I first visited this ROC post about six years ago, at the time it was in good condition, dry with numerous papers still on the wall. Unfortunately I’ve been unable to locate the photos I took that day with my first brick sized digital camera, you can however get an idea of how it used to look here.

Two lonely telegraph poles which once carried the communications point out the site from the road.

 

The surface features are pretty much unchanged, although the lid has been removed and thrown into the shaft.

 

Being open to the elements means theres now an inch of water at the bottom of the ladder, all the paper and card items once inside are either gone or soaked, the cupboards have also been smashed up.

   

The switch mechanism which was on the wall near the door in the older photos seems to have been very carefully removed, hopefully this has been taken to a museum or by someone restoring another ROC post rather than as a personal trophy.

ROC posts are fast disappearing or being vandalised, the fantastic example at Hinderwell was filled with soil in the last couple of years. No idea if any of the fixtures or fittings were saved before this was done.

The ROC post is situated at the top of Ruebury Hill

 

The hatch is not locked and the ladder still in place, i didn’t venture inside today but you can see pictures of that here

 

There are the remains of an aircraft post right next to the bunker.

 

Update May 2008 – Interior photos.

Sump pump and switches

 

Vintage newspaper and targets on bedframe

 

Original batteries (no mains) and chemical toilet

The Auxiliary Units were to be Britains own resistance should a German invasion have been successful.

Their existance was top secret and only acknowledged by the government in the 1990s.

Little remains of this local “OB” or Operational Base except a few depressions in the ground which become covered in wild garlic most of the year,

There is an excellent diagram by David Waller that lets you relate to what’s still visible.

Its most easily located by walking to the end of the promentary above where two stream meet.