In 1924 the introduction of the "Air Defence of Great Britain" led to the provision of a Raid Reporting System delegated to a committee with representatives from the Air Ministry, Home Office and the Post Office. This was later to become known as the Observer Corps and awarded the title Royal by King George VI in 1941 as a recognition of its service during the Battle of Britain. The corps was created to provide a system for detecting, tracking and reporting aircraft over Britain. During World War 2 it was complementary to and often replaced the radar system in that it provided an 'over land' element while radar handled the 'over water approach' requirement.
In 1955 the detection and reporting of nuclear blasts and fall-out was introduced. By 1965 the aircraft role was no longer needed and the corps formed the field force for the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation (UKWMO) until both organisations were disbanded in the early 1990s when the Cold war ended.
The following photos were taken in 2008 when it was in a decent condition. Since then it has been trashed and burned by vandals and no longer worth a visit.
Text courtesy of Royal Observer Corps - Wikipedia.
12th August 2008
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
r.jpg "Ponteland R.O.C. (Royal Observer Corps)")
More Information:
- Subterranea Britannica - History of the R.O.C.
- Wikipedia - Royal Observer Corps
- 28 Days Later - Ponteland ROC post
- Flickr - Royal Observer Corps. Posts/Bunkers
My other Urban Exploration photos:
Oh my god that's amazing, did you have a good nosey through the paperwork? :-)
ReplyDeleteJust a little as I could'nt see much as it was too dark and I only had a small torch with me. My mega torch thingy is broken.
ReplyDeleteIn fact I did'nt even see the place well until I got home and looked at the photos and some of the photos of the paperwork did'nt turn out well as I did'nt have my tripod with me either.
you're game - Imagine you checked your photos and one came up with an alien pointing it's finger at ye!!!
ReplyDeleteAye, just a little.
ReplyDeleteYou never quite know what you will find in these type of places.
Wow, can you still get into it now?
ReplyDeleteI very much doubt it but I'm not sure.
ReplyDeletewent here yesterday the entire place has been trashed some little dicks have sprayed the wall with shite. me and a couple of pals are going to clean it up a bit as someone lightig fires in there now has ash everywhere if anyone fancys meeting me there i will be there from 3pm till like 8pm as i would like to speak to some more expirience urbexers as im new to urbex
ReplyDeleteThanks mate. It's always the way when a place gets famous. Next the charvers will be in stripping it of any scrap metal.
ReplyDeleteif you want to get into urbex I suggest you sign up here http://www.northeasturbex.co.uk/forums/
You may even get some help from some of them as I know a couple of lads from the forum have locked it back up in the past although your request may be too short notice for them as it is for me as I can't make this evening.
sorry bout the short nitice thing i forgot to put what day i was gonna be there not this evening i meant on saterday :L and yeah i knw what you mean about charvers and shizz its pathetic tbh
ReplyDeletePonteland (R O C )
ReplyDeleteHAS BEEN SET ON FIRE
the ponteland R O C has been set on fire
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the state of this place now? I'm really interested in it and would love to have a nose if it's in anywhere like an average state?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThats a real shame :(
ReplyDeleteJust been here tonight. Not in a good way as someone has set fires and there isn't much left apart from a table and ash absolutely everywhere.
ReplyDeleteAwful news but not unexpected, sadly.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any info about the bunker near Newcastle Airport? You could get to it if you crossed the A696 by the airport roundabout & followed the footpath across the farmers field. It was well hidden in the trees. I haven't been there since 1997, Google earth isn't showing much not even the old railway line & sidings.
ReplyDeleteHi just seen your post was this a bunker as I'm interested in finding it thanks
ReplyDelete