\n Dawn and Kelvin Nicholson have lived on Portland for 48 years, but what they didn\u2019t realise until around 10 years ago is that at the bottom of their garden there was a vast underground hospital complex.\n<\/p>\n
\n The hospital was initially built and operated in 1940 as Portland Royal Naval Hospital.\n<\/p>\n
\n Portland Underground Hospital entrance (Image: Hollie Carr)\n<\/p>\n
\n The Royal Naval Hospital ceased to exist when it was taken over by the NHS in around 1957 to become Portland Hospital and is still owned by the NHS to this date \u2013 despite being closed.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mrs Nicholson said: \u201cA lot of people don\u2019t know it\u2019s there; I would like to see it open to the public, hopefully it can be made safe again a bit like the High Angle Battery.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n High Angle Battery is a late Victorian gun battery built to help defend Portland Harbour against invasion which re-opened following significant funding and repair works.\n<\/p>\n
\n Portland Underground Hospital entrance (Image: Hollie Carr)\n<\/p>\n
\n Mrs Nicholson \u00a0said: \u201cWe have lived here for 48 years and must have only found out about the underground hospital 10 years ago. It\u2019s sad that it\u2019s underground because nobody knows that it\u2019s there.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt would just be an amazing asset to Portland; it\u2019s a fascinating part of history \u2013 they could even make it look authentic.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Portland Underground Hospital (Image: Jim Tampin)\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Nicholson, who is a volunteer at the Nothe Fort in Weymouth, added: \u201cThe Nothe was in a similar state before it opened.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The pair said: \u201cGenerally, money from tourism stops at the marina as cruise ship passengers generally get a bus into Weymouth. Instead, this would be a reason to keep cruise passengers on the island.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The couple have been in touch with Historic England and are in the process of trying to get the premises listed.\n<\/p>\n
\n The land above Portland Underground Hospital (Image: Hollie Carr)\n<\/p>\n
\n Historic England said: \u201cWe are aware of the Portland Underground Hospital site and have received several enquiries about it in recent years. So far, we have not received an application to consider it for listing that meets our validation criteria. Anyone interested in pursuing listing is welcome to apply through our online application process, provided they supply information relating to the site\u2019s significance or demonstrate that it is under threat. Whether it qualifies for listing or not we hope a sustainable new use can be found to secure its future.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Despite efforts, Dorset Healthcare University Trust have no plans of opening the site to the public.\n<\/p>\n
\n Portland Hospital (Image: Hollie Carr)\n<\/p>\n
\n READ MORE:\n<\/p>\n
Victorian cannon gets new lease of life at historic Dorset site<\/a><\/p>\n Aerial footage shows Standing With Giants Nothe Fort tribute<\/a><\/p>\n