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| Nuclear bunker offered for sale | Nuclear bunker offered for sale |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| House hunters in Perthshire are being offered the chance to buy a nuclear bunker set in the grounds of an Edwardian mansion. | House hunters in Perthshire are being offered the chance to buy a nuclear bunker set in the grounds of an Edwardian mansion. |
| Former owner Gwyn Grogan commissioned the shelter 34 years ago at the height of the Cold War to protect his family against a potential Russian invasion. | Former owner Gwyn Grogan commissioned the shelter 34 years ago at the height of the Cold War to protect his family against a potential Russian invasion. |
| Birnie House in Alyth is being sold along with an adjoining cottage and gardens for offers over £675,000. | Birnie House in Alyth is being sold along with an adjoining cottage and gardens for offers over £675,000. |
| The shelter is 12ft underground and cost £35,000 to build in 1973. | The shelter is 12ft underground and cost £35,000 to build in 1973. |
| Located at the bottom of the gardens, the bunker is one large room about 10 sq ft, and can be reached via a hatch before descending a long and dark sloping stairwell. | Located at the bottom of the gardens, the bunker is one large room about 10 sq ft, and can be reached via a hatch before descending a long and dark sloping stairwell. |
| The nuclear bunker is certainly a quirky feature of the property and is a very important piece of social history Robert McCullochStrutt and Parker | The nuclear bunker is certainly a quirky feature of the property and is a very important piece of social history Robert McCullochStrutt and Parker |
| For the past 19 years a groundsman has kept it in perfect working order with electrics, a fan which works off a cycle for fresh air and a condenser to purify water. | For the past 19 years a groundsman has kept it in perfect working order with electrics, a fan which works off a cycle for fresh air and a condenser to purify water. |
| Mrs Grogan, the wife of the late Gwyn Grogan, who died at the age of 84 last year, admitted she had only visited the shelter once. | Mrs Grogan, the wife of the late Gwyn Grogan, who died at the age of 84 last year, admitted she had only visited the shelter once. |
| She said: "I remember my husband showing it to me many years ago but it was terrifying and I never wanted to go in it again." | She said: "I remember my husband showing it to me many years ago but it was terrifying and I never wanted to go in it again." |
| Despite its lack of use, Mrs Grogan said the shelter had become a talking point among locals and had even attracted the odd tourist. | Despite its lack of use, Mrs Grogan said the shelter had become a talking point among locals and had even attracted the odd tourist. |
| She added: "My husband took it very seriously, so it wasn't used as a place to potter about or for children to play and has lain empty and unused since it was built. | She added: "My husband took it very seriously, so it wasn't used as a place to potter about or for children to play and has lain empty and unused since it was built. |
| The bunker at Birnie House was built in 1973 | |
| "I do remember him buying gas masks and powdered food to put in it but that has all been cleared out." | "I do remember him buying gas masks and powdered food to put in it but that has all been cleared out." |
| Birnie House, which is believed to have been built in the early 1900s, was received as a wedding present from the Invergordon Estate by a member of Grogan's family. | Birnie House, which is believed to have been built in the early 1900s, was received as a wedding present from the Invergordon Estate by a member of Grogan's family. |
| Estate agents Strutt and Parker said they expected the sale to generate "considerable interest". | Estate agents Strutt and Parker said they expected the sale to generate "considerable interest". |
| Agent, Robert McCulloch, said: "The nuclear bunker is certainly a quirky feature of the property and is a very important piece of social history. | Agent, Robert McCulloch, said: "The nuclear bunker is certainly a quirky feature of the property and is a very important piece of social history. |
| "It could be preserved as it is but can also be used as a great storage facility." | "It could be preserved as it is but can also be used as a great storage facility." |