Cold War bunker on the edge of Sandringham could be yours... for just £20,000
A Cold War-era former observation bunker on the edge of the royal estate at Sandringham in Norfolk is going up for auction on 8 May with a guide price of £20,000.
The Dersingham Royal Observer Corps post was once part of a large network of observation posts up and down the country which were constructed as part of an early warning system to detect impending nuclear attacks and calculate their impact.
The Dersingham post is buried in the land on the north-east side of Chalk Pit Road and has been well-preserved.
The site was built in 1957 and has two components: a concrete orlit hut above ground and a hidden bunker underground.
Both structures were completed due to the heightened threat of nuclear war at the time.
The orlit hut first emerged in key locations around the country to allow the ROC to monitor and assess possible attacks by aircraft.
Cold War ready: The Dersingham post is going up for auction via Auction House on 8 May
As the danger from aircraft diminished and the possibility of missile attack increased, underground monitoring posts were subsequently constructed to provide additional protection.
The Dersingham post was built in 1957 and was Post 12 of Group Six in Norwich.
A metal ladder leads down 15 feet into the bunker area, which was constructed in a uniform style.
The site only has two rooms. The smaller of the two contained the toilet, while the large room was used for observation and sleeping.
While in use, it would have been kitted out with standardised furniture in the form of canvas chairs, a folding table, shelf, cupboard and a pair of metal-framed bunk beds.
Three crucial pieces of equipment would also have been housed here, namely the fixed survey meter, the bomb power indicator and the ground zero indicator, according to Auction House.
Each hut was designed to house three observers, each tasked tasked with specific duties.
The Dersingham post and hundreds of other posts were manned by trained uniformed volunteers from the 1950s through to 1991, when the last posts were closed and either demolished or sold off.
Unique: The Dersingham post has been in private ownership since 1992
Up for grabs: The Dersingham post has an auction guide price of £20,000 before fees
Setting: The Dersingham post sits in a parcel of land with stunning countryside views
While many are now derelict or no longer exist, the Dersingham post remains intact and has been in private ownership since 1992.
The site could be re-equipped to echo the post’s heyday and become a miniature museum, or turned into a unique getaway for the new owner. It could potentially even be used as a pop-up campsite.
Auction House said: 'The 28-day rule means that the land can be used for temporary stays for up to 28 days in a calendar year without planning permission being needed.'
Auction house area manager, Mark Upston, said: 'This is truly a special opportunity for those who are drawn to properties with historical significance.
'This post was once a vital part of our defences and will be a treasured asset to a buyer keen on preserving our past.'
Buying at auction
Where possible, always visit the property in person before the auction.
Read legal documents for the property carefully and, when possible, get advice from a solicitor before heading to the auction.
Sometimes, the legal pack includes 'special conditions' that mean you might also be liable to pay an additional three per cent fee to a sales agent.
Before submitting any bids, always check what sort of price similar properties in the area have sold for. This will, of course, be harder if it is a more unusual property that you are after.
If you do bid, do not get carried away and bid more than you can afford.
Most properties bought via auction have a 28-day competition date and home loans for auction properties can be harder to get.
