The wine stores in the caves needed to be
ventilated. This ventilation grill was in
Reigate Tunnel. 13th June 2009.
Near the cave entrance was this item. The
sign stated it was a meat cooler. 13th June 2009.
Beside the meat cooler was this pile of
iron plates from a quarry formerly connected to the Croydon, Merstham and Godstone Railway. 13th June 2009.
Link to the Croydon, Merstham & Godstone Railway Page.
A section of former Godstone quarry plateway
track. 13th June 2009.
This is a Morrison Shelter, a combined
table and bomb shelter, from the Second World War. People slept
under these sturdy steel tables. There was no protection from a
direct hit, but the table could save the lives of any occupants if the
house collapsed due to bomb damage. 13th June 2009.
Preserved from the days when the Reigate
Caves were used for military purposes and as a bomb shelter during
the Second World War was this steel gents urinal. 13th June 2009.
During the Cold War era there had been a
nuclear bunker and emergency control centre at Reigate, near to the
Reigate Caves. This phonetic alphabet for use when communicating by
radio or telephone was on display in the caves.
Photograph dated 13th June 2009.
The nuclear bunker at Reigate was cleared
out after it closed, but this pile of crockery was left behind and was
brought to Reigate Caves for preservation. The number of plates
gives some clue as to how many people were expected to live and work in
the bunker following a nuclear attack. Also the complete lack of
cups shows that these essential objects were removed for further use by
civil servants before the bunker was abandoned. 13th June 2009.
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