A former German personnel bunker has been converted into a three-bedroom luxury home on the tiny island of Guernsey. Built in 1942 by the German occupying forces as a coastal defense reinforced concrete shelter called “Bunker Six Eighty One”, the structure now offers breathtaking views of Guernsey’s Rocquaine Bay. During the Second World War, it housed up to 12 German troops, who were stationed there to defend the bay against potential attacks by the Allied forces.
Being the only part of Great Britain to be invaded by German troops in World War II, the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey were both heavily fortified, under the orders of the Führer. The collection of islands, just off the coast of France, formed a portion of the vital Atlantic Wall that ran from Norway, down to Spain.
Acquired by property developer BDL in 2018, Bunker Six Eighty One has since been converted into a modern, stylish residential property, ideal for those who want to live in their own piece of 20th-century war history.
The project started in 2020, and it involved the complex task of removing 144 tonnes of reinforced concrete walls and floors, for which a specialist drill was brought over from the UK mainland. Now it’s a glass-fronted home, with a rooftop terrace and a very much open-plan design, balancing the building’s historic character with modern comfort.
Brad Ogier, director of BDL developments, said, “You don’t approach a project like this intending to erase its past. We wanted to retain the bunker’s story while ensuring it felt comfortable and homely. Features like the hinges from the steel-armored gas door and ventilation ducts have been thoughtfully preserved – they provide great talking points.”
While the current sale price is unknown, properties in the area regularly sell for over £1,000,000.
2025 will be a landmark year for the Channel Islands, marking 80 years since their liberation from the occupying German forces in May 1945. Visitors to Guernsey in 2025 will be invited to join in the Heritage 80 celebrations, which will include a number of historic bunker open days by volunteer organization, Festung Guernsey.
The organization’s members maintain dozens of bunkers and long-range artillery positions scattered all over the much-fortified island, which are still very much part of its infrastructure today.
As part of the celebrations, new historical routes around the island, along with history-themed boat tours and historic military vehicle parades, will take place, too.
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Plus, a host of particularly special celebrations will occur around the date of May 9 – their Liberation Day. There will be fireworks displays, concerts and chances to commemorate the liberation with the islanders themselves.