Cold War Sites

Fort Southwick COMMCEN

  Created 10-07-2004   Last update 24-08-2004

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The Barrack Block (sometimes less correctly called the Citadel) of the Fort was also used by the Royal Navy during the Cold War. The basement was an operations and briefing centre and the first floor was used as accommodation for the Commander in Chief (CinC) Home Command and mess facilities. 

 
 
Plan of Fort Southwick Barrack Block

Plan of the lower level of the Barrack Block. The upper level is has pretty much the same layout. The 6 casemates (labelled 1 - 6) were sub-divided into a maze of compartments a hallmark of the RN as they made their shore bases resemble the interior of a warship.

Copyright David Moore - Palmerston Forts Society

 
 
 
Front of Barrack Block 

The north face (front) of the Barrack Block. The nearest entrance lead to the Admirals Quarters and the other to the 'All Ranks Mess' on the first floor. A Gorge originally intended to form part of the Victorian Barrack Block defences runs along its length and provides light to the basement. 

Photo Jan West

 
 
 
Nuclear Reporting Cell

Within the basement was a Nuclear Reporting Cell (NRC) housing this backlit plotting screen on the left. The interesting thing about it was that it showed the entire disposition of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation (UKWMO) underground monitoring posts and post clusters. During the Cold War these posts, manned by the Royal Observer Corps, were intended to plot and measure any Soviet nuclear strike on the UK. The primary purpose of this was defensive: to warn the population and to send aid where it was required. This installation suggests another purpose - to gauge the level of retaliation required. This NRC may have been operational up to 1991. There was an underground post at the east end of  Portsdown

Photo Jan West

 
 
 
Training Planning Room

The 'Training Planning Room'. This takes up an entire un-partitioned casemate.

Photo Jan West

 
 
 
B1 Ops Room

The B1 Ops room in the eastern end of the basement.

Photo Jan West

 
 
 
Cabinet

This cabinet seems to have been overlooked when the Fort was decommissioned. It contained details of a 1974 Royal Navy exercise. 

Photo Jan West

 
 
 
West gorge outside

NEW 24-08-2004

The entrance door to the west gorge casemates. This area of the fort was also pressed into service. The casemates were converted to offices and were used up until 2001. The green garage type doors were a later addition.. Originally this was the guardroom just a window in the casemate wall.  

Photo Jan West

Photo interpretation: David Moore - Palmerston Forts Society

 
 
 
inside west gorge casemates

NEW 24-08-2004

A view through the entrance door. This area was in quite good condition in 2004. Numerous offices re-used the Victorian casemates which lead off from the left.

Photo Jan West

 
 

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