Rhydymwyn...

Plans to hide art treasures in underground tunnels in north Wales if a civil or nuclear emergency arose during the 1980s have emerged.

The Rhydymwyn Valley works, near Mold, which housed mustard gas shells in World War 2, had been earmarked.

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The tunnels still held the national stock of Mustard gas up till about 1959 when the destruction of all stored material was completed (by burning.)
There were several plans for the use of the tunnels which are documented in the records at the National Archive.
Project Wellbright was the plan to locate the NATO Oil Executive Board (NOEB) at Valley.
Project Mallard was the plan to store Bank of England gold in the tunnels.
Project Trojan was the plan to utilise the tunnels as a safe haven in the case of nuclear attack.
Non of these was taken up
but in one of the tunnels (A south) reinforced concrete platforms to take the weight of gold were installed.

NB. There is NO access to the tunnels they are sealed by doors and internal barriers. Security are permanantly on site.

https://www.rhydymwynvalleyhistory.co.uk/index.htm 

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/r/rhydymwyn/report.html 

I always thought this was common knowledge, I have heard of these plans at least 4 or 5 years ago.

I am looking forward to a visit as soon as it can be re negociated.

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Having been in these caverns a few times for work, I have to say that they are not really very exciting. Just tunnels straight into the hill with some crosscut halls, all cut in barren limestone.
If I had to live in there in the event of a nuclear war, I might be tempted to not bother!

Just been for a quick drive with the kids, never noticed the defra wild life building at the main entrance, presuming its staffed by the security as it was active.

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Just been for a quick drive with the kids, never noticed the defra wild life building at the main entrance, presuming its staffed by the security as it was active.

The building at the entry gate (on the left) is the security office and meeting room. This is used by all the groups with access to the site.
The wildlife group who manage the site for DEFRA (North East Wales Wildlife) have an office and workshop along with another meeting room about 50 yds inside the gate on the right.
It is possible to access the site only via one of the groups.
For example join R.V.H.S. £5-00 i think. There meeting date is shown on the website.
https://www.rhydymwynvalleyhistory.co.uk/index.htm 
Do the site safety briefing (free with site security) and you can access the site on your own at any time.
Although at weekends you may have to wait as there is only one man on duty.
This DOES NOT give access to the tunnels!
The entry doors can only be opened by qualified people and there is a secondary barrier inside which can not be passed.

In actual fact the history of the site is far more interesting than the actuallity. As Les says the tunnels are rather boring now, it is the thought of what was in there that facinates. (The thought of visiting when there were 5,000 tons of Mustard gas in tanks and German bombs filled with Tabun nerve gas in the tunnels does not attract me! :o)

Oh so there is a chance to get access on an individualy level so long as your a member of the society?

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You can access the site, walk around and enter SOME buildings.
But not the tunnels. (No one can enter the tunneld without permission from DEFRA and with appropriate safety gear.) They are classified as confined spaces and DEFRA will not allow access.
One of the big P buildings has cracks and is closed.
One (P6) has bats and is closed in summer. One is open.
One other small building has bats and is never open.
One other building R4 is still contaminated and is sealed.

All the remaining small buildings at the bottom of the site are open.
If you study the RVHS website it's all on there.

Wow I didnt realise it was that simple. I will sort out the form next year and hope to get some good pictures on the go.

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When I visited the site some years back, as well as a tour round the buildings we were shown a WWII training film for new employees at the site which was fascinating - well worth seeing if the opportunity arises.

Dave

Yes there is a 25 minute B+W Ministry of Supply film which shows various aspects of Mustard gas manufacture and storage. Controled by RVHS.
There is also a rarely shown longer version.
It shows several aspects of the Valley site at Rhydymwym incluing some good shots of the tanks in the tunnels. (Tunnel B North I believe)
There are some shots that were taken at the parent site "Randle" which was Wigg island near Runcorn.
One interesting verbal history, on the film you see a young lady getting undressed to change into protective clothing. This was a Liverpool lass, the local Welsh girls were too shy / prudish! :smartass:

Yes there is a 25 minute B+W Ministry of Supply film ...
There is also a rarely shown longer version ... on the film you see a young lady getting undressed to change into protective clothing ...

The longer version sounds like the film I saw. :)

I think there was a serious point to the last-mentioned scene in that it might have been to catch the attention of the audiece to impress on them the need to strip to the skin when changing to avoid the possibility of contamination between work and outdoor clothing.

Dave

All the workers, men and women, had to remove all their clean clothes and place them in a locker. They then stepped over a barrier and put on issue clothing and protective gear in another area. As the film shows they were trained to be very carefull with this.

I think only a limited number of people are authorised to enter the tunnels.

It's interesting to look at the nearby houses that were built for the senior scientists. Very distinctive and solidly built, I was told by someone related to an owner of one, that they were reinforced and with some sort of refuge that was effectively an air raid shelter.

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At the moment No one is "authorised" to enter the tunnels!
They are designated as a "confined space" and entry is only allowed with suitable breathing escape aparatus.
They are also a Radon hazard so entry of employees of DEFRA (the owners) and Interserve (the site managers) is subject to strict rules.
Examinations are conducted on a regular basis by mining engineers.
RVHS do open the front doors allowing entry for about 20ft up to another barrier.

The houses in Gwernaffield Rd Mould were built by ICI for the site manager and do have a reinforced room. Very distinctive with their flat roof. :smartass:

Good news for most. There will be extended access to the tunnels on at least two days this year, starting in early spring.
This will mean on two Saturdays there will be a showing of films, a talk and a guided walk up the length of the central tunnel with views down the cross chambers.
It is envisaged this initially will be by booking only.

Seem to remember Michael Portillo featuring this place on one of his 'Railway Journeys'..

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