Central Government War Headquarters

The Central Government War Headquarters is a 240acre complex built 120ft underground as the United Kingdom's Emergency Government War Headquarters – the hub of the country's alternative seat of power outside London during a nuclear war or conflict with the Soviet Union. It is located in Corsham, Wiltshire, in an old underground Bath stone quarry known as Spring Quarry. The complex was known variously as "Stockwell", "Subterfuge", "Burlington", "Turnstile", "Chanticleer", "Peripheral", and "Site 3". It was also nicknamed "Hawthorn" by journalist Duncan Campbell, who first revealed its existence in his 1982 book War Plan UK. It was also mentioned by Peter Laurie in his 1979 revised edition of "Beneath the City Streets". Construction began in the late 1950s. Despite becoming outdated shortly after it was built, due to intercontinental ballistic missiles being able to target it, and the formulation of other plans (such as PYTHON), the complex continued to have a role in war plans and the site remained in operation for thirty years.

The Central Government War Headquarters is a 240acre complex built 120ft underground as the United Kingdom's Emergency Government War Headquarters – the hub of the country's alternative seat of power outside London during a nuclear war or conflict with the Soviet Union. It is located in Corsham, Wiltshire, in an old underground Bath stone quarry known as Spring Quarry. The complex was known variously as "Stockwell", "Subterfuge", "Burlington", "Turnstile", "Chanticleer", "Peripheral", and "Site 3". It was also nicknamed "Hawthorn" by journalist Duncan Campbell, who first revealed its existence in his 1982 book War Plan UK. It was also mentioned by Peter Laurie in his 1979 revised edition of "Beneath the City Streets". Construction began in the late 1950s. Despite becoming outdated shortly after it was built, due to intercontinental ballistic missiles being able to target it, and the formulation of other plans (such as PYTHON), the complex continued to have a role in war plans and the site remained in operation for thirty years.