U.K.W.M.O National HQ.
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United Kingdom Warning Monitoring Organisation (UKWMO) Sector 10 Goosnargh is also known as ROC Group 21 HQ, UKWMO National HQ and later Preston Armed Forces Head Quarters (AFHQ) or just plain old Goosnargh Filter Block.
Its original name was RAF Longley Lane, 9 Group and dates back to WWII, it was one of four similar Operations centres constructed by the RAF, reporting to fighter command at RAF Bentley Priory.
The Ops centres where split in three parts with the main Operations Centre, a Communications Bunker and the Filter Block .
The Filter Blocks purpose was to filter irrelevant information out of intelligence and forward it onto the Sector Operations Centre bunker or SOC as it was more commonly known.
After WWII RAF Longley Lane was adapted to the ROTOR Radar project being 1 of 6 other centres around the country, in 1956 the project closed and in 1962 it was taken over by the Royal Observer Corp and renamed ROC Group 21 HQ and also became 1 of 2 National HQ`s.
For years the bunkers operated as the Preston Armed Forces Headquarters until it finally closed in 1992, it was last used as a military firing range.
The MOD put the bunker up for sale in 2000 but it has only just been bought and is rumoured to be being converted for living purposes.
The first thing that strikes you with Goosnargh is its deceptive size and awful smell, unfortunatley as most of these sites the majority of the original equipment has long gone but there are some things that have been left, including the virtually complete kitchen and regional map in the oprations room, sadly this in in a bad way though.
The only other things that remain are the ventilation rooms and boilers.
I have been meaning to visit this place for so long but something else has always come up, but with a visit to Whittingham Asylum planned with Jaff Fox, we dropped in on the way back as it sits almost next door.
Considering the Filter Block dates back to WWII its in surprisingly good condition apart from the smell and although lacking in major items of interest, its still worth seeing as not many of these places survive let alone are accessible.
I really enjoyed this place and felt a great sense of satisfaction in finally seeing the place, sadly we only had time to see the Filter Block but I think a return visit will be coming after the new year.
Date : December 2007 : Location : Preston : Explorers : Havoc : Jaff Fox
