Hi! I've recently moved to a house a few miles from Kenley Airfield which I understand was both regarded as important as Biggin Hill and Croydon for the defence of London and also very badly bombed on 18th August 1940. This considered, I assume enemy aircraft activity in the area was significant and air raid shelters were probably common place in peoples gardens. With this is in mind, I'm puzzled by the concrete base on which our shed sits (the shed is clearly no more than 20 years old of course!). Whilst the garden is on a significant incline and any base would need to be more substantial that the average foundation, this appears to be at least a foot deep and a large footprint (I'm yet to obtain permission from the other half to dig up the rockery to explore further!). Before I get the pick axe out (and regret it), I wondered if anybody here had any thoughts on whether this could be contemporary with WW2? I know concrete topped air raid shelters were built privately, but this is at ground level and would have require a significant engineering effort to build a sufficiently deep structure beneath. Anyway, let me know what you think. Thanks in advance
hello Langton possibly you will need to dig down a tad to give you a better view of the area regards Clive
It just looks like a former shed base to me. Possibly a small brick built outhouse from 30s (ish) era
Always worth checking, but it looks like it just had a bigger shed on it once from the ghostly line of where a timber plate might have sat
There is an former RAF airfield outside Whitchurch, on the A41, still has it control tower, and remains of brickwork and pillbox. Rest is now overgrown. One day I am going to pull over and explore ................
A friend of mine has something similar... dug down one sides... found steps... now has a basement for his shed. Tim
Hi Langton, BE CARE-FULL YOU NEVER KNOW WERE IT MIGHT LEAD YOU TOO, Les and Sheila Holmes of Street in Somerset after moving 70 Tons of earth last year uncovered a WW 2 concrete Air Raid shelter under their flower bed it was 13ft x 5ft x 6ft deep with steps leading down into it, it had no roof. Somerset couple Les and Sheila Holmes discover WW2 air raid shelter in back garden | Daily Mail Online Roger
WW2 bunker found under back garden The bunker was partially flooded and had to be cleared of water Mr Scott thought he had a drain cover in his garden Mr Scott says the bunker is big enough for at least 50 people A wooden door separated the bunker's two rooms
A hidden World War Two bunker has been discovered under the back garden of a house in Middlesbrough. Chris Scott was having his Marton Avenue home renovated when he decided to investigate what he thought was a drain cover. But it turned out to be the entrance to a concrete-lined, two-room bunker, big enough for more than 50 people. WW2 bunker found under back garden
Has it been confirmed that it is WW2? Seems very elaborate for the simple air raid shelter that the article claims it to be.
