Personnel Lift 2 |
| Hob Uid: 1576642 | |
Location :
Wiltshire
Corsham
|
| Grid Ref : ST8515369185 |
| Summary : A pair of high capacity lifts and lift shafts which were used to transport personnel to the underground Ministry of Aircraft production factory in Spring Quarry. The Bath Stone quarry was requisitioned for conversion to an underground factory following the bombing of the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton in 1940. The construction project involved the levelling of floors, strengthening of pillars and roofs, and installation of lifts, escalators, and an extensive ventilation system. However, the factory was not ready for use by the end of 1942, when German bombing had largely ceased, and the need for the underground factory programme had diminished. The factory was re-classified as a shadow factory for production of Centaurus engines. The factory closed in 1945, and in 1954 Spring Quarry was bought by the government and the northeast area was allocated for conversion to a Central Government War Headquarters. This was designed to accommodate 4000 military and government staff, including the Prime Minister and key cabinet officials, in the event of nuclear conflict during the Cold War. Construction started in 1957 and much of the major work had been completed by 1959. The lifts were strengthened with blast walls and and concrete bunker-like shaft-heads.The Central Government War Headquarters was de-commissioned during the early 1990s and de-classified in 2004.The Personnel Lifts and associated structures are a Scheduled Monument. For the designation record of this site please see the National Heritage List for England. |
More information : A pair of high capacity lifts and lift shafts which were used to transport personnel to the underground Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP) factory in Spring Quarry. The Bath Stone quarry was requisitioned in 1940 for conversion to an underground factory following the bombing of the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton in 1940. The construction project involved the levelling of floors, strengthening of pillars and roofs, and installation of lifts, escalators, and an extensive ventilation system. However, the factory was not ready for use by the end of 1942, when German bombing had largely ceased, and the need for the underground factory programme had diminished. The factory was re-classified as a shadow factory for production of Centaurus engines.
The factory closed in 1945, and in 1954 Spring Quarry was bought by the government and the northeast area was allocated for conversion to a Central Government War Headquarters. This was designed to accommodate 4000 military and government staff, including the Prime Minister and key cabinet officials, in the event of nuclear conflict during the Cold War. Construction started in 1957 and much of the major work had been completed by 1959. The lifts were strengthened with blast walls and and concrete bunker-like shaft-heads.
The Central Government War Headquarters was de-commissioned during the early 1990s and de-classified in 2004.
The Personnel Lifts and associated structures are a Scheduled Monument. For the designation record of this site please see the National Heritage List for England. (1-2) |