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Blowing up old radar station, Beachy Head, Sussex
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Blowing up old radar station, Beachy Head, Sussex
Blowing up an old radar station at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, Sussex. In 1950 an underground Air Ministry Radio Station was constructed on the cliff top at Beachy Head. It was in fact part of a top secret Early Warning (CEW) system which remained part of Britains defence capabilities until it closed a decade later. One Sunday in late September 1963, members of the demolition team of the 21st SAS Territorial Regiment started to clear the surface buildings. The buildings proved to be stronger than first expected, so the team packed in more explosives and tried again. Demolition had to be abandoned until the next day, when the manager of a nearby hotel complained that his windows had cracked. The task of clearing the remaining buildings was then taken over by a local demolition company. At a later stage the stairwell access behind the guardhouse was demolished and capped, along with the emergency exit, humid air exit and cable shaft. The only way into the bunker was via a small manhole set into the concrete slab placed over the stairwell. Access remained available to the bunker for a while, but due to vandalism the entrance was finally sealed with a large tree trunk thrust into the hole by a JCB and back filled with chalk. Today tourists can stand on the mound above the bunker unaware of the secret rooms and tunnels beneath their feet. Date: 1963
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Media ID 14344145
© Mary Evans Picture Library/DAVID LEWIS HODGSON
Beachy Blowing Cliff Closed Defence Demolition Downs Eastbourne Ministry Radar Radio Secret System Underground
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph, the remnants of an old radar station at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, Sussex, are being blown up. The image captures the explosive moment as a large plume of smoke and debris erupts from the cliffside, marking the end of an era. This underground Air Ministry Radio Station was constructed on the cliff top in 1950 as part of a top-secret Early Warning (CEW) system, which remained a crucial component of Britain's defense capabilities until its closure a decade later. On a sunny Sunday in late September 1963, members of the demolition team of the 21st SAS Territorial Regiment began the process of clearing the surface buildings. However, they soon discovered that the structures were stronger than anticipated, and they were forced to add more explosives and try again. The demolition had to be halted for the night when a nearby hotel manager complained that his windows had been cracked by the blast. The following day, a local demolition company took over the task of clearing the remaining buildings. The stairwell access behind the guardhouse, along with the emergency exit, humid air exit, and cable shaft, were all demolished and capped. The only means of entry into the bunker was via a small manhole set into the concrete slab covering the stairwell. Access to the bunker remained available for some time, but due to vandalism, the entrance was eventually sealed with a large tree trunk thrust into the hole by a JCB and backfilled with chalk. Today, tourists can stand on the mound above the bunker, unaware of the secret rooms and tunnels that lie beneath their feet. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the hidden history that lies just beneath the surface of our landscapes.
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