An extraordinary detecting opportunity on land adjacent to Frant's historic church, where a Cold War nuclear monitoring bunker lies buried somewhere beneath the surface. The Royal Observer Corps operated from 1925-1991, with underground bunkers built across Britain to report on nuclear explosions. The bunker's exact location is unknown - part of our mission is to find it!
🕵️ The Bunker Hunt
The ROC bunker is buried somewhere on this land - but nobody knows exactly where! These underground posts were small (about 5m x 2m), accessed via a hatch. We'll be using metal detectors to locate potential entry points, ventilation shafts, or debris fields. If we find it, this becomes an incredible piece of local Cold War history rediscovered.
☢️ What is an ROC Post?
Royal Observer Corps posts were underground bunkers designed to monitor nuclear explosions and fallout during the Cold War. Staffed by volunteers, they would have reported blast data to regional HQs. Around 1,500 were built across the UK between 1956-1965. Many remain buried, some restored, others forgotten.
📸 What We're Looking For
This historical photo shows the Frant ROC post when it was operational. The white entry hatch, fencing compound, and monitoring pole are what we're trying to locate beneath the surface.
Historical photo of the Frant ROC post when operational (c. 1960s-1980s)
Cutaway diagram showing the underground ROC monitoring post structure
🎯 What We Might Find
📖 Site History
St Alban's Church in Frant dates back to the 12th century, with the current building largely 13th-14th century. The village sits on the edge of the High Weald, historically part of the iron-working region of Sussex.
The ROC post was established in the 1950s/60s as part of the UK's nuclear early warning network. Volunteers would descend into the underground bunker during exercises (and potentially real attacks) to monitor and report.
- Church founded c. 1180
- Village on medieval drove road
- Iron industry connections
- ROC post operational 1950s-1991
- Underground bunker may still exist
⚠️ Site Rules
- Stay within the permitted land boundaries
- Fill all holes completely
- Report any potential bunker features immediately
- All finds to be logged and photographed
- Be considerate of nearby church visitors
- No climbing on or into any structures found
🔓 Members Only - Limited to 5 Spots
This intimate dig is capped at just 5 detectorists to maximize coverage and finds potential. Book your spot for the April 12th dig.
Join JOMF💡 Detecting Tip
Cold War sites often yield unexpected finds. ROC volunteers would spend hours at these posts during exercises, dropping coins, buttons, and personal items. The surrounding churchyard adds medieval and Victorian potential. Keep your sensitivity high and check all signals carefully.