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Places featuresYou are in: Essex > Places > Places features > Essex's worst kept secret? ![]() Tank apart, the bunker is well-disguised Essex's worst kept secret?Throughout the Cold War years its existence was unknown to all but a priveleged few. But now, the Secret Nuclear Bunker at Kelvedon Hatch is one of our county's most popular tourist attractions. ![]() The bunker remains exactly as when it was closed Since they took over ownership of the bunker, the Parrish family have made the conscious decision not to change the bunker's appearance in the intervening years since they took it over: "I think we are unique and I think that's one of our selling points," explains Michael. "It's something we're trying to cultivate and our ethos is that people have just walked out yesterday and you've just come in and this is how they left it." Whilst the immediate threat of nuclear attack has thankfully subsided, Michael does admit that tucked away in a safe place is a list of people he would invite should it be needed for its intended purpose. ![]() Operations room would allow governing to continue "It's very difficult because you can't tell people that they're on the list, because those you have missed off might feel they're not your friends any more," he admits. "And how do you decide who is going to be down here. My family is quite large - and really you wouldn't want more than 100 people in here, even though it was built for 600." "You've got to have a skill of some sort, because things will go wrong," he continues. "So engineers or people who can change light bulbs are actually more useful than someone whose got no skill at all. "So we have a cunning little list and we hope we never will need to use it!" Help playing audio/video Help playing audio/video last updated: 06/01/2009 at 13:08 Have Your SayDid you work at the Secret Nuclear Bunker during it's Cold War years?
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You are in: Essex > Places > Places features > Essex's worst kept secret?
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