Ex-nuclear bunker pulled from auction
MYSTERY surrounds the future of a nuclear bunker that was up for sale at auction.
The unusual lot, located at the edge of Twyford, near Winchester, was due to be sold on Tuesday, February 19, but the owners, Southern Water, withdrew it.
It is a mystery why Southern Water had a sudden change of heart and what the bunker's future now holds.
A company spokesman said: "Southern Water has decided to withdraw the bunker from public sale after an opportunity arose outside of the auction.
"Due to the commercial sensitivity of the opportunity we are unable to release further details.
"However we are extremely pleased with the interest the sale of the bunker created through auctioneers Clive Emerson."
The property had a guide price of £300,000 for the freehold, which has 2ft-thick concrete walls and 6in steel doors.
To get inside, you have to pass through two steel doors set into the hillside.
Little remains of the original use of the bunker. There is general office space, a meeting room, an IT room and a generator room.
8:20pm Sunday 24th February 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Jon Tee, Isle of Wight on 10:25am Tue 26 Feb 08
Can we presume that the nuclear threat (against which this was undoubtedly built) is longer a threat? But what is even more provocative; Who was this built for?
Doesn't sound large enough to a house the entire population of Winchester - So in the eventuality of a nuclear fall out they are assumed to be exterminated. It is heartily sickening that the populace of this country elect political representatives who are only really interested in looking after themselves - and this just goes to prove the point!
Can we presume that the nuclear threat (against which this was undoubtedly built) is longer a threat? But what is even more provocative; Who was this built for?
Doesn't sound large enough to a house the entire population of Winchester - So in the eventuality of a nuclear fall out they are assumed to be exterminated. It is heartily sickening that the populace of this country elect political representatives who are only really interested in looking after themselves - and this just goes to prove the point!
Posted by: keith ward, essex on 1:03pm Tue 26 Feb 08
This bunker was built as a communications centre for Southern Water in 1991 as part of a Govt plan to restart utilities after the big bang, it would be a comms hub to direct the engineers who would try and revive water services,
the unfortunate residents of Winchester had no shelter but the Council would shelter in basement of the Town hall and the County council in the basement of the office block Ashburton court built in 1969.
This bunker was built as a communications centre for Southern Water in 1991 as part of a Govt plan to restart utilities after the big bang, it would be a comms hub to direct the engineers who would try and revive water services,
the unfortunate residents of Winchester had no shelter but the Council would shelter in basement of the Town hall and the County council in the basement of the office block Ashburton court built in 1969.
Posted by: Vicky, Winchester on 11:12am Wed 27 Feb 08
The site was actually built, in the first instance, as a water resevior. It was then converted to a bunker during the Cold War.
The site was actually built, in the first instance, as a water resevior. It was then converted to a bunker during the Cold War.
Posted by: Anon, Earth on 12:58pm Thu 10 Apr 08
The reason why the bunker was withdrawn was that the CEO of southern water wanted a secure place for their data storage. When he saw this bunker in the auction, he asked his people to buy it. Then they realised they already owned it so withdrew it from auction.
The reason why the bunker was withdrawn was that the CEO of southern water wanted a secure place for their data storage. When he saw this bunker in the auction, he asked his people to buy it. Then they realised they already owned it so withdrew it from auction.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
