Monument record 11112 - Army Headquarters in Chester (Western Command)

Western Command Headquarters building was purpose built to act as the principal adminastrative centre for the Western Command of the British Army. Western Command covered Wales and the counties of Cumberland, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, Gloucestershire and the Isle of Man. (1)

Western Command had been located in Chester since 1905, first at Watergate House between 1907 and 1935 and then temporarily at Boughton between 1935 and 1938 while the present site was constructed. (3)

During World War II the addition of the bunkers meant the site could continue to function as an independent command centre in the event the above ground structures were destroyed. A Defence Telephone Network (DTN) was also set up. The addition of a number of temporary huts on the site and in the surrounding area significantly expanded its capacity during the war. (3)

The site continued to play a military role during the Cold War despite changes in defence strategies and just two people were required to maintain the telecommunication system both above and below ground. The bunkers were also maintained to serve as a nuclear bunker. (3)

The complex consisted of the Main Headquarters Building. The building is Neo Georgian in style built of stretcher bond brick. The basic plan is H shaped, however, the central arm has a slight projecting wing to the front and a larger wing to the rear overlooking the river. Originally two storeys, it has since been extended to three. The original entrance was on the south side with access via Queen’s Park Road, however, this has since been superseded by the side entrance from Victoria Crescent. (2)

Beneath the main building a series of underground bunkers were added shortly after the initial construction of the HQ in 1938. The bunkers are known locally as the ‘catacombs’ and were cut from the bedrock underlying the building. For the most part the tunnels did not require shoring up and there are few brick walls and piers supporting only the weaker sections. Towards the river front they were partially reinforced with concrete as the bedrock fell away. The main entrance into the bunkers was through the ladies shower room. The bunkers consisted of four parallel galleries or long tunnels providing access to 19 chambers or rooms. Although the tunnels contained little evidence of shoring, each chamber was supported by steel girders and corrugated iron sheets as a roof. There were four escape tunnels providing access to the riverbank, however, these have since been bricked up. (2)

The remainder of the site was taken up with a series of temporary huts used as wartime accommodation and additional office space. The first phase of temporary huts consisted of timber huts with stud panels set on dwarf brick walls to the east of the main building over the bunkers. Later additions then included structures added to the south of the main building on either side of the approach road. Further accommodation was later added to the east of the main site in the open space defined by Victoria Crescent. (2)

<1> CBA, 2002, Defence of Britain Project, S0013513 (Digital Archive). SCH4380.

<2> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), 1997, Ministry of Defence Disposals Project, Survey Report, Western Command Headquarters: Chester, R3077 (Client Report). SCH6527.

<3> Castlering Archaeology, 2011, Former Western Command HQ and WWII Bunkers, Capital House, Queens Park Road, Chester: Historic Building Assessment, R3075 (Client Report). SCH5448.