What is going on at
Weston Approaches and what is it? Photographs by Patrick Trollope.
ON 3 October 2017, we headed over to
Liverpool City Center, to meet Dean Paton, who is 1 of the new long-term
custodians of what was once a top secret nerve centres in 1940's wartime
Britain, to do a video tour of the location and to interview him about what's
going on.
Surprisingly very little factual information
is known about Western Approaches, the formerly top-secret military underground
headquarters for all shipping coming into and out of the UK, via the Atlantic
Ocean and the North Sea. This location, within the heart of Liverpool, was
key to win the 2nd World War and without it, the war would have been lost.
Shockingly, not many people know about its existence ether!
If you are 1 of the many who do not know about it,
the bunker was declassified the early 1990's and turned into a Museum for the
50th Anniversary Commemorations of 'The Battle of the Atlantic.' This
Allied Command Bunker controlled the Atlantic convoys throughout the war, in
total secrecy, thanks to a hidden labyrinth of corridors and rooms, hidden under
Derby House and Exchange Flags, behind Liverpool City's iconic Town Hall.
This is 1 of the most important buildings of World War 2 and due to its unusual
post-war history, sadly the true story and facts have been largely forgotten,
about this exceptionally important basement building. Thanks to the UK's
Official Secrets Act, lots of myths have developed that has lead to many
contradictory stories being put in place. This resulted in a strange portrayal
of what took place under Liverpool, within the 1990's Museum that is now being
resurrected and the record set straight.
In 2017, the location was taken over by a new team of
historians led by the Managing Director of Big Heritage, Dean Paton. They are
now trying to find out more accurate information and recreate the original look
of the bunker, from the 1940's, and not the 'Hollywood' look that
has been shown to the public, since its opening, to the public. Sadly even still
to this day, the Official Secrets Acts is still blocking some of the research,
but since the team took over, they have now located original floor plans and
information that has lead to new rooms being opened up. Footage of them is added
to the end This video tour and exclusive interview with Dean Paton, who is 1 of
the new long-term custodians to taken over what was once a top secret nerve
centre in the 1940's wartime Britain. This location, within the heart of
Liverpool City Centre, was a key towards winning the 2nd World War, and without
it, the war would have been lost. Shockingly, not many people know about it or
its story!
In our
edition, dated 23
September 2017, Dean said:- "We're genuinely uncovering something new
every day. We've found a number of previously forgotten rooms, and have
unearthed a few exciting finds along the way. It's a treasure trove of World War
2 memories archived and stored for decades. What's exciting is that much of this
stuff hasn't even been seen before by the public. But we also have lots of ideas
to bring the attraction to life for families, Schools, visitors, and for
businesses based in the City. We can't wait to share it with everyone."
On our visit, off camera Dean added:- "We want your help to discover the
true stories about this iconic and historically important location. If your
readers have any information about the wartime bunker that protected the Allied
Forces over World War 2, please do let us have them. It is a race against time,
for the generations who would have that information are slowly being lost and
with them, the stories and pieces of information they have are also lost to
time. We would also like to know more about what happened after World War 2, to
the likes of the 1st World War U-Boat engine, the bunkers' redevelopments, any
known changes to the structure and any other bits of information that can aid us
in our quest to recreate a true historical portrayal of this building and the
people who worked on it. Western Approaches and the Allied victory; we feel that
it's important to keep this history alive for future generations. We want to
help generations to come to understand the sacrifices made by so many people,
both on the home front and at sea, keeping both Brittan and Russia supplied and
defended throughout World War 2."
To see more of the photographs taken by our
Editor Patrick Trollope, at the Weston Approaches, Liverpool, please click on
here
now. They include a few photos showing what it looked like back in 1999,
the others are what it looks like now, as the restoration gets underway and the
new rooms that have been found.
We would love to know your thoughts on this big project being
undertaken by the new long term custodians,
BigHeritage,
of this once a top secret nerve centre.
Do you have any information on the
bunkers 1940's wartime operations or staff as the Museum is trying to find out
more and even track down any surviving members of staff who worked within it.
Also do you have any information about what took place after the war in this
Command Bunker?
If you can help them, please
email
our newsroom or contact them directly
email.
More information about the iconic Allied Command Bunker can be found online at:-
WesternApproaches.Org.UK.Also, you can follow the Big Heritage group and
developments at the site on Twitter via both of these accounts:-
@Big_Heritage and
@WestApproaches.
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