Drakelow Tunnels

An organised trip for members of FoWT, to the historic Drakelow Tunnels, the former Top Secret subterranean complex near Kidderminster.

The Drakelow complex was built in 1941/1942 as a Shadow Factory for the Rover car Company. Rover manufactured engines and parts for the Bristol Aeroplane Company in Drakelow’s 3.5 miles of tunnels throughout WW2.

Following WW2 parts for tank engines were manufactured in the tunnels until 1958, when Drakelow was handed to the Ministry of Supply and later Ministry of Works.

1961 saw the Government convert part of the tunnels into a top secret facility, designated: *Regional Seat of Goverment 9 (R.S.G. 9). Then in 1980, Drakelow was re-designated the *Regional Government Head Quarters 9.2 (R.G.H.Q. 9.2). An upgrade also took place seeing the Blast Doors and Air Locks upgraded to full Nuclear Bunker status.

(*A network of highly classified Nuclear Bunkers, that Government could operate from, in the event of Nuclear War).

Drakelow remained Top Secret until the end of the Cold War. Then finally in 1993, the Ministry of Defence deemed Drakelow redundant, and the complex of tunnels were decommissioned and sold.

For more detailed information, you can visit the official Drakelow web site: