1950s nuclear bunker goes under the hammer in West Yorkshire

It's one of around 1,500 miniature bunkers built for the army in the 1950s

The entrance to the bunker near Pontefract
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 6th Nov 2024

A restored West Yorkshire nuclear bunker dating back to the 1950s is due to go under the hammer.

The small facility in Badsworth, Pontefract, is one of around 1,500 built for the Royal Observer Corps at a time when nuclear war was a major concern for the government.

It's been restored to its original condition by its current owner and comes with access from nearby New Road, as well as a fence, gate and its own land.

Inside the bunker

It's sent to be sold off by SDL Property Auctions on November 21, with a guide price of between £15,000 and £20,000.

Andrew Parker, auctioneer and partner at SDL Property Auctions, said: “There are only a handful of ROC nuclear bunkers left in the country so to have this lot for sale in our auction is quite unusual.

"This is only the fourth time we have had a bunker for sale, and the previous three that we have sold generated a lot of interest, and we’re confident this lot will do the same.

“Some of the interested parties are simply curious to see what the inside of a nuclear bunker looks like, however, many are genuinely considering purchasing to secure their own piece of history.”

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.