Former Regional Government Headquarters (RGHQ) (Cambridge)

 national government / government, bunker, closed

The two storey blockhouse is located in its' own very secure compound at the rear of the Government offices site in Brooklands Avenue on the outskirts of Cambridge. It is surrounded by a 10ft high fence topped with barbed wire. This bunker was originally built as a regional war room (see `The Regional War Rooms: 1950's') identical to the one at Shirley in Birmingham but had an extension added to it later when it became RSG4.

The compound is 100yds by 40yds in size and is in one corner of the Government (MAFF) site. The building is currently the subject of an attempt to have it listed as it has a number of unique features and was 1 of only 2 purpose built RSG's. (That at Nottingham differs as the extension was built on top of the existing war room) The site is to be sold for housing and MAFF have left it up to the developers to negotiate with English Heritage. If the listing application fails, the building will be demolished.

The outside of the building has some unique pebble dash panels which were put on to the structure in an attempt to make it blend in with the surrounds. Entering the compound via the double gates we turn right and approach the blast door and enter the bunker. On the left inside the dog leg entrance are the showers, toilets and decontamination area complete with all their original 1950's fittings (hot water tank, shower curtains and curtains on the toilet cubicles instead of doors). Moving straight ahead you enter one of the 2 plant rooms from the corridor that circles the lower level. This is still in perfect order with all items intact including an electrical control cabinet and a battery rack for starting the standby generator which is housed in a separate small room. Beyond the generator along a short corridor within the plant room, the ventilatiuon and filtration plant is also in good order.

The first half of the bunker is identical to other regional war rooms (see `The Regional War Rooms: 1950's') but is totally empty apart from a few filing cabinets (empty) and a large number of chairs. It is set out on 2 floors, both above ground and internally it is in excellent condition with no vandalism or evidence of water problems. The balcony around the well has been floored over but on the lower floor the original curved perspex windows remain intact while on the upper floor new opening windows have been installed looking onto what would have been the balcony.

Photo: www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5868886