description: Rudloe Manor is now known by the name JSU Corsham (Joint Service Unit), the large military site sits directly above the MOD's underground tunnel complex. During the Second World War the underground site made up part of a massive ammunitions depot and the world's largest underground factory. Later these tunnels became the government's emergency relocation site and various communication bunkers were also set up below Rudloe Manor.
photos: thanks to the MOD for allowing the use of this photo
history:
Located South-East of Bath, RAF Rudloe Manor is located above the Spring and Tunnel Quarry underground tunnel complex in Corsham. The site has been the cause of many rumours and conspiracy theories over the last few decades, it has also been home to many MOD department over the years including, No. 1 and 6 Signals Units, the MOD Communication Network Headquarters, Provost and Security Services, Defence Fixed Telecommunications Systems, Defence Vetting Agency and the RAF Detachment of 1001 Signals Unit.
RAF Rudloe Manor is famouse for it's underground military town, millions of pounds was spent in the build up to the second world war converting the old stone quarries into the world's largest underground factory. In Spring Quarry, the vast caverns had some 2,250,000ftsq of space, divided into many smaller chambers, this is where the Ministry of Aircraft Production built the Beaverbrook underground aircraft factory here for Bristol Aeroplane and other companies.
The other quarry under Rudloe, Tunnel Quarry formed part of the Central Ammunition Depot, an amazing labyrinth of tunnels and chambers, around one hundred feet below ground covering an area of around 200 acres in four sub-depots, which between them housed over 350,000 tons of ammunition.
RAF Rudloe Manor is sat on top of these two quarries where it still operates today under the new name JSU Corsham (Joint Support Unit) although most of the underground area is now abandoned.
In the build up to Cold War the British government began a programme to strengthen and secure their facilities within Spring Quarry to try to ensure the safety of the government. The northern area of Spring Quarry was chosen as the wartime seat of power in case of nuclear war, this area became known as the Hawthorn Central Government War Headquarters. Hawthorn was later known by such names as 'Burlington' and more recently 'Site 3'.
In the mid to late 90s a conspiracy theorists went nuts over Rudloe, they believed that RAF Ruloe Manor was the UK's own version of Area 51 and the home of UK UFO research. While RAF Rudloe Manor have now confirmed that they had previously been involved in the subject, they state that this was only in a co-ordinating role, the reports were simply forwarded to Sec(AS)2a, and no further action was taken. Rumours at the time also speculated that the government were storing UFOs there, working with aliens to achieve mind-altering technologies. The conspiracy theories also spread beyond just Rudloe Manor, news of construction of underground bunkers throughout the country, known as RSGs (Regional Seats of Governments) for local government officials as well as tunnels and bunkers under London had leaked out, causing a major row and a little embarrassment for the government, with MI5 called in to track down the culprits, who were known as the "Spies for Peace" group.
As for the underground area nowadays, Spring Quarry is still secured and owned by MOD, most of the underground area is now abandoned. One area in the western side of the quarry is still in use today, it now forms part of Corsham Media Park's underground studio complex.
Tunnel Quarry is also still strictly controlled by the MOD as several areas are still classified including the Command and Control Centre (CCC) in the eastern part of the quarry, which is accessible via lift from a discreet bunker style entrance in Peel Circus. Another area know as South-West Control is also still in use at the opposite end of the quarry, this area was originally the area used as underground barracks with a canteen, recreational facilities and canteen, later it was converted it to a telephone exchange and switching room, it's current day use is unknown.
web links: Spring Quarry - read more about Spring Quarry. Burlington - read more about Burlington the Emergency Government War Headquarters. Tunnel Quarry - read more about Tunnel Quarry. Sky News - Inside the secret bunker (external link). Truth Seekers - a site on the secrets of Rudloe (external link). abovetopsecret.com - Rudloe Manor, sensitive military installation (external link). apra.org.uk - going Underground at Rudloe Manor (external link). christiedigital.co.uk - installed a new Command & Control Room for the MOD in Corsham (external link) Secret Underground Cities - great photos of Rudloe Manor (external link) Corsham Media Park - part of the quarry is now an underground studio complex (external link) Corsham Town.co.uk - Burlington the Government hideway under Corsham (external link) Corsham Town.co.uk - A little about Corsham studios (external link) UK-UFO-NW IRC #UFO - an online chat with Truth Seeker Matthew Williams (external link)
