In March 2019 CSP Partnership acquired the Emergency Operations Bunker in Inverness. This is a "B" listed building in the Raigmore estate - near the hospital.
The building was one of three bunkers. These were originally constructed in 1940/41 for use by the RAF as a RADAR signal processing facility. By 1946 the bunkers handled RADAR signals from around the entire Scottish coast, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man as well as part of Northern England.
Like many organisations, Covid has hit us badly. We were planning to open two areas of the bunker in museum status this May. We had plans to take small guided tours around the two museum areas. It just cant happen. Looking the the Scottish Government information, it may be September before we can allow even small PPE'd groups in. We suspect that is not realistic for us to open under these conditions.
We continue to maintain, curate and design new exhibits.
In June 21 we took delivery of a "top side" display. A cold-war exhibition of a Westland Lynx Helicopter. Check out here to see some of the pictures of it being delivered.
Once it has been checked out for safety we expect to offer photo sessions to visitors. NO, you cant take off in it.
The few hundred visitors who have been on our "Doors Open" tour last year or the Christmas Day tour will now find more than an empty shell of a building. We will welcome you back, when it is safe.
The bunker is structured into three museum sections:
We are working to get our catalogue on-line, but that all takes time. Bear with us.
So, at present, you cannot get into this historic listed building, but you are able to see photographs of many of the exhibits below.
PDP-8 historic Computer related
PDP-11 historic Computer related
Autophon SG Sima-80 Nuclear Bomb Blast simulator
Radios
Hand cranked generator 12v 6115-99-949-8134
Bunker related
As of Sept 1st we have just finished running Doors Open 2019 tours of the bunker.
About 120 visitors went through the bunker in guided tours. The building was a shell only - with no exhibits. Despite that we won an award from "Doors Open" for the most improved exhibition. We thank the visitors who voted for us in this National competion.
Over Christmas/New-Year 2019/20 we ran a few more tours and had another 70 folk through the doors on free guided tours. The Nicholsons from Outlander: The Past Lives Experience Their web-site took a number of photos and have given permission for them to be used on our site. Visit here to see them Click Here.
The text on the reverse of the "pass" is repeated below:
The Emergency Bunker is a Historic Listed Building. It is now owned by CSP Partnership. Change of use planning permission is currently underway. The plan submitted allows a significant area of the bunker to become a museum celebrating it’s four different uses – from the 1940s WW2 radar processing bunker to the 2010s use by the Highland Council as an emergency response bunker.
Historic pictures and information about the bunker will appear on the web-site http://www.inverness-bunker.space
The bunker is in private ownership. We expect the museum section to be formed as a charity or a community interest company.
As you can see from the tour there is a huge amount of work to be done to turn the bunker from the shell it is into an area exhibiting the historical significance of the building.
Once the bunker museum is formed it would be grateful for support – donations of equipment, time or money – to enable it to progress to a fully open status. We know we need help from a wide range of folk: model-makers, restorers of old radio equipment, grant application writers, presenters who can run tours, painters, artists, woodworkers, you name it, we could use it!
If you are prepared to help or just to be kept informed, you can register as a “Friend of the Bunker” to receive further information as the project progresses.
email info at csp-partnership.co.uk to get further information about the bunker, or if you can offer more details about the use and operation of this bunker.
0845 463 463 3 should get to us most working hours.
All input gratefuly received.
The Bunker is building (2) to the right of the BARRACKS in the map below.
This was the RAF 1943 Christmas menu.
At that time the 13th Group seemed to "run the show".
Bunker
Apart from three ventilation shafts, the property is primariliy underground. Above ground all that shows are the entry and exit channels and three ventilation shafts.
Underground, there are about 50 rooms spread over the two floors. No, we have not found any secret passages... YET
Entrance (and exit) is via a series of blast-proof doors.
The main entrance - constructed as part of the 1990 renovation.
40
Renovated in the early 1990s - all asbestos removed - the building has sophisticated life support systems, intended to protect the inhabitants from Nuclear, Chemical and Biological attacks - no, not a direct nuclear strike, but to survive in the contaminated aftermath. Below you see part of the ventialtion system. The push-bikes can be used to drive fresh-air around the building when the power has failed and the backup generators are offline.
One of the two generators - 6 cyl diesel Perkins. The entire mains electrical wiring system uses MICC (AKA pyro) - mineral insulated copper clad cable. wiki article
circa 2018
Looking North 2018
Outside
Electrical services
Electrical services
Electrical services
Phones
1941 Raigmore Estate
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