UNITED KINGDOM: Once-secret 1940s tunnel complex under the centre of London that housed military intelligence and linked the cold war hot line phone between Washington and Moscow has been put up for sale
Record ID:
783885
UNITED KINGDOM: Once-secret 1940s tunnel complex under the centre of London that housed military intelligence and linked the cold war hot line phone between Washington and Moscow has been put up for sale
- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Once-secret 1940s tunnel complex under the centre of London that housed military intelligence and linked the cold war hot line phone between Washington and Moscow has been put up for sale
- Date: 18th October 2008
- Summary: (EU) LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - 1940 ) (REUTERS) (MUTE) FIREFIGHTERS PUTING OUT FIRE CAUSED BY THE GERMAN BOMBING DURING THE BLITZ FIREFIGHTERS PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH RUBBLE LONDONERS QUEUING TO ENTER AN AIR RAID SHELTER SIGN READING 'AIR RAID SHELTER' SIGN INSIDE THE PICADILLY CIRCUS TUBE STATION PEOPLE TAKING SHELTER INSIDE THE TUBE STATION
- Embargoed: 2nd November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA8I74S3KLL1M64LHPALFCX8ZNX
- Story Text: The one mile long network of tunnels below Chancery Lane underground station was dug in 1942 as a bomb shelter for 8,000 people during World War Two but was taken over by military authorities as a communications and intelligence centre.
The Public Records Office used the site, known as Kingsway Tunnels, after the war to store historic documents.
The Post Office later took over the property as a more secure location for its long distance phone exchange, including the 1950s hot line directly connecting the White House and the Kremlin.
When telephony was split from the Post Office, the tunnels passed to British Telecom, now privatised and known as BT.
In the 1980s the government used part of the complex as a temporary backup for its top secret Pindar war control bunker.
The tunnels used to be home to trunk exchange which connected long distance calls before the introduction of the STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) code. The site gained notoriety in the 1950s thanks because the "hot line" between the presidents of the USA and Russia was routed directly through the exchange.
"There was something like 6,000 telphone lines going through here but I suppose the most significant one was the hotline between the USA and the USSR in the 1960's," David Hay, head of Heritage department at BT said.
But BT says the network of tunnels is now surplus to requirements.
"You have to be practical, we have no further use for it, there is nothing significant in terms of equipment, we have safeguarded all our historic equipment to a number of museum around the country, and our heritage projects, so it's time to dispose of it in the benefit of our customers and shareholders," said Hay.
Ray Gapes worked in the tunnels as a young switch maintenance engineer in the 1970's.
"As an 18 year old here this was a very exciting place to work, it was very interesting, it was unique, BT has a few underground places but nothing like this and most of our exchanges are above ground, so it was quite an exciting place to work," Gapes said adding that the tunnels could become a very good venue for a number of projects.
"I think it would probably make a good document storage facility because it's got constant temperature and humidity, it would make a fantastic disco, wouldn't it? Absolutely brilliant, but I don't know about health and safety, wine storage, I don't know. Art gallery, I don't really know,"
Gapes said.
The tunnels, which are the size of 14 football pitches, include old engine rooms, a former canteen and a bar.
"It would be very difficult to put a price on it because it's one of its own, it's a unique type of property but if you think that we are talking about 70,000 square feet of prime London location, about a mile of tunnels altogether - this kind of property will not come on the market again in the near future if at all," said Hay.
Not an obvious property to buy - but those investing in the Kingsway tunnels will win an additional value - a piece of British history, in the heart of London.
Sales agent Farebrother said there had already been a lot of interest in the now disused property.
It has a total floor area of around 7,100 sq metres (76,420 sq ft) but can only be reached by two street-level lifts, restricting its potential use.
Farebrother partner Niall Gallagher said there had been an "eclectic" mix of enquiries.
"Private individuals, companies, corporations, government departments -- we've got the whole spectrum at the moment," he added. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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