In 1938 it was feared that London might be obliterated by bombing if war broke out with Germany. Government commissioned the construction of a deep bunker in Dollis Hill that would serve as a military and political command centre. Known as 'Paddock, it was mentioned in Churchill's memoirs and used on a couple of occasions for live rehearsals, although functional occupation never became necessary.
The bunker still exists some 60 years later. Now, few would know it is there, 20m. or so beneath a modern housing estate. Paddock was once part of a much larger complex which included the Post Office Research Station and many other buildings.
