So Saturday got talking to a friend about ramsbottom and its history and he mentioned an air raid shelter they used to play in as kids 20 year ago. So he took me for a walk and discovered an opening just off a main road and to our amazement it was still there.
So tonight I told @TeamCF and decided to have a nip round and see what it was about.
History
World War One Zeppelin Attacks
Almost 100 years ago, a Zeppelin flew from Germany and bombed Lancashire villages and towns! One night in September 1916 a zeppelin flew over Todmordon, Bacup, Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Bolton and Blackburn. Dropping bombs and incendiaries as it went along. In April 1918 a second zeppelin dropped bombs on Wigan and Radcliffe.
The 1916 attack must have really scared local people who felt they were so far from the war. A huge airship (179 metres long) flying over their houses at night - dropping bombs, including incendiaries, manned by soldiers armed with machine guns!
The attack in 1916 damaged the East Lancs railway at Irwell Vale, before dropping five bombs in Holcombe Village. There were no casualties. It dropped a couple of bombs in Ramsbottom before passing over Holcombe Brook and Greenmount. An incendiary bomb damaged a cottage in Greenmount Village. The zeppelin then headed for Bolton where it dropped further bombs and incendiaries, most of which did little damage. Until it reached the town centre and five bombs killing thirteen people and seriously injuring nine more - worst hit was Kirk Street. Further bombs near the Town Hall did little damage. The airship passed over Blackburn and then headed for the coast passing near Whitby (dropping only one last bomb on the way).
Here is what we found in Ramsbottom
Concrete and a few slabs lightly soiled
Popped my phone in for a better look due to angle
We were in in minutes, only a small bunker however there was a bricked up doorway leading under the main road maybe to a building. might need a return trip to find where it leads.
Don't think this has popped up anywhere in the history of the town either a few friends spent a while searching online to no avail too.
Urban_XCJ
So tonight I told @TeamCF and decided to have a nip round and see what it was about.
History
World War One Zeppelin Attacks
Almost 100 years ago, a Zeppelin flew from Germany and bombed Lancashire villages and towns! One night in September 1916 a zeppelin flew over Todmordon, Bacup, Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Bolton and Blackburn. Dropping bombs and incendiaries as it went along. In April 1918 a second zeppelin dropped bombs on Wigan and Radcliffe.
The 1916 attack must have really scared local people who felt they were so far from the war. A huge airship (179 metres long) flying over their houses at night - dropping bombs, including incendiaries, manned by soldiers armed with machine guns!
The attack in 1916 damaged the East Lancs railway at Irwell Vale, before dropping five bombs in Holcombe Village. There were no casualties. It dropped a couple of bombs in Ramsbottom before passing over Holcombe Brook and Greenmount. An incendiary bomb damaged a cottage in Greenmount Village. The zeppelin then headed for Bolton where it dropped further bombs and incendiaries, most of which did little damage. Until it reached the town centre and five bombs killing thirteen people and seriously injuring nine more - worst hit was Kirk Street. Further bombs near the Town Hall did little damage. The airship passed over Blackburn and then headed for the coast passing near Whitby (dropping only one last bomb on the way).
Here is what we found in Ramsbottom
Concrete and a few slabs lightly soiled
Popped my phone in for a better look due to angle
We were in in minutes, only a small bunker however there was a bricked up doorway leading under the main road maybe to a building. might need a return trip to find where it leads.
Don't think this has popped up anywhere in the history of the town either a few friends spent a while searching online to no avail too.
Urban_XCJ
