Brackla RGHQ, Bridgend, S.Wales. June 2011

[DACS-Wales]

Right, well now that I have my initial hello out the way I best get some pictures up.

I have lived close to this place for a number of years and been meaning to find a way inside at some point and then spotted someone else on here also looking into this, so as part of that I went to have a look today and get some pictures. The basic information is that the place used to be a world war arms depo/bunker and was transformed in the 1960's into a nuclear bunker.

Despite being heavily looked after it was sold off in 1995 and is apparently used by the bbc for some shows like Dr Who as a good backdrop. The bunker itself has over 200ft of intact pristine tunnels as far as I am aware which reside under brackla hill. Throughout the woods on top you can find ventilation shafts, transmission towers and various pilboxes but the underground area itself remains well sealed.

From my explore there appear to be two main entrances, one of which seems very neglected and the other more modern and looked after. I am guessing the more modern looking one is used by the BBC and possibly the nuclear bunker of the various bunkers under this hill.

Of the six doors I found all were sealed, however two of which did not have locks and their locking mechanisms worked but the door would not budge

I am guessing they are either EXTREMELY stiff, or welded shut from the inside.


The only other oddity is that the more modern looking bunker entrance has three doors, each with thick padlocks on them...however of these three doors, two of them then also have a standard key locking mechanism along side it's padlock...but ONE door has a thicker padlock than the rest AND the original key locking mechanism has been upgraded.

I can only guess THAT is the bbc's door, either that or whatever is behind it requires even more security than all the other doors


Right, enough blabbing...PICS!


^ This is the view through an open air shaft I found, right on the other side of the hill. I dropped a stone down and by the echo you could tell wherever it goes is BIG, really BIG. It's about 10feet deep and 4 foot wide and you could possibly climb down it...but not alone for obvious reasons.


^ In the area of the two bunkers there is a generator box and electrical substation, by the buzzing sound it was clear there is still power to the bunkers




^ Random note on the generator box



^ The whole area was full of these old-skool street lights, unfortunately every bulb seemed to be long gone




^ Some shots of what I think is the older bunker, very overgrown and some doors seem to be unlocked but would not budge


^ Looking back from the roof





^ Walk towards the 2nd bunker


^ Some kind of drain





^ Pictures of 2nd bunker

This 2nd bunker had locks on all doors but the interesting bit was this:




The ONE door there with a MUCH thicker padlock than all the rest, plus the original door mechanism has been upgraded too...wonder what is hiding behind this



That's all for now, any comments welcome...and to the guy that took photos last month thanks because they led me here...hope to drop you a line and compare notes

[Nicola]

Hi Dacs-Wales - interesting explore! Can you leave a space between exch picture in your next report please - just makes it easier to see each one. I have upgraded your membership - you will now be able to chat to other explorers in the chat box, post comments on other people's reports and post any of your new explores in the relevant section - thanks for joining

[ERNIE99_UK]

im assuning they must be used for something, possibly document storage if theyre dry enough.

[DACS-Wales]

From what I know based on other peoples reports and good old google, the older of the bunkers is entirely abandoned and the new one was supposed to be used by an IT company for secure server storage but from what I can find that seems to have not happened and they have just been left to get dusty.

The newer of the bunkers is apparently in very good condition internally and has been used as scenes with DrWho in recent years.

[lennymcgra]

Nice explore, as you say the place is used for secure storage, i looked into this in more detail after i visited and obvously being brought up spending summers in these tunnels and my grandfather running the security in the 80s. I spoke to someone who knows the current owners and it is secure storage for high end companys plus the odd Dr Who episode. Strange thing i found though was that the family that owned the company that built these tunnels in the 1940s also bought back the two up to date cold war tunnels in the 1980s .... im still on the case and more strange details are coming up every week. Will keep you posted

[DACS-Wales]

Nice explore, as you say the place is used for secure storage, i looked into this in more detail after i visited and obvously being brought up spending summers in these tunnels and my grandfather running the security in the 80s. I spoke to someone who knows the current owners and it is secure storage for high end companys plus the odd Dr Who episode. Strange thing i found though was that the family that owned the company that built these tunnels in the 1940s also bought back the two up to date cold war tunnels in the 1980s .... im still on the case and more strange details are coming up every week. Will keep you posted

Cool, if there is any chance of an official explore let me know. Would love to see inside without the use of a blow torch

[lennymcgra]

Im trying my best, tracking down the owners is a difficult task but will let you know for sure , official or any other

[yamabushi]

Love it . Very interesting.