Looking for a rural property which is discreet, compact and, most importantly, secure from nuclear attack? A Cold War bunker near Bristol is up for auction with a guide price of £20,000.
Built in 1960, the bunker was designed and used as a monitoring post for the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) until it was closed in 1991. It is known as the Hallen ROC post.
The ROC was a group of appointed civilians who manned the 1,563 similar shelters installed across the country during the Cold War, between 1947 and 1991.
In the event of a nuclear attack, their job was to report on the location, power and timing of the attack and monitor radioactive fallout from the safety of the bunker.
The Hallen post was designed to accommodate two or three volunteers, and would have contained equipment like a bomb power indicator, fixed radiation survey meter and ventilation shafts.
The ROC stood down at the end of the Cold War in 1991, and many posts like this one were decommissioned and sold off in the following years.
Built into the hillside, only the bunker’s concrete hatch is visible from above ground. A vertical metal ladder leads down into the 128-square-foot rectangular room.
Inside, the Hallen ROC post remains something of a time capsule, still containing its original furniture and fittings, including a wall light timer, air funnel and ceiling light.
The main room is fitted with a rusty metal bed, cabinet, desk and set of shelves. Photos show old warning signs on the walls, as well as safety messages written in marker pen.
Outside the room, at the bottom of the shaft, is a small cloakroom, which contains the rudimentary chemical toilet that was originally installed. The bunker is not currently connected to mains electricity or a water supply.
“The Hallen ROC post is a well-preserved example of a Cold War nuclear monitoring facility – compact, functional, and emblematic of civilian preparedness during the era,” reads the listing by auctioneers David Plaister.
“It presents a unique investment opportunity for buyers with an interest in military history, secure storage, or rare architectural assets.”
The Hallen ROC post will be auctioned by David Plaister on 9 December, with a guide price of £20,000.
It is being marketed as a “private and secure space with a range of potential uses”, including as a private wine cellar, safe room, or secure utility area.
In recent years, other former ROC bunkers have also hit the market. In May, a similar shelter in Dersingham, Norfolk, was auctioned with a guide price of £20,000, eventually selling for £45,000. It had initially been run as a small museum, with the agents suggesting that it could be revived, used as a pop-up campsite or unique getaway.
The previous year, a bunker in Cumbria which was owned by a veteran and used as an off-grid retreat created a flurry of interest when it went under the hammer. It sold for £48,000, more than three times its guide price, and attracted 65 different bidders.
“[This is] a rare opportunity to acquire a secure underground Royal Observer Corps (ROC) bunker located in the rural outskirts of Hallen, Bristol,” say the auctioneers. “[It’s] ideal for those with a unique taste for historical relics and rare investment opportunities.”
