The Great Escape! Man inspired by iconic war film spends £35,000 building his own World War II-style bunker which is accessed through old well and 35ft tunnel
A fan of the classic World War II film The Great Escape has spent nearly £35,000 building his own bunker in his back garden.
A fan of the classic World War II film The Great Escape has spent nearly £35,000 building his own bunker in his back garden.
Dave Billings, 43, is following his childhood dream by paying homage to one of historys most famous prison breaks, immortalised by Steve McQueen in the classic 1963 movie, The Great Escape.
He decided to build his own underground bunker and tunnel in his back garden, similar to the one used by Allied prisoners of war who famously fled Stalag Luft III.
Mr Billings, from Derbyshire, said: Ive always wanted to find a bunker on the property, but when I didnt I thought Ill build one myself.
Its a bit of a childhood dream, really.
David Billings pictured inside his World War II-style bunker inspired by the Great Escape
The extensive project involves a tunnel stretching 35 feet from the small bunker to a new livable 320ft (25sqm) bunker
Mr Billings meticulously crafted the tunnel by hand and plans to line it with wood to replicate the original
Richard Attenborough and Steve McQueen pictured in iconic film The Great Escape
Mr Billings massive DIY project began 11 years ago when he constructed a small bunker on his property.
The site originally had nothing more than an old well, so he built stairs which now lead to his 140 ft (13sqm) bunker.
Last year, he embarked on the next phase of his project, a larger bunker which is connected to the first bunker via a 35-foot-long tunnel.
Inspired by the iconic escape tunnel from WWII prisoner camps, Mr Billings meticulously crafted the tunnel by hand and plans to line it with wood to replicate the original.
The extensive project involves a tunnel stretching 35 feet from the small bunker to a new livable 320ft (25sqm) bunker.
Although not connected to his house yet, Mr Billings plans to extend his house closer to the bunker and create a secret door inside his home that will lead directly to the bunker.
His long-term goal is to create a fully connected underground network linking his house, the tunnel, and a new livable bunker.
Mr Billings said: I want to be able to walk through the house, down into the bunker, through the tunnel and come up out of the well in the garden.
Mr Billings has even constructed a beer lift disguised as a keg to carry drinks down to the bunker
The site originally had nothing more than an old well, so he built stairs which now lead to his 140 ft (13sqm) bunker
Its like a secret passageway.
Plus, if I have friends over they can use the tunnel without disturbing my wife!
Mr Billings has even constructed a beer lift disguised as a keg to carry drinks down to the bunker.
He said: I made a barrel lift because the stairs are tricky for carrying stuff like beers.
So now I can just send them down in style.
Mr Bilings has spent £30,000 on his new bunker so far and he estimates the final cost to be around £35,000.
Dave said : I spent about £4,000 on bricks and then other materials like concrete, waterproofing and insulation.
Since Im building everything myself, Ive been able to cut costs on a lot of things.
Mr Bilings has spent £30,000 on his new bunker so far and he estimates the final cost to be around £35,000
Once complete, the bunker will feature a projector, gaming simulator and plenty of high-tech gadgets making it the ultimate man cave
Mr Billings is aiming to complete the new bunker by Christmas with plans to fill it with quirky gadgets including a remote-controlled fridge.
He added: Im just doing silly things. I want to have a remote-controlled fridge that drives up to you with a beer.
But I havent thought how I would turn that dream into reality.
I designed everything in Computer-aided design but Ive got a structural engineer checking the specs.
Once complete, the bunker will feature a projector, gaming simulator and plenty of high-tech gadgets making it the ultimate man cave.
Dave continued: Itll never be fully finished.
Ill always be adding new inventions and maybe even another tunnel.
