RAF Holmpton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RAF Holmpton
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| Near Holmpton, East Riding of Yorkshire. in England | |
Aerial View of RAF Holmpton 2013
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 RAF Holmpton
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| Coordinates | 53°41′02″N 0°04′02″E / 53.6839°N 0.0673°E |
| Type | RAF Command Bunker |
| Height | 100 feet (30 m) deep excavation |
| Site information | |
| Owner | RL(FRAFS)BLC Limited |
| Controlled by | Not for Profit |
| Open to the public |
2016 – 23 March to 29 August |
| Condition | Fully maintained |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1951 |
| In use | 1953–2014 |
| Materials | Concrete/steel/tungsten |
RAF Holmpton is a huge underground bunker that was once a secret base for the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was built in the 1950s during the Cold War, a time when the world was worried about a big conflict. Its main job was to act as an early warning radar station. This meant it helped spot enemy planes or missiles early on.
The bunker is located near the village of Holmpton in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was used by the military for 62 years, from 1953 until 2014. After that, it was sold to a private company. The whole site covers about 36 acres (14.5 hectares). The main part is a secure command bunker, which is about 100 feet (30 meters) underground. It's like a giant hidden fortress!
Contents
The ROTOR Programme
Building a Secret Bunker
RAF Holmpton was part of a special defence plan called the ROTOR programme. This plan aimed to protect the UK from air attacks. The bunker at Holmpton was a unique design, known as an R3-M2. It was bigger than other bunkers and was the only one of its kind in the UK. It even served as a test model for similar bunkers built in Europe during the Cold War.
The bunker was built to be incredibly strong. It sits in a huge hole about 100 feet deep. The walls are made of 10 feet (3 meters) of solid concrete, with strong tungsten rods inside for extra support. There's also a thick concrete slab above the bunker to protect it from bombs. Building this massive structure in 1953 cost about £1.5 million, which was a huge amount of money back then!
Changing Roles and Names
From 1958 to 1975, the bunker and nearby living quarters were known as RAF Patrington. When the living quarters closed, the bunker site went back to being called RAF Holmpton. In the late 1960s, it became a testing ground for advanced radar systems. It even had a huge computer system for a project called 'Linesman Radar'.
However, all radar operations at the site stopped in 1973. For a few years after that, the site was mainly used for training.
Command and Control Centre
In the 1980s, the bunker got a new important job. It was turned into the main emergency headquarters for RAF Support Command. This meant it would be a key place for directing RAF operations if a war broke out.
But when the Cold War ended in 1991, this role was no longer needed. So, the site went back to being used for training. Then, in 1994, it was updated again to test a new UK Air Communications system. This system helped with electronic warfare. This function stayed at RAF Holmpton until 2002.
Royal Observer Corps Operations
Throughout its history, RAF Holmpton also had a special area for the Royal Observer Corps (ROC). The ROC was a group of civilian volunteers. Their job was to watch for enemy aircraft and nuclear attacks. They would report what they saw to help protect the country.
The ROC was officially "stood down" (disbanded) in 1992. However, some ROC units continued to work on special tasks until 1995. This makes RAF Holmpton one of the last places in the UK where members of the Royal Observer Corps served. It's a unique part of the bunker's story!
Becoming a Visitor Attraction
In 2003, the Ministry of Defence leased the site to a private company. This company, RL(FRAFS)BLC Limited, started managing the bunker. By late 2003, there were plans to open the site to the public. It welcomed its first visitors in 2004.
New Ownership and Reopening
In 2012, the Ministry of Defence decided they no longer needed the site. So, they sold it completely to RL(FRAFS)BLC Limited in 2014. Even during this change, public visits continued. The last guided tours before refurbishment happened in December 2014.
The new owners then spent 2015 completely updating the site. It reopened to visitors on March 23, 2016, with a brand new experience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bunker had to close. But in 2023, it reopened for occasional visits. Sometimes, you can even meet original ROC volunteers there!
