Barnton Quarry - Air Defence of the UK - Grant More

Grant, from the Barnton Bunker Restoration Team gave us a very informative and enthusiastic presentation of both the history of the site and the work that is being done to restore it to its previous condition. He showed us many slides of how the rooms looked when they started and how many of them look now.
The initial building on the site was used from 1939 t0 1959 as an RAF command and control base for the then RAF Turnhouse. Due to the advancement of radar  technology it became redundant and the site was re-purposed as the central Regional Seat of Government for Scotland. It was one of 4 identical purpose built bunkers in the UK designed to house the personnel (approx. 400 in each) to run the country in the event of a nuclear war.
The bunker was built in the deep quarry and extends over 3 floors with 10ft thick walls. It has many rooms and a central operations well which extends over all 3 floors. The top is 100ft below the ground surface, the space having been filled in with rubble and gravel. When the “cold war” came to a close around 1983 it was taken over by the Council who then used it as storage and office space. By 1993 it was not being used much but a fire broke out which seriously damaged much of the building.
In 2011 the site was bought by the person who owns The Secret Bunker near Anstruther in Fife with the intention of renovating it. After much background planning and consultations volunteers were recruited and the work commenced. They are now over half way through what is a very challenging project and with the efforts of the volunteering team plan to complete the project within the next 3 years.
The plan is then to open it to the [public as an education and visitors centre to let people see what we had on our own doorstep and what an important part it played, not only in WW11 but also in what may have been !