Hospital Bunker

Built by forced labour for the German occupying forces during the Second World War, the hospital bunker lies in a central position on Alderney, and is concealed behind earth cover.

Designated as type 118b in the schedule of designs for the permanent fortification programme, it is the only one of its type in the Channel Islands. It was supported by two surviving bunker dressing stations for casualty assembly at opposite ends of the island: Rose Farm and Whitegates.

The principal hospital bunker has 2-metre thick reinforced concrete walls, and was modified in the second year to incorporate a part-basement comprising four chambers for the heating and ventilation equipment, accessed by the two trap doors in the floor of the first entrance and adjoining gas lock.

It was also provided with an attached Tobruk pit at its eastern end for upper observation and close defence, and both entrances were directly protected from inside by armoured machine-gun embrasures. The bunker contained 30 bunks for patients and an operating theatre capable of dealing with major operations. The bunker is open from 10am-4pm every day, and admission is free.