The Anchor facility shown in this video was built in the 1950s when the size of atomic weapons at the time made an underground city centre location survivable. With the arrival of thermonuclear weapons, the facility very quickly become obsolete, and was maintained primarily because of it's use for cabling I believe.
As far as I know, issues such as flooding and asbestos make it unusable now.
Rather misleading of the reporter to suggest this was to be used for regional government after a nuclear war, this was simply a blast and fallout protected BT exchange similar to the Kingsway and Guardian facilities in London and Manchester.
Regional government for the West Midlands area would have been in bunkers at Drakelow near to Kidderminster, and Swynerton, in Staffordshire.
I worked in Birmingham Anchor for about 3 to 5 months and I know the exact location and entrances to the tunnels which are all very secure.B.T have spent huge amounts of money cleaning the tunnels out and installing alarm systems etc they are now spotless and well maintained due to masses of fibre and old CJ-MU cables still running through the tunnels.All I can say is that its an amazing place and and I feel pretty lucky to have been down there as some guys I know never have.
I hadn't seen this before. It's very interesting. When I was at Aston Uni (1984-88), it was a widespread belief that this bunker was under the uni's main building. This seemed believable, given the size and depth of the building (and one of the uni's staff members being a prominent city councillor). So, I've either just broken the Official Secrets Act or perpetuated another urban myth!
I seem to recall that these tunnels run from the BT Tower in Newhall Street out underneath the Bristol Road.
oganpure 4 months ago
The Anchor facility shown in this video was built in the 1950s when the size of atomic weapons at the time made an underground city centre location survivable. With the arrival of thermonuclear weapons, the facility very quickly become obsolete, and was maintained primarily because of it's use for cabling I believe.
As far as I know, issues such as flooding and asbestos make it unusable now.
oganpure 4 months ago
Rather misleading of the reporter to suggest this was to be used for regional government after a nuclear war, this was simply a blast and fallout protected BT exchange similar to the Kingsway and Guardian facilities in London and Manchester.
Regional government for the West Midlands area would have been in bunkers at Drakelow near to Kidderminster, and Swynerton, in Staffordshire.
oganpure 4 months ago
There's tunnels beneath the ringroad as well.
I wonder if these tunnels are the ones that link up to ones in redditch?
SuttonBluenose2 10 months ago
not so secret anymore
WILLYLONGBALLS 1 year ago
I worked in Birmingham Anchor for about 3 to 5 months and I know the exact location and entrances to the tunnels which are all very secure.B.T have spent huge amounts of money cleaning the tunnels out and installing alarm systems etc they are now spotless and well maintained due to masses of fibre and old CJ-MU cables still running through the tunnels.All I can say is that its an amazing place and and I feel pretty lucky to have been down there as some guys I know never have.
bluwarrioruk 1 year ago
The fact that it's "looked after" by BT should give you an epic clue as to where it is! Need a bit more than an oxy torch to get down there matey!lol
simcnally 2 years ago
@simcnally
na,there is a lift with a short trip over a large wall,dont know if its still works tho ha ha.
shazbat555 2 years ago
i know a few entrances.just need an acetylene torch ha ha.
mouldytbags 2 years ago
I hadn't seen this before. It's very interesting. When I was at Aston Uni (1984-88), it was a widespread belief that this bunker was under the uni's main building. This seemed believable, given the size and depth of the building (and one of the uni's staff members being a prominent city councillor). So, I've either just broken the Official Secrets Act or perpetuated another urban myth!
Chig66 2 years ago