Air-Raid Shelter

The pictures of this site are of a WW2 air-raid shelter which was situated on Hospital Hill near Shorncliffe Camp, Folkestone. Unfortunately the area has been the target of developers and the site of the shelter is now part of a housing development. There were several different designs of air-raid shelters, including one for individual houses, made of corrugated iron sheet to be half dug into a garden. My father had one sunk into the garden behind the house, but in good old England with plenty of rain, it was usually a few inches deep in water. After rushing out into the garden one evening, clutching a sandwich in one hand, and falling headfirst down the steps into the water at the bottom, he decided it was better to sit it out indoors and take his chances. Depending on where the shelter was built, some of them , like the one shown here, were relatively 'comfortable'. Photos taken Jan.1978.

 

Entrance door to shelter in earth covered mound.

 

Standing by second door to shelter.

 

Standing in entrance to shelter.

 

View inside shelter. Second door at other end.