Public Air Raid Shelter

This air raid shelter was originally excavated by Royal Engineers Tunnelling Company towards the end of the First World War in order to test a boring machine. The test tunnels could then be used as an air raid shelter (known as a dug out in WWI) by the residents of the town.

Following the outbreak of World War Two the shelter was extended and used again for protection against bombing and shelling raids.

The shelter could accommodate up to 1350 people and within it had running hot and cold water, flushing toilets and 2-3 tier bunks. Nearby there was a decontamination centre and first aid post.

For the duration of the War the shelter was in regular use. With the end of the war the area in which the shelter is situated was redeveloped with some of the tunnels being used for storage.