Pear Tree House Bunker - London
History
“A former defense control center located in southeast London, beneath a block of residential flats. Originally, this site was intended to serve as a control center for the metropolitan forces of Lambeth, Southwark, and Camberwell during the era of the Cuban Missile Crisis. However, due to structural changes within the government, it was eventually designated as a borough control center instead. Construction of the facility, known as "The Pear Tree," took approximately three years and was completed in 1966. It featured an 18-room bunker beneath the flats above. The center was in use for only two years before being placed under care and maintenance In 1979, the Greater London Council (GLC) repurposed the location as the Southeast Group War Headquarters, one of five such group headquarters at the time. More recently, it was used as a social services storage facility by the local council. Since then, it has been left derelict. Despite its current state, remnants of its original purpose remain. Multiple city maps still adorn the walls, and a light indication system (still operational) is present. This system was designed to indicate the severity of a nuclear attack with red, amber, and green lights. Interestingly, the two blast doors also remain functional and are one of the few visible signs of the site's original purpose. The doors can be locked from the inside, which is likely one reason the location is regularly used as a squat by locals”.
