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Dave Billings, a fabricator in Derbyshire, spent years building underground rooms beneath his property, including a 35-foot tunnel inspired by The Great Escape. A 2024 report described two connected spaces and a lift disguised as a beer barrel; by March 2026, his existing bunker was reportedly being used as a living room, while a planned Boeing 737 fuselage addition remained under development.
What did Dave Billings build under his garden?
Billings began the project around 2013 after he could not find an existing bunker on his property. In a 2024 report, SurreyWorld described a small underground room reached by stairs built inside an old well, followed by a larger space and a connecting tunnel. The details and measurements in that account were reported from Billings’s project, rather than independently surveyed.
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The first space was reported as about 13 square metres. Billings began the larger phase in 2023; it was reported as about 25 square metres. The tunnel joining the spaces was reported as 35 feet long. SurreyWorld’s associated imperial-area wording was inconsistent, so the reported square-metre figures are the clearer measurements to use.
How long is the tunnel, and what was it for?
The reported tunnel was 35 feet long and connected the two underground spaces. Its appearance drew inspiration from the escape tunnels associated with the 1963 film The Great Escape; in 2024, Billings said he intended to line it with wood.
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The tunnel should not be mistaken for a completed route out of the property. The 2024 story described a longer-term plan for a route from the house through the tunnel and well. A March 2026 follow-up later described the existing tunnel network as connecting to the family home, but neither report establishes that the tunnel was an exterior escape route or a certified shelter.
Is the bunker connected to the family home?
The reporting describes a change in how the connection was presented over time. In 2024, SurreyWorld described the tunnel as linking underground spaces and a possible house-to-bunker route as a longer-term plan. In March 2026, the Derbyshire Times described the existing tunnel network as connecting to the family home.
That later description does not provide an independently verified plan or structural assessment. The reports also do not establish permits or safety certification, so the project is best understood as a personal underground space rather than a professionally certified refuge.
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What is the beer-barrel lift?
Billings said carrying drinks down the stairs was difficult, so he built a lift disguised as a beer barrel. It was a practical convenience with a deliberately playful finish, not a reported part of the bunker’s access or escape route.
Other features mentioned in the 2024 account—including a projector, gaming simulator and remote-controlled fridge—were plans or ideas at that time. They should not be treated as confirmed completed installations.
How much did the bunker cost?
The reported costs changed as the project grew. SurreyWorld’s 2024 account put spending at about £30,000 by then, with Billings estimating roughly £35,000 to finish that phase. It also reported about £4,000 spent on bricks. In March 2026, the Derbyshire Times gave later figures of about £50,000 for the existing bunker and a further £20,000 planned for the aircraft addition.
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| Report and date | Reported amount | What it refers to |
|---|---|---|
| SurreyWorld, 2024 | About £30,000 spent; roughly £35,000 estimated to finish | Billings’s earlier project phase |
| SurreyWorld, 2024 | About £4,000 | Bricks, as reported from Billings’s account |
| Derbyshire Times, 2026 | About £50,000 | Existing bunker in the later account |
| Derbyshire Times, 2026 | Further £20,000 planned | Aircraft-fuselage addition |
These figures come from different dates and scopes. They are reported estimates, not audited construction accounts, and the 2026 amount should not be read as a corrected final bill for the earlier phase.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the Boeing 737 addition?
In March 2026, the Derbyshire Times reported that Billings was developing an adjoining underground space using a Boeing 737 fuselage. The report said burial was planned for later in 2026; it described the addition as work in progress, not as a completed feature.
The same report said the existing underground space was already in use as a living room, including for watching Formula One. That update marks a different phase from the tunnel and rooms described in 2024, rather than a single finished build.
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What inspired the project?
Billings described the bunker as a childhood ambition. SurreyWorld quoted him in 2024 saying, “I’ve always wanted to find a bunker on the property, but when I didn’t I thought I’ll build one myself. It’s a bit of a childhood dream, really.” The film-inspired tunnel, well access and beer-barrel lift give the project its distinctive character, while the later report shows it continued to evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Dave Billings’s bunker built as a bomb shelter?
The reports describe a personal underground leisure space, including a living-room use, but do not establish that it was designed or certified as a bomb shelter. They provide no verified protection specifications or structural safety assessment.
When did Billings start the bunker project?
The 2024 SurreyWorld account says he started around 2013 after failing to find an existing bunker on his Derbyshire property. It later describes a larger phase that began in 2023.
Was the Boeing 737 bunker finished in 2026?
The Derbyshire Times report published in March 2026 described the fuselage addition as being developed, with burial planned for later that year. It does not confirm that the work was completed.
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