Summary
A series of rooms in multi-levelled underground chambers for Central Government War Headquarters (CGWHQ), formerly a Bath Stone quarry, but converted to a kitchen and canteen facility with attached washrooms in the mid-C20. There has been some reordering in the later C20.
Reasons for Designation
The CGWHQ Kitchen and Canteen, below MoD Corsham is designated as a Scheduled Monument for the following principal reasons:
* Period: the peril from the threat of nuclear strike that Britain faced during the Cold War is inherent in the need to provide this facility to sustain the staff required to prepare for retaliation and recovery following a nuclear strike.
* Rarity: this is the only known kitchen of its kind, including many fittings that cannot be found elsewhere.
* Survival: the rooms retain their original fittings and serveries, unused but ready for use.
* Group Value: the CGWHQ site is an unparalleled example of our national Cold War defence heritage, and represents the systematic use of expansive underground areas by industry and the military during the C20.
* Representative: the sober fitting out of the whitewashed Bath Stone chamber, with breeze block partitions, is redolent of the grim character of Cold War military installations, and the functionality of large-scale government welfare facilities.
History
The Corsham Mines are a multi-layered historic site near Bath, beneath the southern end of the Cotswold Hills in Wiltshire. Quarrying of Bath Stone in the wider area took place from Roman times, and by the C18 Bath Stone had become a highly sought after building material. The opening of the Kennet and Avon canal in 1810, and the subsequent construction of the Great Western Railway in the 1840s, made the transportation of the stone to farther locations easier and cheaper, thereby increasing its popularity. Brunel's cutting of the Box Railway Tunnel, beside the village of Corsham, revealed a rich seam of high quality stone beneath the hills. Intense quarrying followed, leaving a network of quarries with worked-out chambers and air shafts, including Spring Quarry. By the time mining ceased in 1940, there were over 60 miles of tunnels across 3,000 acres, located at depths between 80 and 100 feet below ground.
The Bristol Aeroplane Company (BAC) at Filton, near Bristol was bombed in September 1940. In response, Lord Beaverbrook, of the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP), issued an urgent plan to relocate all production below ground, which was endorsed by Churchill. The limitations of time, suitable sites, and wartime resources quickly saw the scheme scaled back to the relocation of Filton's engine plant. In December 1940 four quarries were requisitioned by the Ministry, including Spring Quarry, to the south of the Box Tunnel. It covers a vast 3,300,000 square foot area (or 76 acres). It was intended that BAC would convert Spring Quarry for engine production in 6 months, at an estimated cost of £100,000.
However, the scale of the Ministry's factory construction project was enormous, involving the removal of thousands of tons of rubble stone, the levelling of floors, and the strengthening of pillars and roofs using steel and concrete. Lifts, escalators, and an extensive ventilation system were installed. Furthermore, BAC became doubtful about the practicality of the project, and their involvement was scaled back. The factory was not ready for use by the end of 1942, when German bombing had largely ceased, and the need for the underground factory programme had all but vanished. The MAP factory was reclassified as a shadow factory, and proposed production was switched from the Hercules engine to the less vital Centaurus. By 1945, the factory still fell short of its original specifications, and its cost had risen to many millions. Throughout the war, engine production figures were negligible and the factory closed at the end of the war. MAP itself was abolished in 1946. Spring Quarry was bought by the government in 1954, when the north-east area was allocated for conversion to a secret CGWHQ for use in the event of nuclear conflict.
The first known planning for the dispersed operation of government departments, should Central London be destroyed through enemy attack, was during a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence under Sir Warren Fisher in 1937. Following the war, it was acknowledged that developments in weapons meant that the government's emergency plans were inadequate. In the light of the huge sums spent developing the MAP factory in Spring Quarry, estimated at £30 million, the Treasury proposed buying the requisitioned quarry for use as a citadel for future emergencies. However, the quarry was not bought from the Bath & Portland Stone Company until April 1954, along with 100 acres of land above ground. In 1957 the plans for the emergency headquarters were finalized; the site was intended to provide a safe haven from which the work of Government could continue. From here, the reconstruction of the country following a nuclear attack would be overseen. It was designed to accommodate up to 4,000 military and government staff, including the Prime Minister and key cabinet officials. Occupants would be sealed underground for 30 days and coordinate with Regional Seats of Government around the country, meaning that extensive communications and welfare infrastructure was needed.
Work began in 1957 with the construction of a reinforced concrete wall separating the CGWHQ area from that part of Spring Quarry used by the Admiralty. A buffer zone between the two was lined by a concrete block partition and solid rock pillars, sealing the Central Government side. Three blast doors were installed. New ventilation shafts were created and reinforced. Internal areas were divided by concrete block or, in some cases, with red brick. The northern parts of the main roadway through Spring Quarry (now called East/ West Main Road) were converted to a large telephone exchange, stores and plant rooms. Those to the south were offices and accommodation for the Government departments and War Cabinet, a communication centre, and an extensive canteen and kitchen facility. Most of the major building works were complete by April 1959.
Initially there were two kitchens installed, but by 1970 the envisaged level of occupancy was reduced by Government and the other kitchen, in Area 7, was abandoned. The kitchen and canteen that is part of this assessment was modified. Laundry equipment was moved from Area 7 to the rear of the kitchen, an area to the north was partitioned off to provide a storage area, and the rear serveries were altered or removed.
The CGWHQ complex was never needed or used for its intended function, and was reduced in capacity over a number of phases during the late C20. The site was de-commissioned in the early 1990s. It was de-classified in 2004.
Details
PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: a substantial canteen and kitchen area set on two levels, with four principal components: the Bottom Kitchen, the Servery, the Tea Bar and the Rear Laundry. There are also male washrooms attached to the north. The CGWHQ Kitchen and Canteen Area covers 3,382 metres square.
DETAILS: the Bottom Kitchen is a large-scale catering facility containing industrial-size equipment, fitted and/or plumbed, including ovens, steam ovens, deep fat fryers, hot plates, tray steamers, heated cupboards, three large chiller cabinets and a dishwasher. They are arranged in sub-areas, mostly below metal extraction hoods with attached lighting. To the rear (east), behind a brick partition wall, is the Rear Laundry with industrial-size washing machine, drier, a press and four ironing stations. One of the irons has been removed. The south end of the Bottom Kitchen is partly partitioned, and has food preparation areas, sinks and a secondary servery with access to the upper level.
The main servery area stands to the west of the Bottom Kitchen behind a brick partition wall with doorways. The Servery itself has a concrete block front below a concrete counter. To the rear, the counter top is metal above warming cupboards. Centrally positioned in the servery are three metal serving cabinets with four square covers each. Plant machinery stands to the north of The Servery. Directly in front of The Servery is a large Bath Stone pillar (T12) supporting the roof. On either side of the pillar are stairs and ramps with steel handrails connecting with the upper area that is focused on the Tea Bar. The Tea Bar has two concrete counters, each with a fixed Stott coffee machine. The surrounding area is largely open, former quarry working areas, that may have provided segregated dining areas. To the east of the Tea Bar are large double-doors forming one of the principal entrances to the canteen. The double-doors to the north of the Tea Bar form the other main entrance, with men's washrooms located beyond, containing sinks, toilets and showers.
All above ground structures are excluded from the scheduling. The designated area includes a 1m margin on all sides as well as above and below.
