We have known for quite some time of Drakelow's
role as an RSG for the 60's and 70's and later RGHQ for the 1980's.
In both cases providing a home for Regional Government, but thanks
to the research work of Steve Fox we now know that it had an even
more important role in the 1950's.
Those of us interested in such things have been long aware that
there was a huge Central Government Headquarters located at Spring
Quarry near Corsham, Wiltshire - code named Subterfuge (later
re-named as Burlington and then Turnstile). This is where the
main Government body would have retreated to in the event of nuclear
war. It was also understood that there was a standby or backup
site. This had always been believed to be the 'Valley Works' at
Rhydymwyn in North Wales. However, thanks to Steve Fox's research
at the Public Records Office, recently released documents revealed
that the standby site - codenamed MacAdam, was actually to have
been Drakelow. These plans had been approved and signed off by
the Prime Minister Anthony Eden in September 1955. In one disturbing
twist, following concerns about the Corsham site's ability to
withstand H bomb attack in the 1960's the military suggested that
it should be 'accidentally leaked' that Drakelow was actually
the main site for the Central Government HQ in order to draw attention
away from Corsham.
However anyone hoping to see remnants of MacAdam
on our tours would have been dissapointed! Unfortunately the Government
never found the funds to make any physical preparations for MacAdam
at the former Rover underground factory. It was not until the
1960's that parts of the former factory were converted into the
nuclear bunker for regional government - known as RSG9.
For the full story see Steve Fox's article on the
Subterranea Britanica website. Click
Here.
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