Cold War Sites

Cold War News, Cold War Sites, Greenham Common Jun 27, 2013

Greenham Tower Update

In am email list update, Greenham Cllr Julian Swift-Hook stated that the campaign to save Greenham Control Tower was progressing well with over 750 signatures now on the petition. Swift-Hook’s vision is firmly set on saving the tower for public use as a visitors centre to Greenham Common with facilities such as a Cafe, toilets, a military history exhibition, a natural environment exhibition and a Farm shop selling local produce. The whole idea is a well thought out and fitting plan for this unique site and other places such as North Weald have shown it to be a popular use of the former USAF sites. You can sign the petition […]

Greenham Common Tower (Credit. N Harding)

Cold War News, Cold War Sites, Greenham Common Jun 3, 2013

Campaign to Save Greenham Tower

As previously reported West Berkshire Council is selling the Control Tower building at the former RAF Greenham Common. The local ward (Greenham Parish Council) wish to save the site as a visitors centre to this historic and beautiful place. As a result the local Lib Dem’s have started a campaign which this blog fully supports and urges you to also. In their own words:- Julian Swift-Hook and Billy Drummond are leading a campaign with  Greenham Parish Council to try to save the Control Tower for the community. West Berkshire Council (who were given the Control Tower by Greenham Common Trust in 1997 along with the rest of the Common) now want to sell it […]

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Cold War Sites, Greenham Common May 16, 2013

For Sale, Control Tower, one careful owner!

Following on from the news that Greenham Common’s iconic Cold War control tower was to be sold we can now confirm it is up for Auction by West Berkshire Council. The control tower at the former RAF Greenham Common, which for many was the front line of Britain’s Cold War, was left unused by the US Air Force in 1990 when the base closed and has stood as silent witness to what was the biggest Nuclear weapons base in the UK. Under the localism act, Greenham Parish Council have been given “first refusal” of the building and now they have confirmed they will be bidding, they have 6 months to raise the […]

An ROC Post (Credit Nick Harding)

Cold War News, ROC Posts Apr 23, 2013

Tocsin Bang – The ROC

The Royal Observer Corps was the UK’s prime resource for detecting and reporting on Nuclear Attacks on the UK. Its network of observation posts and regional headquarters formed the backbone of the UK Warning and Monitoring Organisation. Initially formed in 1925 the ROC’s initial job was to spot enemy air attacks and during World War II it complemented the Chain Holme radar system and as a result it played a major part in the Battle of Britain. Breifly stood down in 1945 following the end of the war it was re-activated in 1947 and adapted to take on its Cold War role. The UKWMO was formed 1957 and it was […]

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Cold War Sites, Greenham Common Apr 21, 2013

Do you know what this is?

Crane Support, a photo by Cloudsurfer_UK on Flickr. No its not a quiz, we are actually intrigued. This structure is one of 3 that obviously formed some kind of loading/unloading depot but beyond that we haven’t got a clue. Its located just east of Greenham Common near a place called Waterside Copse. (Google Maps http://goo.gl/maps/3mMfN) If you have any info on this site please drop us a line.

Little Sodbury ROC Post

Cold War Sites, ROC Posts Apr 19, 2013

Little Sodbury ROC Post

The entrance and main shaft of the Royal Observer Corps Post at Little Sodbury near Bristol. This one of the few posts still in relatively good condition despite being striped of almost its contents. It is worth noting that this post is on private land and any visit should be with the permission of the farmer.

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Cold War News, Cold War Sites, Greenham Common Apr 19, 2013

Control Tower Safe

The Control Tower at the former RAF Greenham Common has been granted Listed Status protecting it from demolition or redevelopment. The future ownership however isn’t so safe. West Berkshire Council has officially announced plans to sell the building and under a local right to bid scheme Greenham Parish Council has until April 16th to exercise its purchase option. The Parish has expressed an interest in the site with a view to turning into a visitors centre, something that has been sadly lacking at Greenham Common along with a museum about the history of the base. Built in the 1950’s the control tower is one of the few remaining buildings that […]

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Cold War Sites, Greenham Common Apr 18, 2013

Silo’s for sale

The former GLCM Alert and Maintenance Area (GAMA) at the RAF Greenham Common is currently for sale on the open market by its current owners Flying A services. Flying A purchased the site when the base was closed and have attempted several unsuccesful changes of use for site including Car Storage, Secure Data Storage and even Aircraft Storage however all planning applications were refused and given the site is listed as a scheduled monument it is unlikely any change of use would ever be approved. The schedule listing also preserves the site preventing redevelopement. Interestingly the sales listing compares GAMA to Stonehenge, which has a similair monument status, but it […]

GAMA Silo at Greenham Common

Cold War Sites, Greenham Common Apr 17, 2013

Greenham Common – Britains Front Line

 Laying in the Berkshire countryside just south of Newbury sits an open stretch of common land. Its actually made of two neighboring commons, Cookham and Greenham. Stand however on the random piece of tarmac in the middle of the wildflower haven and you start to notice things. A control tower, random US style fire hydrants and wires sticking.out of the ground, and wait, whats that? Missile silo’s? In 1941 Greenham Common was acquired to build an airfield, the first runway being laid in 1942. It was used by RAF training units initially before being handed over to the US Army Air Force (USAAF) Ninth Air Force. It was used by […]