Pride of place

RAF BUNKER MAKES IT INTO COUNTRY-WIDE TOP 10 POWER, PROTEST AND PROGRESS LIST

THE battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge has joined locations including the Palace of Westminster and the Battle of Cable Street on a list of 10 Places that uncover the history of power, protest and progress in England

The list was compiled as part of an Historic England Campaign called Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places and was judged by historian David Olusoga from hundreds of public nominations.

A total of four sites in London, were chosen including the Palace of Westminster the site of the Battle of Cable Street and the site where abolitionist Oluadah Equiano lived.

This is the tenth and final category to be announced in the campaign and podcast series which was sponsored by specialist insurer, Ecclesiastical.

From Science & Discovery to Music & Literature, the campaign has been exploring, through 10 different categories, the 100 places that bring to life England’s rich and extraordinary history. This September an illustrated book of all 100 remarkable places will be released.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “Every place chosen in this category has a fascinating story to tell about the history of power, protest and progress.

“Throughout this campaign we have been trying to uncover lesser known stories, as well as to delve more deeply into the history of some well-known places. The 10 in this category show that there is still so much to learn about our nation’s past.”

Mark Hews, group chief executive of Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “These 10 places are a poignant reminder of the some of the pivotal struggles that have shaped our nation, whether that has been fighting inequality, discrimination or an enemy from abroad.

“The stories of power, protest and progress are a fitting way to complete the list of 100 Places that have shaped England’s history and we are proud to be able to celebrate them through our sponsorship of the campaign.”

The Group Operation Room at the Battle of Britain bunker in Uxbridge was described by campaign organisers as an expression of how power was deployed and controlled during the Second World War. David Olusoga said: “From here and other sites air power was deployed with unique precision. The site itself is a time capsule.”

Built in 1938, this bunker played a fundamentally important role in defending Britain from the air during the Battle of Britain and in other key actions of the Second World War.

From this room Air Vice Marshall Keith Park commanded the squadrons within 11 Group’s sector stations, responsible for planning and coordinating the air defence of London and the South East of England.

The bunker’s design, with the plotting room at its heart surrounded by operations and control cabins, includes a pioneering system of air filtration, internal communications systems and telecommunications equipment, all designed to ensure that operations could continue no matter what happened.

By September 1940 Britain had become the first nation in history to remain independent through air power, with the RAF ending the supposed Nazi invincibility and providing a glimmer of hope to resistance movements in occupied countries. It has been argued that without victory in the Battle of Britain the political geography of Europe in the second half of the 20th century would have been very different. n Discover all 100 places chosen in the campaign and listen to the podcasts at www.historicengland.org.uk.