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View Full Version : RNAD Broughton Moor - Cumbria - April 09



access granted
18-04-2009, 07:30 PM
I can’t find much information on this site, probably because it is still hidden under the official secrets act but I’ll relay what I’ve learned about the place. RNAD Broughton Moor is a decommissioned Royal Naval Armaments Depot located near to Cockermouth in Cumbria. Opened before 1943, it was used by the US Navy to store armaments for their North Atlantic Squadron during the Cold War. The site was decommissioned in 1992 at the end of the Gulf War and has remained untouched since, closed to the public by a 7’ high barbed wire topped fence.

Covering over 1000 acres, the site is simply huge, more than enough to keep any keen explorer busy for more than a few days. There used to be a 2’6” Narrow Gauge railway which was used to ferry the various munitions around the site, evidence of which can still be seen dotted around the site. Most of the 300+ buildings and bunkers remain, quite a lot of them in good condition too, although they are filled with asbestos, not to mention other dangers. As well as the visible bunkers and stores, there are also uncharted mines and underground stores dotted around the site, although I didn’t see any evidence of this during my brief visit.

The site was bought from the MoD in September 2008 for the princely sum of £1 by Allerdale Borough Council & Cumbria County Council in a joint venture to try and attract potential investors to develop the site. It is home now to many types of wildlife, including up to 9 species of bat, deer, foxes, badger and countless birds of prey. The start up costs to get the site anywhere near for re-development is likely to run into the tens of millions of pounds for the removal of asbestos & the re-housing of the bats, which are protected species under the Wildlife & Country Side Act.

This visit was actually only meant to be a recce, as Broughton Boy & I intend to visit as soon as BB gets his camera back, but I did spend a couple of hours there exploring. This was my first Urbex outing with my camera so apologies if the shots are a bit poor. I also tried my first HDR shot so let me know what you guys think.

My first view of the site from the way in:
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0002.jpg

First attempt at HDR:
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/Cabin64ColourHDR.png

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0011.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0013.jpg

The remains of the 2'6" Narrow Gauge Railway:
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0014.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0017.jpg

Make sure you use your horns!
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0022.jpg

The exhaust from the boilers:
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0029.jpg

And what they feed into:
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0032.jpg

Fuel gauge for the boilers:
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0051.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0027.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0042.jpg

Obligatory "Shot through broken glass":
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/access-granted/RNAD%20Broughton%20Moor%20April%2009/DSC_0044.jpg

greyseer
18-04-2009, 07:41 PM
Good stuff :)

boxfrenzy
18-04-2009, 09:43 PM
Look like some good stuff there. I like the details. :thumb

BB
18-04-2009, 10:07 PM
Cool pics mate :thumb
Like the HDR. Hopefully the camera will be back soon :pray:

access granted
18-04-2009, 11:44 PM
best had be, i want a proper explore round this place, it's huge!!!

Demps
19-04-2009, 02:55 PM
For the record, there is no underground stores. Its no longer under the secrets act either.

Demps.

BB
19-04-2009, 03:21 PM
For the record, there is no underground stores. Its no longer under the secrets act either.

Demps.

Spose you could find the info then? :secret

andym
19-04-2009, 06:42 PM
This place looks awesome, probably similar to what the ROF at Chorley once looked like. I'd be interested in visiting if you're heading up from Preston direction?

**MudLark**
19-04-2009, 09:37 PM
Looks veeeeeerry nice!
BB can you drop me a line next time you are going down? its not too hard for me to get to cumbria.....
and i'd like to see this!
:lol:

access granted
19-04-2009, 11:23 PM
For the record, there is no underground stores. Its no longer under the secrets act either.


If you know where you can find more info on the place I'd greatly appreciate it.

BB
20-04-2009, 12:09 AM
Sounds like we have a group starting... :D

BA
20-04-2009, 01:51 PM
Cool pics, great place, cant wait for a visit :)

Stoka
11-07-2009, 10:29 AM
Looks like a good site but the pictures should have shown more content instead of switches and pipes so we can actually see what the place is like.

SuperTom
11-03-2010, 11:05 PM
If you know where you can find more info on the place I'd greatly appreciate it.

http://web.me.com/davidnsaunders/ceu/proposal/allerdale/Archaeological%20assessment.pdf

http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/downloads/page342/Landscape%20assessment.pdf

Are these any good?