment of physically entering the bunker (a disused building) would be required and this would certainly high light many many problems. Not least the fact this is a 1930’s concrete MOD building which has not been maintained since the 60’s, thus it is not up to modern health and safety standards, although superb in terms of being relatively original and untouched from a historical view point.
Our aim is to open the bunker in the future as an educational resource for schools to this end we are currently in talks with the owners of the bunker. Please be patient this process will take time as there are many legal and funding matters to be dealt with before this can happen. However we would welcome your support and any help you may be able to give to our group.
Kind Regards
Michael
Hello Alasdair,
Secret Bunker North is an art and educational project on the 13 Group bunkers.
As lead artist on the project I worked with 7 local primary schools, sadly not St Cuthbert’s in 2010. We are in the final stages of installing a listening trail based in Blakelaw Park, that covers the history of the bunkers and their usage after WWII, suitable for school groups. Members of Bunker 13 have been very helpful in sharing their knowledge for this. More information can be found on our website. An education project is also being developed with the City Learning Centre. Hope this is of interest!
Secret Bunker Day at the City Learning Centre tomorrow, then another on Monday.
Hopefully the first of many.
Pictures will follow.
I used to work at the Rokeby pub which is now demolished. Some of the locals used to tell me that the building was part of the MOD buildings in the area and a tunnel linked it to Kenton. Is that true?
I noted from the comments (dated 2013). That you were looking to get the bunker open to the public. How are things progresing? As it is something that I would love to visit and bring my son to.
Unfortunately things grind exceedingly slow and little progress has been made other than the bunker finally starting to dry out. We still have the same aims so keep watching this space!