Cuckfield ROC Bunker – a restoration project

Description

This film shows the progress of a restoration project with a difference ! When the opportunity to do a job on this ROC site came up, bunker enthusiast Mark Russell jumped at it.

Relatively sparsely furnished, but not flooded or badly damaged, this bunker made the perfect site for Mark to put his vision into action: restoring and re-kitting an ROC post to its former glory as it was during its time of use.

A rotten floor was removed, much painting was done, seized pumps were freed and vintage chemical toilets were made to shine like the day they were made. Numerous other authentic and original items were brought in to complete the scene, including bunk beds, communications equipment, bomb plotting maps, tools, rations and a host of other bits of and pieces.

Footage starts in mid 2009 showing a relatively empty space in need of attention. A further visit at the end of 2009 shows great progress in décor improvements, while a final visit in May 2010 shows the full restoration on one of the open days. Mark gives us a detailed history lesson on the surface and then descends to complete an informative tour of this fascinating, underground, historical time capsule.