Subterranea Britannica: Sites:

Between the magazine and the site entrance was a large brick building. This was the tool store, unusually built within the centre and having a flat concrete roof rather than the normal slated pitch roof. The windows are much smaller than usual, set high up just under roof level. This building was probably added about 1903/04 to free the casemates for additional ammunition storage.

At some stage an earth mound was formed just beyond the western casemate block, extending from the front parapet half way across the parade. This may have been intended as a traverse blocking enfilading fire from the west. Beyond this traverse the parade has been built up against the west end forming a platform at fire step level. While it is mere speculation, this may have been a modification for artillery of some sort to be used.

Photo:Cartridge Store with issue hatcd lamp recesses on end wall
Photo by Nick Catford

Just By the magazine, a flight of steps of more recent origin lead up and over the rampart. outside on the rampart at this point is evidence of some disturbance and foundations which may relate usage in the last war by Canadian troops who were billeted in the area in some numbers. This may also explain the two structures, one possibly an observation post, immediately to the west of Reigate, one each side of the footpath, which may be of military origin.

Outside the entrance, along the track to the centre, were the standard pair of caretakers cottages. The probable date of construction was about 1900 and cost £11,359. Following the abandoning of the London Defence Scheme the centre was sold off in 1907. The site now belongs to the National Trust and has been used by scouts for a camp site. It is currently occupied by sheep who graze the slopes, keeping the grass down.

The entrance to one casemate has been filled with soil and the other fenced off but can be entered. It contains wooden bunk beds but these are not original having been built by the scouts who occupied the site. The eastern casement can be entered with difficulty by squeezing through a gap in the earth fill. It is wet and strewn with rubble. It still contains its original Crittal steel window frames, an early application of Crittall windows, widely used throughout the mobilisation centres. The magazine is deliberately left open as a sheep shelter and to stop it being broken into. Several original signs can still be read and the internal wooden doors are in good condition. On the walls of the cartridge store there is a considerable amount of graffiti which is believed to originate from the Canadian troops. The tool store, by contrast, is securely locked. The National Trust have done some restoration to the site including clearing the ditch of trees and bushes and interpretative displays and allow open access to the public. Outside of the centre the cottages can still be seen, now converted to chalet bungalows, providing pleasant country homes each side of which a few more houses have been built.