Site Records

Hope Cove

Hope Cove
Near Salcombe
Devon
OS Grid Ref: SX716374

Note: An RSG Site Report is available12/3/01 here.

Hope Cove was a World War II radar station. In the early 1950s it was revamped as part of the RAF's Rotor air defence scheme. It was one of five stations equipped with a type R6 (semi-sunk) bunker. The others were Hack Green, Langtoft, St. Twynells and Treleaver.

In the late 1950s the site was taken over by the Home Office and the R6 bunker was turned into a Regional Seat of Government (RSG). Later it became in turn a Sub-Regional Control (SRC), Sub-Regional Headquarters (SRHQ) and Regional Government Headquarters (RGHQ) under various Home Office schemes.

Reports that the bunker was totally refurbished in the 1970s and that it is almost identical to Hack Green are untrue. Apart from relatively minor improvements to electrical wiring and communications, most of the facilities date back to the Rotor era. The building still has its original air-conditioning plant, and most of the teak false floors are still in place.
This site is also known as Bolt Head and, as an RSG, was codenamed Gull Perch.

On 14th July 1999 I had a chance to visit this historic site and photograph it. Please click on any of the thumbnail images below for a larger version.

Note: An RSG Site Report is available12/3/01 here.

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Last updated 4th August 1999