National Trust opens secret WW2 bunker under White Cliffs of Dover

The Fan Bay Plotting Room was home to some of the most advanced military technology of its time, including the fire direction table, which calculated firing data and co-ordinated artillery operations.

It was used as part of a national plan to strengthen Britain’s coastal defences, with Dover becoming known as part of the Hellfire Corner as it endured shelling attacks from occupied France just 21 miles (33km) away.

Jon Barker, from the National Trust, said: “There’s something very special about standing in a place that has changed so little since the people who worked here left.

“Rather than recreate the past, we’ve carefully conserved the plotting room so visitors can experience it much as we found it, with all the marks of its history still visible.

“It’s a rare opportunity to discover a completely different side of the white cliffs, and a fitting tribute to everyone who has helped bring this remarkable place back into public view.”