Air Raid Shelters etc

Perhaps Mayjan can enlighten us!

There was a row of shelters on Radford Recreation ground, separated from Lydgate Road by the line of trees that are still there. They were constructed of brick with huge thick concrete roofs.There is also a bomb crater still there.

Hi, the shelter in the Memorial Park is near Coat of Arms Bridge Rd entrance. Walking up to the park from Kenilworth Rd, along Coat Of Arms Bridge Rd, go through the gates before the small car park. Turn to the right, just walk along the path a little way and you can see the outline of the shelter on the left, all overgrown. Regards Jan

Going to have to go for a walk now mayjan!

Hope you find it ok Neil, its quite overgrown, although they may have removed some of it if they are going to excavate it.

Hi all. I was speaking to a lovely lady today, and she lived in Rollason Rd, Radford as a young girl in the Blitz. She told me a great story about the time her and her family were in Holbrooks area one night. The bombs started falling and as they were in a club, her dad said to get under the snooker tables. The club took a direct hit, but the bomb went through the floor into the beer cellar, killing the landlord, who was down there. The family got out, and headed towards the shelter in Longford Park. But on the way the German planes started opening fire on them. They made it to the shelter ok, and lived to tell the tale. What a great story. I didn't get the lady's name, but the job I do in the day requires me not to give information out. My nan and mum lived in Burnaby Rd, and my mum always said they huggled together under the table in the back room with blankets and pillows.

Talking of air raid shelters does any one remember the one-man shelter that stood in Pool Meadow until the late 50s/60s . It looked like a large bell with a door in the side.

Hi Mandj, I remember the 'large bell with a door' which you mentioned. I have thought about it before but did not know what to call it. I always thought it had something to do with bus inspectors. I can see it now, was it painted green?

Yes I think it was. wonder what happened to it? probably went for scrap

I remember seeing this shelter outside a garage on the road into Long Itchington

Mayjan, just to mention we found the shelter - you would never know that's what it was now would you if you did not know. I have a few curious glances from dog-walkers wondering what I was looking at. I'd love to help dig that out - will be looking to contact the park friends.

I remember it well sited in Pool Meadow. I was also told it was an inspector's one man air raid shelter. Never ever seen another anywhere. Colin

Hi all, does anyone have any photos or memories of the shelter in Jubilee Crescent, Radford. It had been opened up in the 1990's as far as I'm aware, but has now been sealed and covered over. But still there. It was said to be very large with kitchens, bathrooms and all ?. The one I remember was opposite the Jag down Browns Lane, just down from the Unigate dairy.

I remember quite clearly the underground shelters on Radford Common, having been taken down there as toddler, My granddad, Jack Stafford, stood at the entrance guiding people in. There were many galleries with benches down both sides with wooden walkways with two inches of water below. Being underground still fills me with terror. Freeman.

There was also an underground shelter between Fynford Rd and Lawrence Saunders Rd where the Radford School now stands. As children attending the original Radford School, before it was destroyed in the blitz, we were taken down the shelter on test runs, made to wear our gas masks and given knitting to occupy our time. As we got older we were to spend a lot of our time down the shelter hiding from our parents or even the local bobby, no lights but we knew the layout like the back of our hands. The escape hatches were cast iron manhole covers with Jacob ladders for access. Shouldn't say this but these ladders, sawn into three pieces, made great sledges for use on the Radford Rec.