Royal Marine's Deep Refuge - Chatham, Kent - July 2017

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Gromr

Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2014
Messages
407
Reaction score
1,895
Location
Surrey
This ones been long in the planning, but eventually at some ungodly hour of the morning me and Brewtal managed to get inside and see the place for ourselves. It was a pretty brief visit by all accounts, but we managed to see most of the lower level.


History

Built as part of the now demolished Melville Barracks in Chatham. This deep shelter was a refuge for the marines at the barracks. The history is pretty vague, but I believe the tunnels existed before the start of WW2.

In the early 1960s when the melville Barracks were demolished to make way for the council offices, and most of the tunnel entrances were sealed up.


The Explore

After a few weeks of planning me and Brewtal finally got round to visiting here. This one requires a little more caution as the entrance method is somewhat brazen.

After a bit of head scratching we devised a plan and went for it. We were in!

I'd be forewarned about the stairs, and everything said was absolutely right!. The wooden stairs are very rotten and very dangerous. Even when taking extra care, we had a few brown pants moments.

Once at the bottom of the lower level we could relax and start exploring. The lower level is quite extensive and we saw as much as we could.

Unfortunately we were fairly time limited, so we didn't mess around too much. I found the stairs going up to the upper levels, but decided against it this time. Re-visit for that one me thinks.

It was refreshing to see no graffiti or vandalism. The access situation has protected it pretty well I suspect.


Photos

The bottom of the stairs. These were supposed to be the 'Ok' stairs. Dread to think what the 'bad' stairs were like.

35627822316_352dfddc1f_b.jpg


35498566302_614e181a77_b.jpg


35280311610_01bbb9d540_b.jpg


35537122411_6275e3ce38_b.jpg


35537081261_686ac661c4_b.jpg


35537088971_c71fa0a43b_b.jpg


35627885436_700494779c_b.jpg


35667532435_c04f55fdac_b.jpg


35667471305_0255f56b68_b.jpg


35498508552_62747139b9_b.jpg


35498537562_c660df2359_b.jpg


35627813306_b502869177_b.jpg


35673781205_67596597e5_b.jpg



The stairs to the upper levels.

34826356704_8b424f54c8_b.jpg


35667539955_d1a3ec4055_b.jpg
 
Another one of those places where it's the history that makes it. Nice work and thanks for posting as always.
 
Great pics from a great night! Every time I see that pic of the steps I will always think that I was nearly on top of the broken one laying across the bottom set. That was a fucking close one! Well worth it though! :D

Rather than start a report of virtually identical pics, here are a few of mine:

MYH5jzzh.jpg

PNWLwRsh.jpg

YpIHz9qh.jpg

0vxVk0Qh.jpg

IuNYlJLh.jpg

CO15jrah.jpg

iemmq0Xh.jpg

Hly1g5Wh.jpg

bZZaMpYh.jpg
 
Last edited:
The entrance to this has been welded shut now! Just so no-one makes any wasted journeys.
 
Brilliant shots guys! Hmmmm they can hardly be called "stairs"...lovely sharp well lit shots you two!
 
Back
Top