‘Treasure trove’ of memories discovered as Liverpool WW2 bunker undergoes renovation

A former secret bunker in Liverpool that was used to mastermind the Battle of the Atlantic during World War Two is set to be transformed.

Chester-based social enterprise Big Heritage has this week (September 18) signed terms with the owner of the Exchange Flags building, Shelborn Asset Management, to take over the Western Approaches attraction.

Big Heritage’s team of archaeologists, project managers and builders will now accurately restore the bunker and its labyrinth of rooms.

Expected to take six weeks, the project includes the creation of an entire underground 1940s street, complete with a stocked sweet shop, pub, classroom and various other interactive exhibits.

Big Heritage founder Dean Paton, project leader for the renovation, said: “Western Approaches HQ is one of the most important buildings in the world associated with the Second World War.

“Whilst it was meant to be a secret during the war, sadly in recent decades it has become almost anonymous once again.”

Image: Inside the bunker’s Operations Room

He continued: “In the 1940s, when Winston Churchill and his top admirals were planning how to tackle the threats in the Atlantic, the highest level of secrecy was exactly what they would have wanted – in fact, the building only officially existed in the 1960s, way after the war had ended!

“Now’s the time to change all that and to showcase this amazing attraction to the world.”

With the project now underway, Big Heritage’s team is discovering dust-covered artefacts and archives at the bunker on a daily basis.

Dean added: “We’ve found a number of previously forgotten rooms, and have unearthed a few exciting finds along the way. It’s a treasure trove of World War II memories archived and stored for decades.

“What’s exciting is that much of this stuff hasn’t even been seen before by the public.”

Big Heritage plans to reopen Western Approaches in time for the October Half Term.

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