Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker facts for kids
The Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker is a super secret underground building in Hack Green, Cheshire, England. It was built by the government to be a safe place during a nuclear attack. Today, it is a popular museum where you can learn about the Cold War.
Contents
Discovering Hack Green's Past
How Hack Green Helped in World War II
The Hack Green area was first used by the military during World War II. A special place called a Starfish site was set up here. Its job was to trick German bombers, known as the Luftwaffe. The site made fake fires and lights to look like the important railway hub in Crewe. This helped keep the real Crewe safe from bombs.
Later, a radar station was added. This was a ground-controlled interception (GCI) radar. It helped guide friendly fighter planes to find enemy aircraft.
Becoming a Cold War Stronghold
In the 1950s, the site was updated as part of the ROTOR project. This project built strong bunkers across the UK. Hack Green got a large, partly buried concrete bunker. It was called an R6 type bunker.
This station was officially known as RAF Hack Green. It was also called Mersey Radar. It helped control military planes flying through areas used by civilian aircraft.
From Secret Base to Museum
The site was left empty for many years. Then, the Home Office took it over. The R6 bunker was rebuilt. It became a Regional Government Headquarters (RGHQ). These were secret sites across the UK. Their purpose was to allow the government to keep working. This would happen even after a major nuclear attack.
Around 1992, the Cold War ended. The Home Office no longer needed these secret sites. Many were sold off. The Hack Green Bunker was bought by a private company. It opened to the public in 1998. Now, it is a museum all about the Cold War.
Exploring the Bunker Today
The bunker is open to visitors for most of the year. It has a huge collection of military items. You can see things from the Cold War era. It even has one of the world's biggest collections of nuclear weapons that are no longer used. You can also see equipment from the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System. This equipment was originally from RAF High Wycombe.
What You Can See and Do
The museum teaches you about the bunker's role during the Cold War. There is a special simulator. It lets you experience what it might have been like inside the bunker during a nuclear attack. Visitors can also watch a BBC film called The War Game. This film was made to show people what could happen if Britain faced a nuclear attack.
Fun for Younger Visitors
Younger visitors can play a game called "Cold War Spy Mice." They search for toy mice hidden in many rooms. The goal is to find as many as possible. Then, they report their findings to the desk for a prize. This game helps kids explore the bunker in a fun way. It also helps them avoid some of the more serious parts of the museum.
Hack Green on Screen
Featured on Television Shows
Hack Green was shown in an episode of the TV series Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders. The team investigated a mystery there. It was also featured again in Series 11 of the show.
Music Video Location
The band Everything Everything filmed a music video inside Hack Green. It was for their 2009 song "MY KZ, UR BF".
See also
- Radar
- Linesman/Mediator
- Central Government War Headquarters
- Civil Contingencies Secretariat
- RAF Rudloe Manor
- Corsham Computer Centre
- Continuity of government
- Wartime Broadcasting Service
- Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker
- List of museums in Cheshire
