Forgotten School Air Raid Shelter

This Air Raid Shelter was one of two built for use by a school during the Second World War. The first being a trench shelter located under the schools playground and this one being an above ground variant.

Due to the trench shelters propensity to flood often the surface shelter was used. The first recorded use of the shelter was in October 1940. On 24th March 1943 the school suffered a direct hit due to bombing raids, no injuries were recorded owing to the fact the teachers and children were in the Shelter.

The Shelter is rectangular in shape with four individual entrances providing access. Once entered an airlock passage would be passed through before entry into the main shelter rooms was gained. Each airlock passage had two sloping timber frames to which was affixed to the lintel chemically impregnated fabric gas screens. These screens could be lowered down the length of the frame in the event of a gas attack thus keeping the occupants safe inside. At each end of the shelter there were latrines, there were a total of 4 in each and each would’ve had its own Elsan chemical toilet. Each cubicle was separated by galvanised steel tube to which fabric curtains were attached allowing privacy, the rings for these curtains can be seen within our video. Affixed to the walls of the shelter were hooks for hurricane lamps to be hung on in the event the lighting within the shelter failed. The Shelter is of brick construction, with a slightly sloped concrete slab roof and poured concrete floor.

After the war the shelter was possibly used as an auxiliary classroom and most likely stores. The western three entrances into the shelter were also sealed and seatings areas constructed within them for the children. The surviving eastern entrance was adapted and two large windows were also knocked into the shelter to provide lighting, the eastern shelter room was also adapted having its internal walls demolished to make the room larger.

The Shelter has been sealed since the closure of the school and long forgotten.