Every few weeks, my constant trawling of Bham and the black country pays dividends... here is my latest find.
The building that sits on top of these shelters was a 1939 addition to an earlier factory, built to manufacture munitions. The shelters were extensive, I guess because what was above was a prime raid target. They housed a canteen, and a dozen or so rooms fitted with toilets, drinking fountains and bench seating.
The shelters are very close to a river, and have been filled almost to the top by floodwater, leaving them fetted and full of black slurrey. Other than that, they are in amazing condition and still full of tin hats, enamel canteen ware and other fixtures and fittings.
Original bench seating
Elsan toilets, or ROC fame
What I can only describe as enamel cauldrons!
And enamel mugs
Fire bucket, still with sand!
Drinking fountain
Emergency escape, now filled with rubble
Another toilet, still in situ behind it's cubicle
Gas proof wooden doors, pretty standard for a shelter
What the hell is this?! Answers on a postcard
Wheelchair in the remains of the medical centre
Canteen
Tin hat
The building that sits on top of these shelters was a 1939 addition to an earlier factory, built to manufacture munitions. The shelters were extensive, I guess because what was above was a prime raid target. They housed a canteen, and a dozen or so rooms fitted with toilets, drinking fountains and bench seating.
The shelters are very close to a river, and have been filled almost to the top by floodwater, leaving them fetted and full of black slurrey. Other than that, they are in amazing condition and still full of tin hats, enamel canteen ware and other fixtures and fittings.
Original bench seating
Elsan toilets, or ROC fame
What I can only describe as enamel cauldrons!
And enamel mugs
Fire bucket, still with sand!
Drinking fountain
Emergency escape, now filled with rubble
Another toilet, still in situ behind it's cubicle
Gas proof wooden doors, pretty standard for a shelter
What the hell is this?! Answers on a postcard
Wheelchair in the remains of the medical centre
Canteen
Tin hat
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