Cold War | Dubman and Streylock

York Nuclear Bunker

Posted on September 4, 2016 by dubmanandstreylock

On a family pilgrimage trip to Yorkshire to see the wonderful scenic sights it would’ve of been silly to miss an opportunity to visit York’s Nuclear Bunker. So I took my two children along for some Cold War history. Worked out well to be honest Nyah is studying that era at school and Kofi related to all the information via his Xbox game Fallout 4. All boxes ticked……

Quote info from Wikipedia

The York Cold War Bunker is a two-storey semi-subterranean Cold War bunker in the Holgate area of York, England, built in 1961 to monitor nuclear explosions and fallout in Yorkshire in the event of nuclear war.

One of about 30 around the United Kingdom, the building was used throughout its operational existence as the regional headquarters and control centre for the Royal Observer Corps’s No. 20 Group YORK between 1961 and 1991. It is an English Heritage Scheduled Monument and was opened in 2006 by English Heritage as a tourist attraction.

You get about an hour of a guided tour with just amount enough time to fire a few photos off. There’s a short film with information and questions at the beginning to get you started. Worth picking up the guidebook for only a few pounds as a souvenir.

Please see the links at the bottom for all information on the bunker.

On looking for some info I came across a short music film from an event of music by the original lead singer of the band Ultravox John Foxx and Benge. Put on by creative group Vespertine – Seeing York Through New Eyes.
Would of loved to have been there for that. Experimental electronic music in a perfect setting.

Loads more pictures on my Flickr

Hope you enjoyed the pictures
All the best
Mike Dubman

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Links
Wikipedia

English Heritage

Subbrit

Vespertine – Seeing York Through New Eyes

High Down Rocket Test Site

Posted on May 22, 2016 by dubmanandstreylock

Hidden on a cliff face next to the Needles on the Isle Of Wight was Britain’s answer to NASA. A secret rocket site at High Down, where the Black Arrow and Black Knight rockets were tested to launch the Prospero satellite. Not much remains apart for the giant concrete structures used to channel the flames of the rockets into the sea and that lovely big rusty blast door. Oh I do love a bit of rust. There is also a little museum dedicated to the history which is quaint but well worth a look.

This trip was in September 2013. It’s a very recommend walk from the Needles car park around the cliff road leading to the High Down Test Site and the Needles Battery which I will upload photos at another time.

For all info on this wonderful piece of history please see the links at the bottom of the page and watch the very informative video on Youtube.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.
All the best….. Dubman and Streylock

This is how it looked back in the day

Streylock’s face says it all. Very excited.

Sure theres a blast door around here somewhere!! Ooooo hello.

Streylock in action

It’s really beautiful there.

Cardboard computer set up project. Great idea and effective.

Shia Labeouf on the control dials

Black Arrow Rocket

The Prospero satellite, also known as the X-3

Suited and booted.

Dubman checking the concrete

Spreads (Streylock) and Dub 28/09/2013 Cute or a tad gay hehe can’t decide.

Awesome documentary on the whole project. Very recommended

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Links
http://www.spaceuk.org/ba/blackarrow.htm
http://www.spaceuk.org/bk/bkvehicle.htm
http://www.spaceuk.org/bk/hd/highdown.htm
Research report of site PDF

American Gas Station Forecourt Oxfordshire

Posted on April 24, 2016 by dubmanandstreylock

This amazing looking derelict petrol station isn’t quite what it seems when you get up close to it. With its once grand petrol pumps left with their hoses lying on the floor and one or two with their facades removed. You can see something different just by the shape of these pumps. Look closer and the money currency is in Dollars. This gas station was used by the US Air Force and the base at Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire. I love the American red, white and blue sticker design at the top saying AAFES (The Army & Air Force Exchange Service) with the star and 3 red lines.

I can image it was once very busy as it has 8 x 2 pumps. 16 cars could of filled up at one time in it’s heyday. A lot of the area is now being demolished and new housing taking it’s place. It will be pretty much making a new town, so maybe this station will get a whole new refit and a new lease of life but those iconic looking pumps will unfortunately be heading to the scrapheap. That will be a shame.

This article and photos a few metres down the road should be of interest too. The US Shopping Mall which was used as a film set for World War Z.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Let me know if it is still there if you know. These photos were taken in December 2011.

All the best
Dubman and Streylock

Here is the trusty mission car, filled with dents and bits of duct tape holding things on but the old girl did good. No chance of filling her up there though!

Russian Gas Man At Darbys Corner Inn

Posted on April 16, 2016 by dubmanandstreylock

Darby’s Corner pub and The Russian Gas Man

This curious looking stone building is situated next to the roundabout on Waterloo Rd, Broadstone, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7LD. Once the home of a pub with Hall and Woodhouse brewery called The Darby’s Corner. I believe it shut down in 2011 and went pretty tatty on the outside quite quickly. I’m sure we went there in August 2012 and it’s pretty trashed. Didn’t get to see inside the pub but I bet it looked great all empty and derelict. The building is now under development and I believe being turned into a Vets.

This was the first appearance by the infamous Russian Gas Man and his toxic gas clouds! Rumours there were still people living upstairs, lord knows what they thought about us larking about.

Hope you enjoy the photos
Dubman and Streylock

Here’s what it did look like.

Toxic Poo Time

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Links
Bournemouth Echo Article 2015
Bournemouth Echo Article 2011

St Catherines Hill Dorset

Posted on April 3, 2016 by dubmanandstreylock

Mysterious little place stuck at the top of a wooded hill in the borough of Christchurch. St Catherines Hill is filled with history from the Bronze Age right through to both World Wars and even had a Royal Observer Corps post during the Cold War. It also features two building that look like scene sets from the US series Lost, one a dome shape the other like a reinforced wall compound. I believe these are water reservoirs but you can let your imagination have some fun. Plus you have a gun club, telecommunication masts and a quarry amongst the healthland of rare flora and fauna filled with abundance of protected wildlife.
See the links below for all the details about the place. It’s an exciting place to visit.

Buildings in the woods

Telecommunication

Rave

Gun Club

Hope you fun on your mission if you go.
All the best

Dubman And Streylock

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Links
Wikipedia
Friends of St Catherine’s Hill
The Mystery Of St Catherine’s Hill

World War Z Set Piece – RAF Upper Heyford

Posted on March 13, 2016 by dubmanandstreylock

This was an old supermarket, grocery store used by United States Air Forces based at RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire. Hence why it has such an American look. The now abandoned building and some other buildings within the air base itself were used for the 2013 zombie film starring Brad Pitt, World War Z.

It was brilliant watching the film at the cinema and nudging each other every time a scene we recognised appeared.
The supermarket made a great set piece near the beginning of the film just as the panic was starting to take hold. It was used when they turned up to get supplies in the Winnebago style motorhome. CGI was used to add a cityscape behind it but the front sign with the missing letters is all there just as it is. “WEL OME TO YO R STORE”
Look out for more posts from RAF Upper Heyford in the future.

Here’s a screen shot from the film.

Here’s some photos.

Streylock one of the zombie extras!

All the best
Dubman and Streylock

Some useful links

World War Z
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford Heritage Centre Facebook Page

Hack Green Nuclear Bunker Part 1

Posted on November 9, 2015 by dubmanandstreylock

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum has to be one of the best and most exciting Cold War exhibits in the UK. It’s totally crammed full of machines of wonder from old computer systems to radar and surveillance equipment, posters, propaganda, uniforms from the time and rooms beautifully set out into themed sets. A lot of work and effort has been lovingly put in to this gem of a museum. It’s pretty much in the middle of nowhere and we had the whole place to ourselves. The owners don’t mind you taking photos. We stayed from opening to closing time. Like kids in a sweet shop, just going “oh my” and “Oooo sweet Jeeessez” in each and every room. Incredible place. If Cold War history is your thing and you haven’t been then I whole heartily recommend you getting up there soon.

From Wiki

The first military use of the area was in World War II, when a Starfish site was established at Hack Green. Its purpose was to confuse Luftwaffe bombers looking for the vital railway junction at Crewe.

A Ground-controlled interception (GCI) radar station was added.

In the 1950s, the site was modernised as part of the ROTOR project. This included the provision of a substantial semi-sunk reinforced concrete bunker or blockhouse (type R6).

The station, officially designated RAF Hack Green, was also known as Mersey Radar. It provided an air traffic control service to military aircraft crossing civil airspace.

The site was abandoned and remained derelict for many years, until the Home Office took it over. They rebuilt the R6 bunker as a Regional Government Headquarters (RGHQs) – one of a network of 17 such sites throughout the UK – designed to enable government to continue in the aftermath of a major nuclear attack on the UK.

The following photos are a bunch which were finished but there are many more to post when I find them. I will do a separate page linked to this one when I do. In the meantime I hope you enjoy these. All the best Dubman and Streylock.