Building record MDR23124 - Royal Observer Corps UG Monitoring Post No. 8/30 at Ambergate, West of Nodin Hill Lane, Ripley

Royal Observer Corps UG Monitoring Post No. 8/30 at Ambergate, west of Nodin Hill Lane, Ripley, a Cold War facility. According to a description written in 2000: 'In a square compound, 50 yards east of a farm track running north from New Bridge Road. OPEN This was probably one of the last underground posts to be built between 1976 and 1982 as a replacement for Ripley which was closed due to the realignment of the A38. All surface features remain intact with bad flaking of the green paint. A dome on the ventilation shaft indicates this was a master post. The three aerial guying points are visible in the grass. The hatch is open but is secured by a bent section of the broken hasp. (This was bent out of the way with the permission of the owner for the post inspection but has now been bent back again). Internally the post is rubbish strewn and fire and smoke damaged. The following items remain in place: table, shelf, cupboard, two battery boxes, battery switching box, WB1401 carrier receiver and WB1410 filter unit, dartboard, three mattresses, kettle, teapot, BT connection boxes, FSM mount, fire blanket box, two pairs of Wellington boots, copper earth straps around the walls, bowl, saucepan, wire brush, coax aerial cable, two waste bins, two chairs and the light. There is an unusual blanking plate on the underside of the FSM pipe which itself is not to the standard design. It requires a 2” spanner to remove it. Opened by 1982 and closed in 1991.' (1)