Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker

We've been lucky to have two excellent work experience spies from Brine Leas School Jason and Kea this week. They've been making coffees, running our social media posts, writing poetry and flash fiction for our Cultural Fallout blog, painting Cold War art pieces and generally being super helpful. Here they are brainstorming with our Writer in Residence Philippa.
Image description: Two work experience students are sat at a table with a writer. The table is covered with papers. The students are poised with pens at the ready as the writer Philippa looks over at student Kea to discuss her ideas.

Līgatne bunker (sounds like a very expensive small French chocolate) constructed nine meters beneath ground, was intended to serve as a shelter for the Latvian communist elite in case of a hypothetical nuclear war! http://ow.ly/3Ask50jtUNP

Open to all ages, Free with your bunker admission.
Phillippa Holloway, our Writer in Residence, will be hosting a suitably spooky Halloween workshop to help you create your own ghost story from the depths of the bunker. Held in one of our most haunted rooms, who knows what inspiration might seep in from the concrete walls.
culturalfallout.org/events/

On this day 1956 The Hungarian Revolution started this began due to an Hungarian protest against the communist rule in the vast wild Budepest. It quickly gathered momentum and power on 24th October soviet tanks entered Budapest... RUNNNNNN!

https://www.theguardian.com/…/there-is- hope-here-fukushima-…

Hanger sale bargain hunters at the ready!

Another busy morning for the Hangar Sale, look at this happy queue! Why not pop down to bag yourself a bargain?

We're happy to release a project we've been working on for a while... our new blog Cultural Fallout. The Creative Hub for writing works developed deep in Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker. The collection is curated, partially written, inspired and assisted by our Writer in Residence Philippa Holloway. Check it out here: https://culturalfallout.org

A western spy invaded our Soviet Threat event, he said he was a journalist so we let him cross the border. You can listen to his fantastic podcast here:

Here are some images from our fabulous event over the weekend.

We had a super time this weekend for the Soviet Threat. Thanks to all out staff, re-enactors, helpers and supporters for another fantastic weekend! Photos will be going up in the next couple of days.

The Eastern forces have taken the bunker! Watch out for East German border guards on patrol.

Soviet Threat is in full swing! Don’t worry about the weather we’ve moved our people and exhibits inside so now we’re a great wet weather weekend bash!!

Not long now until Soviet Threat: Autumn 2018 One of the highlights of the weekend is the fantastic display Malaya: First Shots of the Cold War from the Foreign Field Living History Group. Learn about a little-known piece of the Cold War story, it gets a Super Spy Seal of Approval from us: fascinating and thought-provoking!

What can you say.." growing up in the 60's going on holiday playing in fields."

Little did we know what was hidden under our feet in those innocent times.. now in my 60's realising how close to Armageddon we really were... during the Cuban missile crisis.

This not only is a very informative place to visit but before you know where you are 2 hours have past because you're so engrossed with the place & the sheer scale of it...

" Got a day free on your hands..." ?

Do it......

We visited here on the 18th June...a truly hot day, so the ambient temp inside was most welcome though it did get a lot cooler the further down you went. This is a remarkable place from the cold war era and the ads from the 80's brought back memories. We wonder...how many people had or have a shelter built into their grounds or house from the companies advertising at the height of the concern. Intriguing.

We were virtually alone in the museum, saw about three others the whole of the 2 1/2 hours we spent in there so this added to the atmoshere especially as most rooms have PIR lights ...dark as you enter. My husband was most interested in the radar equipment as his father had been a radar engineer.

Sitting in the fall out shelter was an experience...sounds /lights and the explosion!! at least we knew we could come out to the daylight again and all would be ok (�) . Well worth the winding narrow lanes to get here. Tip..if you gift aid your ticket is valid a year.

Thank you to all concerned in this enterprise. A worthwhile and thought provoking visit.

Very interesting place loved wandering around it what a great place for families to visit. Loved trying to spot the spy mice and good fun for the kids too. �

Very good experience throughout. This was a complete random visit as the Safari park was closed due to snow. Supporting 8 adults with Autistic spectrum condition and was in my opinion well pitched to suit all ages. Some of the group took a huge leap in change of activity but essentially a good visit all round.

Took my 4 and 6 year old here today... they absolutely LOVED it! Both children enjoyed hunting for the Spy Mice, it made the slightly scarier parts of the tour a lot more manageable for them. Kept them entertained for 2 solid hours with no melt downs! Older ones could definitely spend a lot longer on the tour as there is so much to see and do. Highly recommend this and it's so close! I can't believe we've not been before. Will most certainly be going again.

Thank you Hack Green and Lucy for allowing us to investigate !!! Brilliant location ���

Such a great day out, the history is really interesting and finding the mice despite all being adults was so funny :-p

If, like me you're a child of the 60's and the 'four minute warning' was all too real, this is a fascinating and frankly rather chilling reminder of what we faced every day. A really well cared for and perfectly preserved time capsule which is great for all ages to see. Kids learning about the history of the Cold War, former service personnel and the generally curious will enjoy the trek out to the rural heart of Cheshire and see what went on behind 'top secret' doors.

Fantastic trip out with the family! We went as my son who is 6 is really interested in all the wars and learning what it was like! It even had a little trail to find all the mice and rats with a prize at the end which my 3year old daughter loved!

We did have a Pram with us for my 3month old which we did have to carry up an down stairs but it does clearly state their is listed access for wheelchairs and prams, but it did not stop us having a great day! Staff were really lovely and friendly!

We will defiantly be returning

Been meaning to visit here for a long time and I finally got round to it this weekend. I loved it. I especially enjoyed the hard hitting film 'the war game' it really brings it home. The whole tour took us over 2 hours. Some highly and fascinating stuff, and they aren't wrong about the shelter and the nervous disposition. I will be back! Thank you!

Been here plenty of times loved every minute very interesting learn a lot of new things. The staff are very helpful and kind. Would definitely recommend going here people, especially if you have children they will enjoy it

As a child of the 80's and living in the city they filmed Threads. This brought back memories of scary times. That said it is a fantastic place to visit, and can only wonder how it must have been working there not knowing if you would be coming out at the end of the day.

Absolutely fascinating place......I felt a couple of "cold spots" in a few of the rooms though.....I loved looking for the Spy Mouse's.....I got my cat one and he loves it! Very happy to see Goulash.....the bunker cat.....I will be back.....again and again given the opportunity. Lovely cup of tea after too from the Mess.

Absolutely fantastic day out. We spent over three hours looking at all the exhibits and walking around the site. I have been a number of other war museums, but many of the items were ones which I hadn't seen anywhere else. Would definitely recommend to those interested in the Cold War. There is also a cafe and a nice little gift shop for memories of the day.

A fascinating trip back to the world I grew up in where the shadow of the Cold War and potential nuclear armageddon was ever present. The most fascinating collection of cold war artefacts from around the world set in a genuine command and control bunker. I take part in their regular Soviet Threat living history weekends when the bunker is joined by large numbers of historical re-enactors bringing the Cold War to life. If you can make one of these events then they add an extra dimension to the place and are well worth a visit!

...Took us a full two hours to see everything here, which is quite remarkable. The history contained here is amazing, especially if, like me, you can remember 'Protect and Survive' and the very real fear of nuclear war in the 70's or 80's. Kids will love it too, though for very different reasons, which is great. But, you have to remember, it's secret, so you were never there...

Well worth a visit. Just over an hours drive wanted a cup of tea when we got there but with an excited nine year old went straight in. Took around 2 1/2 hours very informative and the bomb shelter very realistic. At the end of our tour at just before 4pm was told the cafe was closed now even thought they are open till 5 so couldnt get a drink. Should be informed on the way in as there are no signs. Also would be good to have a few members of staff around the tour to ask questions.

Totally unique ‘attraction’, and well worth a visit for those interested in the Cold War era.

Interesting but rather expensive for what is essentially just a museum. It would seem that most of the exhibits are from other sites