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Detailed restoration completes ahead of Alderney bunker reopening

Detailed restoration completes ahead of Alderney bunker reopening

Friday 28 June 2024

Detailed restoration completes ahead of Alderney bunker reopening

Friday 28 June 2024


The Nazi hospital bunker in Alderney has undergone an extensive period of restoration, with the WWII site just days from opening to the public complete with detailed information boards in a boost for historical tourism and local remembrance.

Six months after various teams got to work restoring the site into a visitor attraction the project is complete.

The hospital is a relic from the occupation days and was built by the forced labourers brought to the island in 1943 as a medical facility known as 118b for the German Army. It contained 30 bunk beds, staff offices, admissions and treatment rooms including an operating theatre.  

One room is dedicated to the shelling of Alderney long range artillery positions by HMS Rodney during the D-Day operation, with dozens of shells fired to stave off German counter fire as the Allies poured into northern France in 1944. 

Information boards are also positioned around the site detailing the history and uses of the site. 

The attraction will be opened on 6 July at a ceremony featuring States members Boyd Kelly and Alex Snowdon, as well as the President of the States of Alderney, William Tate. The bunker will be open every day for free from this date between 10:00 and 16:00.  

The Rodney room will be opened separately on 12 August, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the bombardment.  

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Pictured: The facade of the bunker which will greet visitors. Credit: Lucie Stribrska. 

Visit Alderney, the island’s promotional body, thanked the various volunteers to helped bring the project to completion, including historian Colin Partridge, Nigel Clarke, Andy Mileham, Neil Collings and John Walker. 

Contractors from States Works, George Capazario who offered specialist wiring services, David from the local hospital for props and sponsors Blanchard for the paints and AEL for covering electricity costs. 

Caroline for Visit Alderney said the site is a chance for people to learn more about the occupation history. 

“Restoring this building not only safeguards it for the future but also adds another fascinating visitor attraction in our ongoing attempt to improve Alderney’s tourism offering.’ 

“As always, we are very grateful to the volunteers who continue to help with these projects and to historian Colin Partridge for his invaluable insights into the bunker’s past and his ability to explain it so clearly.”  

The bunker is located near Longis Road and is only accessible by a track by walkers and bicycles. 

Pictured (top): The operating theatre. Credit: Lucie Stribrska.

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