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Kelveden Hatch
Secret Nuclear Bunker
11th April 2009
Introduction
Photographs
Team Reports
 Team 1
Team 2
Members Views
Introduction
Hidden in a wood off the A128 Ongar - Brentwood Road is a small bungalow which hides a BIG secret. Behind it lies a three floored bunker complex in which 600 people would have been confined behind blast proof doors in the event of a nuclear war.
The deep bunker was built in 1952/3 as part of Rotor, an urgent government building programmed to improve Britain's air defense network. The bunker was the Sector Operations Command for the RAF Fighter Command. Known as SOC - R4, it was to provide command and control of the London Sector of Fighter Command.
The bunker is 125 feet underground and the entrance is through an ordinary looking bungalow amongst some trees. Once into the bungalow, it leads to a 100 yard tunnel before you are in the bunker itself. Above you are two more floors, the 'hill' which covers it, and a radio mast, one of two, which would have been vital for communications.
The reason for the bunker was to take on a far more potentially catastrophic aim in the 1960s. Because of the threat of nuclear war the bunker became the regional government bunker for London. The aim of the bunker was that it was to be one of the government administration centre’s communicating with the many other smaller bunkers situated throughout the country, organizing the country after a nuclear attack.
Substantial improvements were made to the bunker to create an environment for 600 people to survive, work and be self-sufficient for up to three months in the event of a nuclear war. The bunker had air-conditioning, heating, cooling, its own water supply and generators, and even its own operating theatre.
There was a BBC studio which would have broadcast to the population (if there was any left) and the rest of the world.
The bunker was maintained at great expense during the 70, 80s and early 90s, until it was sold by the government back to the farming family who had originally lost it to the government in 1950s.
MPI wish to thank our host Mr Parrish for allowing us to investigate this Nuclear Bunker and for his expert knowledge he gave on our walk around. And to Popeye for not telling us any secrets!!
Investigators
Val Butler
Emma Macdonald
Ken Taylor
Mark Lines
Mandy Firth
Jacqi Ephgrave
Pat Rendell
Becky Ephgrave
Steen Spencer
Team 1
Val Butler (team Leader)
Mark Lines
Emma Macdonald
Mandy Firth
Steen Spencer on camera
Team 2
Becky Ephgrave (Team Leader)
Pat Rendell
Jacqi Ephgrave
Ken Taylor on camera
Area’s to be investigated
Top Floor - Hospital and dormitories.
Middle Floor - Operation command.
Bottom Floor - Plant room, air conditioning.
The Canteen - was our hub for the night.
All members completed the walk around with all lights on with Mr Parrish giving us the history of Kelveden Nuclear Bunker. Then with all light switched off we divided into two teams to start our first Vigils.
Photographs
Team Reports
Team 1
Vigil 1
Top Floor
Temperature 15 degrees EMF Reading 0
In the operating room Val calls for spirit to join with us there was no response. Mark calls out again no response. We then went through the smaller of the dormitories to the small room at the back. In here we tried Ouija board Val started to conduct the séance asking for spirit to communicate, two creaky sounds were heard by all in the corner of the room. After several attempts to communicate and all being very quiet we went back to the hospital operating room. Mark and Steen take turns in asking for spirit to come forward and join with us. All hear a growl, but this could have been ‘Popeye’ the dog who was on the same level as us. Everyone feels calm and relaxed in this area.
We then moved to the main dormitory, Val asking for spirit to communicate again there was no response. After a short time we sat on the bunk beds and tried a Ouija séance as we were preparing Val was touched on her head. Nothing came through on the board so decided to do table tipping. Val had the name of Ruth come to mind she had red hair, clipped back on the sides and had a fringe, then the name of Dobson. Val senses that Ruth Dobson felt we were intruding here coming into private quarters.
No other occurrences on this vigil.
Vigil 2 Middle Floor
Temperature 16 degrees EMF Reading 0
All feels very quiet in this large communication room, Val starts to get a headache and all feel colder. Steen whistles to spirit and asks for this to be copied but no response. In the conference room off of the larger one we tried Ouija séance but nothing was coming through to us. We move on to the larger area. Near the overcoat rail Val and Steen can smell soap; Mandy feels very happy and has a lot of energy in here. Mandy and Emma hear footsteps coming from above. The information room was next and there was a strong smell of B.O. in the left hand corner then after a few minutes left. Steen and Val try to encourage spirit in with us. Val asks Mark our medium if there is anything he feels, Mark tells us he will hold back for a while but the smell of B.O. confirms that there is someone close by. Mark also feels that there is only one spirit in this bunker and is male, that he is in visitation and he used to work here, not die here, he worked in this bunker for a number of years, post war around 40/50 years of age and worked for the civil defence.
Vigil 3 Ground Floor
Temperature 8-9 degrees EMF Reading 0
We started walking along the long entrance tunnel, not a very nice place. Val feels apprehensive. Val throws a coin and asks spirit to return it but there was no response. Steen calls out then Val again there was no responses. Team move to the large area the hub of the bunker that all the big machinery stood. Mark has the spirit of the man from upstairs in mind. Mark says he is a grease monkey wearing blue overalls, white open neck shirt, slick back hair 1940’s 1950’s. He worked in this area and enjoyed his work here. Mark then calls to spirit Val still feeling apprehensive. All team hear a bang. Mark has the name of Charlie to mind and Charlie likes us ladies and makes suggestions with his hands of the curve of a lady. Emma, Mandy and Val try the Ouija here nothing positive came through the glass only moving slightly.
In the air condition room the team hear a tapping sound that seems to come from the previous room.
Operations and telephone exchange rooms all proved to be very quiet despite our attempts to communicate with spirit.
Team 2
Vigil 1 Middle Floor
Temperature 16 degrees EMF Reading 0
Almost as soon as we started the vigil in the communications area the first room (201 Common Services) Pat heard two taps, then heard a whistle and Jacqi heard a moan. As we move into the next room Becky felt a tap on her head. In the next room Pat and Jacqi hear a cat meow. Jacqi hears taps from the room we just came from, Becky heard another tap. All hear a bang from the Radio Room. When leaving the Information Room, Becky feels her sleeve being pulled. All sit quiet and then Becky calls out for spirit to join with them and all hear a grumble. Ken calls again for spirit to come forward then Pat and Jacqi saw movement near the mannequins. We all sat in a room around the ouijaboard to hold a séance. Jacqi feels very cold. Movement can heard like heals on wood and moving furniture from above, later investigation suggest this may have been the owners as they were in the vicinity which was almost directly above. Pat has the feeling she is being followed into and out of rooms, all the team feel apprehensive. No other occurrences here so the team move back to the first room (201) Ken is calling out asking for communication when all hear taps from the TV. Jacqi says she feels really sleepy but she was fine before. Becky believes she can hear talking. Pat calls for spirit to come and join with us out and all hear a phone ring, Ken and Jacqi go to investigate, Becky goes completely deaf in one ear for about 30 seconds. Later we ask the owner if his phone has rung during the night and he confirmed it had.
Vigil 2 Ground Floor
Temperature 8.5 degrees EMF Reading 0
While walking down stairs to get to our first vigil area Jacqi and Becky hear a female say ‘is everybody alright?’ Both Jacqi and Becky at the same time asked if Pat had said it and Pat is adamant it was not her. The girls are very jumpy down here and do not feel at all comfortable. The team walks along the long tunnel that leads to the cottage, there is an uncomfortable feeling and no-one wants to look behind them. We stopped in the middle and all take turns in calling out for spirit to come forward then we heard tapping and muffled voices coming from the end of the tunnel no further occurrences here. In the conference room we all and sat quietly, noises were heard from outside of the room. We all joined hands and Jacqi calls for spirit to join with us. Becky asks if the lady who spoke to us earlier on the stairs is with us. All hear a faint scream or possibly shrill laughter. Jacqi gets the name Mary come to mind. While calling out Jacqi, Becky and Pat all feel cold around them. Ken feels fine not cold at all and he believes the woman may not want to show herself to a man. Walking around further Pat can smell smoke like a cigarette. In the large control suit while holding glass divination séance and asking for communication a noise was heard which sounded like a gruff loud NO.? Despite trying to communicate further with spirit nothing came through to us.
Vigil 3 Top Floor
Temperature15.4 degrees EMFReading 0
Jacqi tried to communicate with spirit in the large Surgery Room but nothing came through to us all was very quiet so we decided to Move to bunk dormitory where we held a Ouija séance. Several times we tried to communicate by asking many questions Ken had a Russian come to mind and when we asked spirit the glass moved to No then Ken asked if there was a doctor and again the answer was No. We asked further questions but had no response. Ken places a coin on top of the glass and asks for it to be moved or pushed. Jacqi felt like someone is standing in front of her and feels icy cold. Pat feels a cold draft across her face when Ken calls for the sprit to affect someone. Becky has been feeling very cold down her right hand side. Pat feels cold across her legs. Jacqi felt a cold rush across her face and is now freezing cold. Ken Jacqi and Pat put their fingers lightly back on the glass, the glass is feeling icy cold, room temperature checked and there is no change from original reading. The glass moved towards Jacqi (sat by the B and C on the board). Jacqi started to ask the following questions.
Q Do you wish to speak to me?
A C
Q Is that the first letter of your name?
A C
Q Move the glass toward the person you wish to speak to
A B the glass moved to Jacqi
Q What is the first initial of your first name?
A C
Q The next letter please
A U
Q Are you female
A Yes
Q Can you see me?
A Yes
Q Do you have a message for me?
A Yes
Q Can you spell the message?
A B
Q Can you continue?
A No
Q What’s your age?
A 4 / 5 (glass over both)
Q Spell the message?
A B
Q Can you say more?
A No
Q Is B for the name of a person?
A Yes
Q Is it Barbra?
A Yes
Q Is Barbra happy?
A Yes
Q Is any one with Barbra?
A Yes
Q What is the first letter of their first name?
A J
(The glass moved from the middle to the z then all the way round the board anti clockwise to J.)
Q Is it John
A Yes
Jacqi and Becky became very emotional due to this possibly being in relation to close family friends Barbra and John who passed some years ago within a few months of each other.
Vigil closed after no more communication came through the board.
Members Views
Emma
Had a great evening at Kelvenden Hatch. Unfortunately there was nothing paranormal I experienced but it was a fascinating place. The knocks and bangs we heard were put down to man made, we got some small response from the Oijui board but nothing substantial. Thanks to the owner who let us roam the place at our leisure.
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