During lockdown this year while it was quiet, we thought it would be the perfect time to hit yet another cut and cover air raid tunnel. You’d really be surprised how many of these air raid tunnels are still intact in the Dover/Folkestone area.
Gaining access to the school grounds was a real mission, normally you’d just hop a fence and you’d be in, however for some reason this school finds it necessary to have a 6 ft wall (approx.) with a fence on top which adds another 6-8ft. In the end, we found an easier route, however this still involved climbing over the school’s roof with a telescopic ladder, while trying to be quiet and hidden from public view. This school is surrounded by houses, at one point on the roof there was someone in the bathroom showering less than 75ft away. Thankfully we managed to get down without being seen.
The shelter isn’t as large as some in the area, Afterall it is a school shelter. Exploring these cut and cover trenches you find that each one is unique in its own way no two are alike. The condition that this shelter has been left in with the supports still visible and patches of concrete missing is like it was very quickly built and left. I can’t find an exact date on when construction of this particular ARP was built so it quite possibly could’ve never been finished completely.
We did find some very nice original writing on the wall informing those who would’ve used the shelter to always bring their gas mask as it’s not a gas-proof shelter. If I can remember correctly there was another school air-raid shelter in the same area which was gas-proofed. We also found a little toy soldier, whether this is original or not I can’t say but we did bring a little friend to keep him company.
I apologise that some of these photos aren’t very well lit, they were taken with an iPhone. I now have a DSLR which means I can light paint much better.
Gaining access to the school grounds was a real mission, normally you’d just hop a fence and you’d be in, however for some reason this school finds it necessary to have a 6 ft wall (approx.) with a fence on top which adds another 6-8ft. In the end, we found an easier route, however this still involved climbing over the school’s roof with a telescopic ladder, while trying to be quiet and hidden from public view. This school is surrounded by houses, at one point on the roof there was someone in the bathroom showering less than 75ft away. Thankfully we managed to get down without being seen.
The shelter isn’t as large as some in the area, Afterall it is a school shelter. Exploring these cut and cover trenches you find that each one is unique in its own way no two are alike. The condition that this shelter has been left in with the supports still visible and patches of concrete missing is like it was very quickly built and left. I can’t find an exact date on when construction of this particular ARP was built so it quite possibly could’ve never been finished completely.
We did find some very nice original writing on the wall informing those who would’ve used the shelter to always bring their gas mask as it’s not a gas-proof shelter. If I can remember correctly there was another school air-raid shelter in the same area which was gas-proofed. We also found a little toy soldier, whether this is original or not I can’t say but we did bring a little friend to keep him company.
I apologise that some of these photos aren’t very well lit, they were taken with an iPhone. I now have a DSLR which means I can light paint much better.
Images
Looking down the shelter
One of the entrances
Gas-proof signage along with woman toilets signage
Toy Soldier meeting his new friend
Another of the entrances
Shelter not gas-proof signage
Looking towards the entrance with the ladies’ toilets
Water tap
Men’s Toilets
Looking down the shelter
One of the entrances
Gas-proof signage along with woman toilets signage
Toy Soldier meeting his new friend
Another of the entrances
Shelter not gas-proof signage
Looking towards the entrance with the ladies’ toilets
Water tap
Men’s Toilets
