Cuckfield Nuclear Bunker/Royal Observer Corps Post

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Cuckfield Nuclear Bunker/Royal Observer Corps Post

An ROC Post, restored in 2009 by Mark and Ed and now open to visit a few times each year! Message us on here for directions or information.
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https://goo.gl/maps/hdqemWEphiKEeL5m9

Cuckfield ROC post is a 3 man nuclear bunker hidden in an idyllic village in West Sussex. It was built in 1962 and operated until stand down in 1991. Its role was to monitor the nuclear threat from the Russians during the Cold War. It was restored during 2009 and opened that summer for public visits. Approximately 4 to 6 open days occur per year, usually at w

eekends. A suggested donation of £5 is appreciated as this goes towards upkeep and insurance. Interested groups can arrange special access visits outside of regular open days. Please note the bunker is not available for rent, accommodation and is a museum, not operational, so cannot be used for its original purpose. NB* THE BUNKER IS LOCKED SECURELY AND IS STRIPPED OF ANYTHING OF VALUE WHEN NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

23/05/2026

Ed and I are down at the post today doing (very hot) works ready for this years open days. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

25/04/2026

I should _not_ have left it so long to cut the grass 😬
Still, it’s all done now 😮‍💨

Also fitted some ‘previously loved’ guttering to the replica WW2 aircraft observation post and a water butt so we can clean down the structures more easily and water the plants (that I haven’t yet planted) along the back of the compound.

In case it isn’t obvious, I am not a professional gutter installer, but if it’s a bodge and it works, is it really a bodge?? Saved myself a tenner on guttering supports! 😎

Ed

25/03/2026

After a bit of a delay in publicising this years open day dates, we are pleased to announce them now!

Apologies there is not any June open weekends, but they as we might we just couldn’t get our calendars to align! So July and August it is then 👌

Will make individual events for them in due course!

Ed, Mark and Bob

EDIT: just noticed the year is wrong 😵‍💫 will amend asap - NOW UPDATED to 2026 🫣

13/03/2026

2 new Royal Observer Corps publications are now available!

I have been pleased to contribute to these two publications in the form of photos of equipment and some details/information about them. These are both excellent, and well worth a read. Skywatch is the first volume in a 3 parts series, that will cover Pre-WW2, WW2 and the Nuclar role.
The special edition of the formation sign is a standalone special edition, that covers the ROC from the early formation to the end of the nuclear role as well as how the Corps fitted with other similar roles (fire watchers in ww2 for instance)

Both are well written and illustrated, and are photograph heavy with pictures of kit, posts, uniforms, paperwork and personnel.

Here are the details:

Skywatch. A history of the Royal Observer Corps Volume 1: 1925-1939, Kevin Wright, Helion publishing, ISBN 978-1-804519-33-2

The Formation Sign Special Edition. eyes on Britain’s Skies. The Royal Observer Corps and Civilian Roof Spotters in War and Peace. Job Mills, Journal of the Military Heraldry Society, Issue 299 Jan 2026, ISSN 1759-9881

We will have copies of the Formation Sign for sale on our open days, at a special discounted price of £17 for in person visitors on the open day (usual price is £22). These can also be purchased by messaging us, but this will be at the usual price of £22.

Hopefully when all 3 volumes of Skywatch are published we will be able to offer those aswell!

It was a pleasure to be able to contribute in a small way to these, but I really must ‘doff my cap’ to the author’s Jon Mills and Kevin Wright who have produced some really well researched and illustrated work.

Ed

18/10/2025

Shouldn’t have left it so long to cut the grass 😵‍💫😵‍💫🙄

18/08/2025

What a great end to the open day season, 160 visitors across the weekend - considering we were only open for 7 hours total is pretty amazing! That’s one visitor every 2 1/2 minutes 😮‍💨

Thanks to you all for coming along and seeing our little niche piece of Cuckfield History

Ed’s Brother, Nick, took some wonderful photos on the Sunday.

Feel free to share with n the comments any photos you took of the open days. We love seeing all your pictures

See you next summer!
Ed, Mark and Bob

16/08/2025

The bunker is open now till 4pm, and tomorrow 10am till 1pm which is the last open day till 2026. There is also a military vehicles display in the field today. Hope to see you down here. Please be prepared for a wait on the surface during busy periods.

13/08/2025

Our last open days of 2025 are this weekend if you want to come down and see the bunker & displays. Looks to be hot so be prepared in case of the usual queues on the surface waiting to go underground. Please remember parking and toilets are in the village and none at the bunker site. Donations very welcome to keep us going into our 16th year of being open to the public! Look forward to seeing you. Mark, Ed & Bob.

15/07/2025

Absolutely happy to drop this off with Jack on my way back from Belfast a couple of months ago. Collaboration is best for everyone :)

Seems Portadown/castleton/Cuckfield are a Cluster now 😆

Address

Newbury Lane
Cuckfield
RH175AA

Telephone

+447970832667

Website

https://thetimechamber.co.uk/beta/sites/roc-posts

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