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DOVER GRAMMAR SCHOOL AIR RAID SHELTER
The British Government watched Germany’s capacity to wage war increase rapidly throughout the 1930’s and fully expected the Luftwaffe to begin bombing Britain’s cities at a very early stage. This would put large numbers of civilians directly in danger. Evacuation was clearly the safest option for the government to propose; even before the war began evacuation schemes were planned. This was accepted by the citizen’s of Britain’s cities, but as month after month passed and the Luftwaffe still did not come, thousands began to return home.
Many of the children who returned home found their schools were now being used for emergency and armed services. With their education at risk, the government had to act.
Some schools were re-opened, but it was decided that a school could only open if it had adequate air raid protection, many shelters were built on a low budget; some were little more than reinforced rooms – Others were purpose built structures, but even that comprised of little more than trenches with secure roofs, or walls of soil and sandbags.
Location: Dover
Condition: Not bad
Date Of Visit: 20/07/2007
Plan: No
Video: No
Report: No
More Info: On private property
Two of the entrances to the shelter, there are five in all.
DOVER GRAMMAR SCHOOL AIR RAID SHELTER
The Main entrance.
Inside the shelter, it is a typical concrete cut and cover structure.
Fire hose still left in place.
Toilet cubicles, privacy would have been given by only curtains.
Back inside the main tunnel.
An old oil can.
The shelter is in a very good condition, apart from a few wet spots.
One of the entrances, the door has rotted apart.
On the right would have been a water pump to keep the shelter dry.
Back in the main air raid shelter.