Paddock was secretly built before WWII at the Post Office Telecommunications experimental site at Dollis Hill, north London, as it met a number of criteria. Accessible for central government on a site where security could be maintained. The spoil from the site was reputed to be removed using the cover of bread vans that visited the site. Although, it was completed it was only ever used for two cabinet meetings. Sadly, some short comings were that although comprising of two storeys underground and capable of surviving bombing by the Luftwaffe. Having a BBC radio studio, and a cabinet office with air conditioning to remove Winston Churchill's cigar smoke. The problems with Paddock were though it was gas proof with air purification, it had no toilets, no water supply and no catering facilities other than an area to prepare sandwiches. Toilets were located above ground in the offices. It is worth a visit and is usually open for visits in September as part of London Open House courtesy of the housing association that now owns it following the site being developed above it for housing.
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