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View Full Version : Archived Report - Boys' Air Raid Shelter, St. John's School, Redhill


agk
February 25th, 2010, 03:23
The Boys' Shelter was smaller than the Girls' Shelter (http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=47665), its wooden benches to seat 272 boys.

Above the main entrance staircase from the school. Nothing out of the ordinary so far...

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5885/img25667.jpg

In 2001, a document mentioning the interior of the shelter was found and the shelter was reopened. It was found to be in surprisingly good condition.

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/3288/img25554sjrbrccor.jpg

Look at the end of the passage closely.

It's part of a mural - Robinson Crusoe. Most of the walls are painted!

An old newsreel http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=37752 was tracked down which said that during air raid warnings the boys were kept occupied by painting the murals. But it is thought more likely that they were painted during art lessons when the shelter was not in use and so there was enough space. A detailed survey of the shelter was carried out in 2006.

Many thanks to the school for allowing access.

Mural thought most likely to be Snow White

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3291/img25585sjrbsnwcorcr.jpg

The only remaining original light fitting.

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/9113/img25579sjrbapcr.jpg

Treasure Island

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2976/img25556sjrbtrshscr.jpg

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/9761/img25560sjrbtrskncr.jpg

Pilgrims Progress

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3779/img25563sjrbplgcorcr.jpg

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2606/img25561sjrplgwtrcr.jpg

Robin Hood

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1752/img25587sjrbrhcr.jpg

Beowulf

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9342/img25571sjrbvkgsecr.jpg

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/465/img25572sjrbdrgcr.jpg

Robinson Crusoe

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9210/img25595sjrbrcrcr.jpg

and many more.