 Site Records
Site Name: Blakelaw - 13 Group Fighter Command Filter Room and Newcastle
County Borough Main Control Centre
Moulton Court
Blakelaw Estate
Blakelaw
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Northumberland
OS Grid Ref: NZ213668
Sub Brit site visit 1st December 2004
There are two stairways down to the lower level one on the north side
of the bunker and another on the east side. All the rooms on the upper
level, apart from the toilets have been stripped of all original fixtures
and fittings with the exception of ventilation trunking which is still
in place in some of the rooms through the bunker; many of the rooms
have been altered for use by the sea cadets.
Photo:The
operations room at Blakelaw Filter Room seen from the lower floor; this
later became the Newcastle County Borough Main Control Centre. The TS
Nelson ships mast can be seen in the foreground.
Photo by Nick Catford
One of the small rooms close to the emergency exit has been converted
into a strong room with a secure steel door, inside this room there
are a number of original cables, now cut off as they pass through the
wall into the room. An adjacent room has been turned into a recreation
area with a bar. At the west end on the north side there is a small
room containing electrical switchgear which probably dates from the
1950's when the bunker was used as the main civil defence control for
Newcastle County Borough, close to this room is the backfilled stairway
down from the demolished main entrance. At the bottom of the stairway
is a small room with a hand written notice on the wall relating to the
timings of a Colour Ceremony performed by TS Nelson.
This
map shows the position of the filter room in relation to the 13 Group
Headquarters at Kenton Bar
The lower corridor is similar running around the north and east side
of the side of the bunker and entering the operations room half way
along the south side. On the north side the corridor continues down
a short flight if steps into what was the ventilation plant room. Here
there is evidence of ventilation trunking and there are a number of
concrete machine beds still in place. The two level operations room
was used as the 'deck' of TS Nelson and a short flagpole is still there
lying on the floor. A small stage has been constructed to one side of
the room indicating it has also been used for social functions by the
sea cadets.
Photo:The
ventilation plant room now stripped of all original fittings. An engine
bed is still clearly visible at the back of the room.
Photo by Nick Catford
Again, all original fixtures and fittings on the lower level have
been removed and one of the rooms has been converted into a kitchen.
There is some standing water on the lower floor at the east end and
some fire damage to furniture and a partition wall in one of the rooms.
Once a full survey of the bunker had been made the emergency exit door
and grille and the entrance gate to the compound were rewelded by the
council contractors.
See also: Unearthing
the Kenton Bar bunker by Air Vice-Marshal Sandy Hunter CBE AFC -
Defence Lines No. 5
Sources:
For further information and pictures
of the Blakelaw Filter Room click here
For 13 Group Fighter Command Group Headquarters
at Kenton Bar - click here
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Last updated 17th September 2005
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