The ‘secret’ Bunker that Time Team could not identify its original use certainly as its origins in a battle that was never fought but not a German invasion on Britain.. It’s got more to do with WW.III
It’s probably an Observer Corps reporting station built during the Cold War and abandoned by the late 60’s. Its function on top of Shooters Hill would have been to gather data about the H-Bombs that have reduced London a mass of dust and motel metal. These posts were hardened bunkers; they had to survive nuclear blast and radiation, accommodated a crew of three or four, and had the kinds of power supply and telephone connections that were described. These linked them to the Observer Corps sector controllers.
What an opportnity missed! If only the research on Shooter's Hill had been more thorough. As Woolwich was a garrison town we had rockets and an army presence on the golf course, on Eaglefield road and the Italian and German POWs there. I hate to disillusion the team with regard to the 'secret bunker' which was merely the bunk beded air-raid shelter for the family, installed at the same time as the one next door. My friend's father had built it early in the war. When we later occupied the house we used it for storage and needed a pump to keep it dry- it was a great wine store!
What an interesting response from RGK - are there any family photos of it in use?
As a former resident of Shooters Hill I had deduced from the map that the 'bunker' was close to the rear of the former fire station and had wondered if it was for communications for the fire service in case the fire station had been hit. But clearly now it wasn't!
I agree. Certainly nothing like most ROC posts (the only one I know of that didn't conform to the usual layout was in Windsor Castle). Also there was a post at Dulwich - by the Golf Club, so Shooters Hill would have been a little close to that.
