Pictures reveal secrets of former Cold War base

A large green-painted military radar, at the former RAF Neatishead siteAndrew Turner/BBC

The T84 radar at Neatishead was one of several that operated at the base

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting from
Former RAF Neatishead

Pictures have revealed the interior of a former Cold War radar station believed to be the country's longest occupied.

RAF Neatishead in Norfolk was downgraded from an RAF station 20 years ago but is still a military air defence radar site.

Part of the remaining site, including a nuclear bunker, was sold off to tech entrepreneur William Sachiti, who opened its doors to the media.

"I've owned this place for about three years, and no, I've actually not explored a lot of it," he admitted.

"I think there's about 40% of the bunker I haven't seen yet but what I have done is made sure I've got in touch with people that used to work here to make sure the place is kept alive enough as we slowly refurbish it and bring it back to life."

Originally a World War II base, the site was an important part of Britain's air defences during the Cold War.

A drone image of part of the RAF Neatishead site, with bunker and ventilation access points and an office accommodation building. A concrete roadway runs through the site and green fencing can be seen sectioning off some areas. THere are green fields and trees, creating a woodland environment. In the distance is the T84 Radar, to the upper left of the image.Shaun Whitmore/BBC

The former RAF Neatishead site is close to the Broads National Park

Mr Sachiti said he was using the site to develop technology aimed at covering mobile "notspots" - areas with poor or non-existent phone or data signals.

However, it has emerged that last month the defence secretary issued a High Court writ against Mr Sachiti and his company, Academy of Robotics.

Further details are not currently available, but Mr Sachiti said: "This is unrelated to any of our current or previous with the MOD, and unrelated to any radar tech which was recently announced.

"There was a minor dispute which was resolved but I cannot comment on the details."

The Ministry of Defence has been asked for comment.

A control panel of switchgear inside a power plant control room. Many of the buttons are coloured and they are housed onto grey cabinetry.Shaun Whitmore/BBC

Switchgear inside a power control unit appear as if the operator has just stepped away

A cream-coloured telephone, with dark grey keyboard pane, with the receiver and wire visibly dirty. It is marked MoD Property and is on a desk with dirt and detritus caused by the ceiling becoming damaged.Shaun Whitmore/BBC

Even basic equipment has been left in situ, gathering dust

A row of four knife switches inside grey boxes, set within a control panel.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
A large red emergency stop button, with the words engraved in white on the top. The button is set within a grey control panel. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Bunk beds within a corridor in the nuclear bunker at the former RAF Neatishead site. The green-painted bed frames are a right-angle triangle, with three beds, some of which are folded. There is a brown floor covering, and the walls are a buff colour. A red emergency telephone box is mounted on the wall.Shaun Whitmore/BBC

Bunks in the bunker: beds for emergency use in the event of a nuclear attack

A metal grey-painted turnstile gate and security office. A telephone is mounted on a shelf, beneath a window to the security office. A green sticker stating: "telephone" is stuck onto the glass.Shaun Whitmore/BBC

A turnstile-controlled entry to a facility built in the 1970s, which controlled the electrical supply to the radar station and pneumatic systems on site

A white shape with coloured lens aperture, and a warning sign that states: "Danger; non-ionising radiation" and a yellow warning triangle mounted onto green-painted hand rails on a staircase up the T84 radar.Andrew Turner/BBC

Warning signals and signs display the risks of non-ionising radiation when the radar was in operation

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