Greenham Cold War walk

A circular walk around historic Greenham Common

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Greenham Cold War walk

England RG19 8DA, United Kingdom

Created By: Greenham Control Tower

Tour Information

This walking trail starts and ends at The Control Tower, Greenham Common, where there is a large,free carpark.The trail explores the remaining Cold War era points of interest, takes approximately 2 hours and visits the following sites:

• Control Tower – with its exhibitions and observation deck

• Old runway – the original tarmac at the taxiway crossover point

• Chemical decontamination suite on the business park (outside only)

• Fire plane used for fire training

• Ground Launched Cruise Missile Alert and Maintenance Area (outside only)

• The Blue Gate of the Womens’ Peace Camp.

Please wear sensible clothing and footwear, since some of the terrain is uneven. Make sure that you also bring water to drink, sunhats, sun cream, rainwear, according to the weather. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a lead in some areas.

Please check on the opening times of the Control Tower if you wish to go inside.See link below-

https://www.greenhamtower.org.uk


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What You'll See on the Tour

This Cold War tower was built between1951 -53 to replace the original WW2 one that was located on the opposite side of the airfield to where you are now.  From the cupola you can get a magnificent view over the whole two square miles of Gr... Read more
When WW2 ended the base was no longer needed but as the Cold War started to warm up it was completely re-built in order to take the new generation of heavy, nuclear armed bombers. The central runway was extended to 10,000ft but the B-47 Str... Read more
The Armoury or Combat Support Building provided protected accomodation against conventional, biological or chemical attack for about 100 military military personnel who could immediately be available to defend the base. The colloquial name ... Read more
Building 274, now Venture West, was the Wing Headquarters for the USAF.  It was built in 1985 and is now a Grade II listed building being a prime example of Cold War military architecture.  This was the control build for the USAF base.  ... Read more
This scaled down mock-up of a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft was made by Ray Theodore Welding in Newbury (at a cost of £15,000) and installed in August 1986.  It was used to train the base’s fire fighters as well as crews from Newbur... Read more
The GAMA site (GLCM Alert and Maintenance Area) on Greenham Common is the high security area that housed the Cruise Missiles, their transporters and other support vehicles. Six hardened shelters were constructed in the early 1980's to prote... Read more
On the 5th September 1981, a group of women, children and senior citizens arrived on Greenham Common having walked from South Wales. They delivered a letter to the Base Commander stating ‘We fear for the future of all our children and for... Read more
What is now a lake at the Crookham end of the common and this one near the tower once held underground fuel tanks. Fuel contamination from 60 years of aviation fuel storage in the large and progressively leaky tanks was cleaned  up by usi... Read more
Congratulations you have completed the walk. Take path to the left to return to the tower for delicious refreshments and then on to the car park. 

 

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