World war two command bunker in Dover cliffs opens to visitors
The Guardian reported that a hidden World War II bunker in the white cliffs of Dover will open to the public from Friday.
The Guardian reported that a hidden World War II bunker in the white cliffs of Dover will open to the public from Friday. The Fan Bay plotting room, accessed through a hatch in a field and buried four metres beneath the cliffs, was built on orders from Winston Churchill and served as a command centre for a gun battery that defended the coast and attacked German ships in the Channel.
The concrete‑encased facility housed what the Guardian described as the first land‑based computer‑aided targeting system, acting as the "brain" of the battery, according to Jon Stewart, who led the excavation for the National Trust. The bunker remained secret for decades before the recent excavation uncovered it.
Visitors will be able to see the plotting room and learn how the system contributed to Britain’s wartime defences. The opening marks the first time the public can explore this pioneering piece of military technology.
Why it matters
The site offers insight into early computer‑aided warfare and preserves a key element of Britain’s World War II heritage.
Key details
- Location
- Germany · Europe
- Reported by
- The Guardian
- First reported
- Key names
- Dover, German, Channel It, Winston Churchill
- Section
- World
Sources
This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:
Read the full story at The GuardianSpotted an error? Request a correction · How this summary was produced
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