ABANDONED UK NAVAL UNDERGROUND HQ BUNKER - HMS Forward

In this explore we go several feet underneath a housing estate inside a Naval Communications WW2 bunker! Join us on the awesome explore! More info on the bunker below.
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Hidden History
TheSecretVault
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On the 20th June 1940, the Guinness Trust Holiday Home at South Heighton (Newhaven) became a Royal Naval headquarters under the sterner title of HMS FORWARD with responsibility for HMS MARLBOROUGH at Eastbourne, HMS AGGRESSIVE and HMS NEWT at Newhaven, HMS VERNON at Roedean, HMS LIZARD at Hove, and the two Resident Naval Officers at Shoreham and Littlehampton. Naval Stores depots were established at Lewes and Burgess Hill to supply permanent, consumable, and after action stores; and a naval canteen service was organised for the area. Numerous large residential establishments were requisitioned both locally and at Seaford to accommodate the WRNS. Special Sick Quarters were requisitioned, fully staffed and equipped in Gracie Field’s former home, now Dorothy House, 127, Dorothy Avenue, Peacehaven. It is recorded that there were eventually over ten thousand naval staff on HMS FORWARD’s ledgers.
In March 1941, an Admiralty direction ordered specified Channel ports to establish and maintain naval plots in conjunction with a coastal radar chain giving surface coverage from the Dover area. This spread to Newhaven and, to protect the plot and communications equipment, it was decided to burrow deep into Heighton Hill.
The mass of equipment required for intelligence gathering, interpretation, and dissemination, was assembled sixty feet below ground. The principal operational entrance, situated in room 16 of the Guinness Trust Holiday Home gave access via one hundred and twenty two steps to an impenetrable fortress and the most sophisticated contemporary communications devices.
There were two telephone exchanges, a W/T office with eleven radios, a VF line telegraph terminal for 36 channels, ten Creed 7B teleprinters, two Typex machines, a stand-by generator, an air-conditioning system with gas filters, a galley, toilets, cabins for split shifts, and the recently invented ‘daylight’ fluorescent lights.
HMS FORWARD maintained a comprehensive maritime surveillance of everything that moved on, under or over the English Channel from Dungeness to Selsey Bill. Ten coastal radar stations between Fairlight and Bognor Regis reported directly to HMS FORWARD. All information was filtered and plotted and also relayed by teleprinter to similar plots at Dover and Portsmouth.
HMS FORWARD was heavily involved in the saga of the German battle cruisers Scharnhorst, Gneiseneau and Prinz Eugen on 11 February 1942, the Dieppe Raid of 19 August 1942, D-Day, and nightly MTB harassment raids and commando ‘snoops’ on the occupied French coast. Air/sea rescue was also coordinated from here.
Geoffrey Ellis, who saw this establishment being excavated, spent four years diligently researching the history of this site. A book and a seventy-minute video entitled THE SECRET TUNNELS OF SOUTH HEIGHTON detail the revelations produced by site surveys, official archives, and military and civilian veterans who served here during the war, revealing authentic information about un-archived details concerning the equipment, accommodation, procedures, and administration of the establishment.
A group called Friends of HMS Forward was convened in November 1999 with the objective of restoring the former HMS FORWARD tunnels to a standard conforming with current legislation suitable for public access as a site of historic interest. During our research we discovered that 1970’s urban development of the hillside had resulted in ownership of the tunnels becoming fragmented under English Law. Faced with the unfortunate consequences of a multitude of unwitting proprietors who were most displeased to discover that they were now legally responsible for something they formerly knew nothing about, and that they were never going to concede 100% to a 999-year legally-acceptable lease that we needed before we could bid for a Heritage Lottery Grant, the regretful decision was taken to abandon our objectives. It had cost The Friends of HMS Forward more than £500 p.a. for seven years in public liability insurance alone just to enter the tunnel to do our fingertip research and to produce detailed drawings and photographs of the labyrinth and our discoveries for the information of generations to come before the labyrinth becomes too dangerous to enter.
This intolerable drain on our meagre resources was unsustainable and the decision was made to disband the Friends of HMS Forward in 2007.
[Source: subbrit.org.uk]
EW
#Abandoned #WW2 #Underground #explore

[@ExploringWithin]

This is now sealed off with security measures now I believe

[@gordybishop2375]

Like security checks it once a decade …lol Weird they did not fill it in before building houses on top.

[@mogadon7]

The way things are going it might be needed.

[@MarcUK]

HMS Forward was decommissioned after WW2 in 1945. It was never converted to a cold war bunker. That small room as you entered, that had the small hole looking towards the entrance, was a machine-gun pill box. As was the one on the right up those stairs. One of those exits came up inside a building named the Guinness Trust Holiday Home in South Heighton. In the early 90's some people found the room inside and dug down into the tunnel. Sadly in 1996, the building got demolished to build a housing estate. A book was published in late 1996 - The Secret Tunnels of South Heighton: Tribute to H.M.S. "Forward" by Geoffrey Ellis. He interviewed a number of people on video who are probably no longer alive sadly.

[@mogadon7]

If you want to save 40 minutes its one long tunnel of a video not too much else.

[@Budzy485]

As an Aussie, this is what I love about the UK and Europe, so much history within the ground you’re standing on. If you dig a hole in your front yard you never know what you might find.

[@ExploringWithin]

Very true, that’s what makes it so exciting!

[@paulvamos7319]

Thank you Steve for taking us exploring that bit of history! Thanks to Matthew and Ray too!👍

[@bigglesace1626]

Great explore, chaps. More history of this can be found online and in Geoffrey Ellis' book, 'The Secret Tunnels of South Heighton'. Lots of old plans and pics from when they reopened the entrance in the floor of room 16, Denton House - demolished in the 90's. The other stairways led up to defensive pill boxes, one of which was disguised as a hen house. This one stood in what is now the garden of a house on Glynde Close.

[@ExploringWithin]

Nice thanks for the info 👍

[@gaynor3976]

Really interesting with so many twists and turns. I've learnt more about bunkers and where they are during the last few months watching Matt, Alex, Ray and yourself than ever before and found it all really intriguing. Thanks for the explore and for being able to show us what we didn't know existed in our homeland xx

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks for the support, glad you’re enjoying the videos and finding it all interesting. Not everyone can get out and about to explore these places so it’s good to bring it to people with our videos 😁

[@Andyroo1984]

That metal door looked freshly cut with no corrosion at all on the edges, very fresh

[@ExploringWithin]

It did yes! I think it had been open only a matter of days before we got there. We got a tip it was open so rushed down there before it got sealed again

[@thomascochrane3100]

Glad someone else mentioned it. Too much of a coincidence that it gets cut open and these guys "got a tip"...

[@ExploringWithin]

@@thomascochrane3100 Coincidences do happen - I don’t break into places - I think you can probably tell that by my content!

[@andrewtaylor9634]

Yes very fresh cut that how strange

[@sharonleong7120]

Another very interesting and great explore. I love it very much. Thanks Steve.👍👍❤️❤️❤️

[@ExploringWithin]

Glad you enjoyed it thanks for watching 😁👍

[@TheAmericanCanadian1973]

Good explore. Good funny bits. Thx for the extra bits What would Alex do lol

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks 🙏

[@raymckenzie705]

Wow that was a great video from start to finish the way I was a bit tight for you all and it was great to watch you thank you

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks glad you enjoyed! 🙏👍

[@Andrew-ib7us]

That was awesome guys really enjoyed the video

[@ExploringWithin]

Glad you enjoyed

[@KJahDayz]

Matt always lives this stuff what a legend wish I had one near me

[@xhesicadx]

Finally found your channel!!! Ive seen you tons on VacentHaven with the boys over there. Awesome explore!!!

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks 🙏

[@Sunshinebeauty56]

Wow what a crazy adventure that was, great video❤

[@ExploringWithin]

Definitely one of our best ones! Glad you enjoyed this one 🙏

[@darkurbanexploring]

Awesome explore guys keep up the awesome work 👍 👏

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks dude 👍

[@Trish1]

Amazing tunnels and in such good condition Would have been great to get out of one of the exits! Great explore and fab filming 👍

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks for watching 😁 Yes shame we couldn’t get out one of the other exits, worth the look through.

[@doug5uk]

This i believe was called HMS Forward during the war. There was an entrance at that time in a building that became Guinness Trust Holiday home after the war. I explored it as a kid in the 1960's.

[@ExploringWithin]

Yep it’s HMS Forward. I believe the building is still there where the escape hatch is.

[@Marilyn195]

That tunnel system under the subdivisions is amazing,and so huge the way it just keeps on going on..I’ll bet you all had sore tired legs after all that stair climbing that you all did🇨🇦

[@ExploringWithin]

Was an awesome explore! We are used to all the climbing 🧗‍♀️

[@TheRopeAddict]

Ooops got here late. Never seen this location before. Nice one Steve! Cheers to Matt and the French guy.

[@ExploringWithin]

No problem at all. Was a great location 💯

[@georgesmith8113]

Good one! 👍👊😎

[@ExploringWithin]

👍👍

[@megamills150]

You never know what your walking over and this bunker is a great example look at the size of it and all the bends a very cool bunker and explore 👍💯

[@ExploringWithin]

Yeah you just never know what’s underneath you! All part of the fun exploring it 👍👍

[@peterfeeney721]

Breathe quietly! Cannot hear a thing. Great find!

[@barryhackett4227]

You should look up ww2 history hunter it's a man and his son it's really good

[@buffplums]

I’m amazed that the entrance is so open. I reckon that manhole cover you came to is in a road on the estate. There is a set of tunnels under Tranmere in Birkenhead and one of the entrances was replaced by a manhole cover when the new estate was built on top.

[@ExploringWithin]

Interesting. The main entrance is now all fenced off with CCTV. Looks like they spent a bit of money to preserve and protect this bunker. You don’t tend to see this much effort with other bunkers.

[@emmabh2166]

Those tunnels around 30 minutes in are so disorienting!! I felt drunk with you haha-great explore as always

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks 🙏 Yeah they were a bit, all good fun though 😆😎

[@gpo746]

The homeowners have missed a trick. They could have sealed off the roadside entrance and had themselves an extra room under their houses each home could have done thick concrete walls . Great storage/ panic room / bunker

[@jackiecampbell3365]

Currently watching this one in bkground while I'm busy .😊

[@charlestaylor9131]

Tin work looks in remarkable condition, very dry.

[@johnanthonycolley3803]

Likely the back filled rear tunnels with no steps leading to a single ladder, where ventilation shafts..

[@ExploringWithin]

I have shown the entrance to this bunker as it’s already readily available online, and it also sits in plain view along a busy road.

[@djmossssomjd8496]

I've always said, if your looking for bunkers...look for higher ground (less water access :-). This was 2022 (early). In 2023 the entrance is fenced off..as shown on street view. Good explore lads.

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks 👍👍

[@RedFight]

Great exploration guys. I live nearby and knew about the bunker, but didnt picture it to be like that. I'd been up to the door before, but there was no hole in it. Its all blocked off now, with fencing and security cameras.

[@ExploringWithin]

You never know what’s beneath you which makes it all the more interesting. I have seen pictures of the entrance now with all the cameras and stuff. That isn’t typical of what they’d normally do, so my guess is they are looking to guard/protect it either for preservation or for future use at some point. Thanks for watching 👍

[@Johnketes54]

This similar to PADDOCK, At Dolis hill, Churchill's backup to the Imperial war rooms which he used only once! Too damp, A housing estate built above it, Nice opening music similar to Tangerine Dream

[@ExploringWithin]

Do you know if Paddock is ever open for tours? And glad you liked the intro music. Thanks for watching

[@hahomy]

remember watching this when it premiered and Matt's can't believe that place is just in the middle of a housing estate..and how steep it was and how many stairs.... I wonder what they was used for, escape tunnels maybe.. there must be blocked entrances to people homes like u say hidden and blocked up that I bet home owners don't even know about..cool find though Steve..👍

[@ExploringWithin]

Yeah you never know that is underneath you! I suspect they were escape tunnels or other entrances. Would be good to know where they came out though. Defo an interesting one to explore. Thanks for watching!

[@stephengolds9679]

More information about this can be found in Newhaven museum next to the Garden centre

[@SimsbyLJ]

Would love to visit somewhere like this, I find it extremely interesting 😍

[@ExploringWithin]

It’s very cool! I think it’s still currently open.

[@SimsbyLJ]

@@ExploringWithin I’m not brave enough! I am localish though so I could check! The rooms with large holes in the floor like swimming pools were communication rooms which would have had machines in, the random large holes in the floor were grenade pits 😊 thanks for uploading I’ve subscribed 👍🏼

[@ExploringWithin]

@@SimsbyLJ Definitely worth a look if you’ve got someone to go with. And that’s interesting thanks for the info on that 👍 Glad you enjoyed and thanks for subbing 😁

[@buffplums]

18:18 that would be a guard post, allows a guard to position himself safely out of the way if the bunker was attacked. They was that big Sanger / pill box structure on the main road probably used to defend the entrance and accessible from inside the tunnels.

[@ExploringWithin]

Seems logical, thanks for the info there 👍

[@qunvat]

Hi guys ..I've just moved to the hill above this (and over a bit and up the hill to Denton). Fascinating stuff! Where's the Welshie from (fellow Welshie). I've walked past the entrance many times with my dog and wondered what it was. Also spent the night at Newhaven Fort recently which is incredible...

[@ExploringWithin]

Glad the video gave you a look inside! I believe it’s got a fence and cameras outside it now from what I’ve heard and partly seen. Will have to look into Newhaven fort sounds interesting! And not actually sure where in Wales he’s from. Thanks for watching 👍

[@AnthonyChopra]

After you threw the gate it would of been funny if the haatch was a doorway into someones kitchen were someone has boiled the ketel for a cuppa tea with now the exsplorers from underground. amazing tunnels

[@ExploringWithin]

Definitely would have been funny. Thanks for watching

[@thomascochrane3100]

The most interesting aspect of this bunker was the freshly cut entrance. But not even a word about that. Did you guys get this entrance broken for your video?

[@ExploringWithin]

We had a tip off the bunker was literally just opened so I think it must have been literally opened a day or two before we got down there. We saw it was freshly cut but wasn’t a surprise to us as as I say, we heard it had just been opened that week

[@damianbutterworth2434]

Oh my Lord. Matt does get about lol.

[@user-xq6me6pd7q]

So much of our recent history is hidden and locked up. It is not that we really all want to wander around these places but we do want to know about our history. We have probably 400 years of stuff in and around our country that is hidden, scrapped, derelict, or private that is really ours. The only way to find it is to see what others have found here.

[@ExploringWithin]

Definitely 💯

[@buffplums]

15:03 I think here there may have been a generator and a fuel tank. The 2 pits look like sumps for containing any spillage of fuel or oil from the genny and the fuel tank

[@ExploringWithin]

Yeah definitely a good point

[@phoenixx5092]

pity you didnt have an endescope to poke up the holes in the hatch

[@SFS1009]

Not sure if mentioned before in the comments, Or on camera here...But TIGHT SQUEEZE BUNKER. SECRET Army Battle WW2 Underground HQ. MAN vs HOLE, Posted by TheSecretVault. The corridor builds in that video, are pretty much identical to those in this one. I guess this was a standard thing back in that time period? Gave me Deja Vu. Apologies if my knowledge on this subject is a little out...Only started watching a lot of different video's, And Urbex related stuff on KZbin within the last 24 hours, So it's relatively new to me.

[@ExploringWithin]

They certainly do all look similar but have different characteristics. Hope you enjoy all the explore videos 👍

[@SFS1009]

@@ExploringWithin Great stuff!

[@ExploringWithin]

@@SFS1009 more bunker explores here if you wanted to check them out kzbin.info/aero/PLc95b64gNtTlEH221hkm6YJKwzHZuN2o0&si=HlqUJ78y78LoHkCg

[@SeanBainbridge-ky1mw]

Hi guys what was the sound track culled that's played over the video at the start as I've heard it a lot but don't know what it is Could you tell me please if you know?

[@ExploringWithin]

If you open the video description up below, the song info is listed towards the end - it’s automatically added by KZbin

[@richardlangly4635]

I was surprised by the sheer size of the place! Would love to see where that hatch went, whether it was into someone's house or in a field or something.

[@ExploringWithin]

We were surprised on the size of the place as well. Would of been good to see the other side of the hatch.

[@robkennard1867]

Hi there- I used to play in these tunnels regularly as a kid- sometimes in the upper reaches you could hear domestic noises like hoovering in the houses above. One of the exits is now vented, and you can see the enclosure and grill on surface on the green by the Guineess Trust houses

[@ExploringWithin]

@@robkennard1867 That’s interesting thanks for the information there! The bit where we got to in the bunker where we couldn’t go any further, I’m sure we thought we could hear muffled sounds from above - perhaps that was a house above or something?

[@JD-wo5bx]

@@ExploringWithin Hi I'm Robs friend, we used to live above these tunnels and play/explore them in the 80's. I have a book a local man wrote about the history ISBN 1 85770 1011. The tunnels were acessed from the top in the War, the access is from the Guniess trust building (Denton House) which was taken over by the MOD. The other 'exits' were machine gun nests that were blocked up, one is near the old south heighton corner shop the others are actually in someones back garden. A quick google of HMS forward will give you more info. Also check Newhaven fort which has many more tunnels, but i expect they are all blocked now.

[@ExploringWithin]

@@JD-wo5bx Thanks for your info! Very interesting to hear. I will definitely look at checking out newhaven fort. Cheers 👍

[@frogmaster83]

Local to me. Main entrance was from one of the house above. 😉

[@ExploringWithin]

Yep we realized that 👍 😎

[@Lugeix]

24:48 Defense location. Hole in the bricks is for guns to shoot intruder.

[@Kingshieldwall]

With captain paranoid and his hat eh 🤔😂

[@neilbrownexplores1293]

Went today to explore there doing work there it's fenced off and has CCTV cameras

[@ExploringWithin]

Interesting thanks for the update. I assume they somewhat want to preserve it if they are going to those measures.

[@Axel-ly4vi]

New haven actually

[@signal98]

❤

[@UnderTheRadar1976]

Sealed up now

[@ExploringWithin]

They must of done that this weekend then as it was open Friday just gone

[@christophergould3673]

What happens when the metal rust starts will the houses fall in.

[@ExploringWithin]

It’s a good point! I’m sure the council keep an eye on it.

[@normanboyes4983]

@@ExploringWithinYeah like they keep an eye on potholes.😉

[@BobHannent]

How many times does he have to harp on about his 360 camera?

[@ExploringWithin]

😆👍

[@2011thekaj]

You should have let ya gps ping and know where the hatch is!!

[@minemineraladdicts5742]

How would you get gps to work underground 🤔

[@richclean]

your destination is way off, I know exactly where this is…I’ll not be saying however 🤔

[@TheSeafordian]

Nowhere near the Sussex border by the way.

[@ExploringWithin]

Correct

[@jackiecampbell3365]

"It's weilded shut" ..🤣🤣😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@ExploringWithin]

That came about as quite a catchy one! Haha!

[@jackiecampbell3365]

@@ExploringWithin am laughing as that's why a said it..too catchy 🤣 😂 😆 No be able shiftbfrom my brain now...What a place..I'm Gobsmacked 😲

[@ExploringWithin]

@@jackiecampbell3365 On par with big cook then 😉 Yeah absolutely mental place! Just the thought knowing you are stood right under people!

[@jackiecampbell3365]

@@ExploringWithin Nahhh big cook was in my head singing when at Aunts hahaha honestly to point driving me nuts 😆,that n fecking pingu...Nuts!! 😆😆😆.Well done boys on getting up the tunnell with zero stairs .Sooo steep ..😲😲

[@ExploringWithin]

@@jackiecampbell3365 😆😆 Yeah it was a proper workout in places! Enjoyed it though

[@EXPLOREWITHKIRST94]

Do u know where abouts this is and if it’s still open ?

[@ExploringWithin]

No idea where it is 🤔 I do know it’s sealed up with security now though

[@EXPLOREWITHKIRST94]

@@ExploringWithin o really that sucks do you have Instagram as if you cool with it hit we could send each other some locations ?

[@ukusapatriot327]

BN9 0QT under 34 heighton close entrance on video A26

[@TheRopeAddict]

tic tic tic

[@danhurley6152]

Guys please get some gas/o2 monitors

[@ExploringWithin]

Yes definitely something we’ll look at 👍

[@TaylorVanBeek]

Another awesome video! I just got done filming an abandoned school here in Florida! You'll have to check it out on my channel! Keep up with the awesome content!

[@ExploringWithin]

Thanks! 👍👍

[@user-ft8hw2cr5y]

Guys, you will be surprised, but Ukrainian army says that this bunker is underground city under azovstal. You can consider that you have been in Mariupol 😁

[@paulhyde1834]

It's DEFFINITELY in East Sussex. About half a mile from our house!

[@gordybishop2375]

Huh

[@travishurst8061]

Ya ok buddy stop with the lies

[@DavidGriffiths-wt2hm]

Good video, but please, take it easy on this American word 'guys' ....