Building record 7141/0/1 - WWII ARP & Cold War Civil Defence Local Government Control Centre

The site of an underground Air Raid Precaution (ARP) control centre at Stewarts and Lloyds Minerals Steelworks. It was built in about 1940. The control centre comprised a small network of rooms including a first aid post, stand-by generator, ventilation plant, radio room and telephone exchange. The main entrance was on Weldon Road and there was a secondary entrance to the west. The entrance tunnels were wide enough to accommodate the ARP ambulance, which was kept in the tunnels on a turntable. The center closed after the war, but was reused as a civil defence headquarters for Stewarts and Lloyds in 1951. It also operated as a sub-divisional control for Northamptonshire until 1957. From 1959 to 1968 it was used as an industrial sector post. After 1968 the complex was used by British Steel (of which Stewarts and Lloyds became part of in 1968). Eventually the complex was abandoned and later suffered a fire. The Weldon Road entrance was demolished in about 1975 and a section of the tunnel backfilled. The secondary entrance remains accessible. The tunnels and rooms are extant, but in dilapidated condition.

{1} AA reports that an underground site at the Corby CORUS works featured in BBC Look East TV late July 2004. Subsequent enquiry to CORUS indicates that the story initially featured in the Evening Telegrapgh before being picked up by the BBC – who on 27th July 2004 reported on their http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk site re “….. The mystery of a secret World War II bunker beneath a former steelworks”. Subterrranea Britannica visited the site in early July and feature a short report with plan and photos on their website at www.subbrit.org.uk In summary they describe bunker as an underground ARP control centre for the workforce of Stewarts & Lloyds; entrance wide enough to accommodate an ARP ambulance which was kept in the tunnels; turntable present. Complex re-activated in 1951 as a civil defence HG for Stewarts & Lloyds. Ambulance continued to be garaged in the tunnels. Centre also identified as having acted as a sub-divisional control in the Northamptonshire county civil defence scheme until 1957. In 1959 it became an industrial sector post under the county scheme and remained in use until 1968 when the sector scheme was abolished and civil defence at S & L was would up. After 1968, the complex used by British Steel as an extension to their research and development facilities. Eventually abandoned; subsequently fire damaged. Now dilapidated and derelict. Suggestions that the complex was used as an underground hospital are incorrect.

{2} AA identifies current entrance to bunker at SP9101 8930. This was originally a secondary entrance, the main entrance from Weldon Road being bricked up and backfilled. AA provides description. Dick Stockham at Corus identified as having large format plan of the bunker which identifies function of each room. Evidence suggested of post-war re-modelling for Civil Defence role. Bunker described as being built to a very high standard and currently in very good structural condition. AA suggests an early, possibly pre WW2 construction date.

<1> 2002, Subterranea Britannica Web Site, Updated on 13-JUL-2004 [Accessed on 19-FEB-2009] (Website). SNN101437.

<2> Armishaw A., 2004, Site Visit to Former ARP Control Centre, Corus Tubes, Corby, (checked) (Report). SNN105286.

<3> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, (checked) (Report). SNN104868.

<4> Armishaw A., 2004, Site Visit to Former ARP Control Centre, Corus Tubes, Corby, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN105287.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:20PM