Paddock: Standby Cabinet War Rooms

Built between 1939 and 1940, Paddock was built as an alternative underground accommodation for the War Cabinet should the government be forced to evacuate their protected war room in the basement of their new offices in Great George St, Whitehall due to sustained bombing from the Germans. The name Paddock was derived from the nearby Paddock Road.

The bunker comprises of 40 rooms over 2 levels, it contains some original equipment although this and the bunkers internal structures have suffered from water damage.

Paddock never fulfilled Churchill’s requirements with him considering it too damp and too far away, but it was used twice. On 3 October 1940, Churchill chaired a meeting there of the full war cabinet. The bunker was always staffed just in case it was required.

The bunker was abandoned in 1944 and subsequently was used by the Post Office for research and development before again being abandoned in 1976 and laying unused until 1997 when Network Homes purchased the site.

To to see information and pictures on the main Cabinet War Rooms click the link: https://kentexplorehistory.co.uk/blog/cabinet-war-rooms

The Bunker is opened twice a year by the guys at Sub Brit on behalf of Network Homes. Booking of tours and to see when the bunker will be open is available via the Network Homes website.