You've seen the other (much better) pics on here, so I'll spare you the history lesson.
I've done a ton of research on this place for a book I'm working on, but I can't go giving away all my hard-earned research on the intertubes
Designed in 1941 as a deep shelter to protect the vital dock workers from Nazi bombs. 1.2 miles of tunnels bored under the rocky outcrop of Holt Hill. Designed to house 6000 people in a mixture of bunk beds and seats. Had two canteens and a library - pretty damned snazzy as shelters go.
Took 150 men two years to build - and by the time they'd finished, the blitz was over and the bombing threat had receded. The shelter was lightly used while it was still under construction, with access only available to residents issued with a ticket. After the war it was used to store empty egg crates, an unglamorous fate for such a monumental project. The local council took an active interest up into the 1950s, with work being done to prevent dry rot after residents living near a shaft complained about the smell!
This has been sealed for decades, so there's very little grafitti (most of it centred around Entrance No1, which was accessible until the 80s). There's all sorts of electrical switching gear, toilets, urinals, washbasins etc still in situ and in excellent condition. There's also a fuckton of asbestos panels stored in there - I suspect even the flooring is made of the nasty stuff.
Copyright means I can't post the original plans, so I've made my own map which I reckon is the most accurate you'll find anywhere. Feel free to share, just don't edit out the copyright or I'll gouge out your eyes with a rusty spoon.
My pics aren't too great - was a rush job and all I had on me was a manual 50mm prime and a the mediocre Pentax kit lens. Went back fully equipped a few days later and the council had sealed up the only point of access, so I missed out on some of the best bits. Still an interesting explore!
Came out of the entrance hallway to find a lovely old enamel breadbin.
Seems unlikely that dates back to the war. I'm no breadbin expert though. A breadbin enthusiast, at best.
I think somebody had moved this to entrance deliberately - either as a beacon to find their way out or so they could come back and steal it.
The first section is unlined so you can see the raw bedrock. Jamie Oliver would describe it as 'rustic'.
A bit further along there's some nice brick wall, and a corrugated metal roof.
The roof was partly aesthetic, partly to protect shelterers from any bits of falling rock, and partly because OMG LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY COLOURS
Women's toilets! Even in the middle of a bombing raid I bet the ladies still went in together so they could have a natter, or whatever it is women do in there.
Would've loved to go inside, but that would be terribly indecent!
Sounds like a jolly nice place to sit and eat my Foxs Crunch Creams, let's go...
...or perhaps not. Unless you like the taste of asbestos.
This canteen was near Entrance No 1, and the area around has been graff'd and damaged much worse than the rest of the place.
Wasn't really expecting any changes in height. When you're 60ft underground anyway, what's the bloody point?
Photos really don't do justice to the scale of this place. This corridor looked a LOT longer in the dark...
These was a letter painted at every junction in the shelter.
My exclusive historical research revealed that these were for playing Giant Underground Scrabble to take their mind off the bombs.
TRIPLE LETTER SCORE!
Lots of fuseboxes and electric switches dotted about the place.
My research suggests that these were for shelterers to charge their iPhones.
An old lamp of some variety. Looks similar to the ones on trains but not quite the same, anyone know much about these?
Here's a view looking roughly west from the south-east corner of the shelter.
It looks as though the walls were originally whitewashed...though the place has enough salt deposits to keep Walkers in business for a decade, so it could've been that.
Finally, we found the gents!
There are something like 120 toilets in the shelter.
The council suggested reusing them in new houses being built after the war, but it looks like that never happened.
Yes, I did take a photo of the inside of the bowl. No, you don't want to see it.
The toilets have vent things in the roof.
My painstaking research has revealed that these were part of a bitchin' shelter-wide sound system. The DJ decks were located in the Warden's Post, and operated entirely by volunteers.
It was probably the most relaxed, calm place I've ever explored - it felt totally safe.
The fresh rockfalls around the place suggested otherwise.
The place is a goldmine if you're into rusty old cans. Which is probably a euphemism for something horrible.
The way the brick and sandstone almost flows together is pretty impressive. The guys who built this knew what they were doing.
These handy signs stop you getting lost in the dark.
Except there are actually three entrances, and two of them are completely sealed. Hope you brought sandwiches.
Well, that was totally worth the asbestos exposure. Shame we didn't find any secret Nazi gold. Pub?
Cheers for reading!
I've done a ton of research on this place for a book I'm working on, but I can't go giving away all my hard-earned research on the intertubes
Designed in 1941 as a deep shelter to protect the vital dock workers from Nazi bombs. 1.2 miles of tunnels bored under the rocky outcrop of Holt Hill. Designed to house 6000 people in a mixture of bunk beds and seats. Had two canteens and a library - pretty damned snazzy as shelters go.
Took 150 men two years to build - and by the time they'd finished, the blitz was over and the bombing threat had receded. The shelter was lightly used while it was still under construction, with access only available to residents issued with a ticket. After the war it was used to store empty egg crates, an unglamorous fate for such a monumental project. The local council took an active interest up into the 1950s, with work being done to prevent dry rot after residents living near a shaft complained about the smell!
This has been sealed for decades, so there's very little grafitti (most of it centred around Entrance No1, which was accessible until the 80s). There's all sorts of electrical switching gear, toilets, urinals, washbasins etc still in situ and in excellent condition. There's also a fuckton of asbestos panels stored in there - I suspect even the flooring is made of the nasty stuff.
Copyright means I can't post the original plans, so I've made my own map which I reckon is the most accurate you'll find anywhere. Feel free to share, just don't edit out the copyright or I'll gouge out your eyes with a rusty spoon.
My pics aren't too great - was a rush job and all I had on me was a manual 50mm prime and a the mediocre Pentax kit lens. Went back fully equipped a few days later and the council had sealed up the only point of access, so I missed out on some of the best bits. Still an interesting explore!
Came out of the entrance hallway to find a lovely old enamel breadbin.
Seems unlikely that dates back to the war. I'm no breadbin expert though. A breadbin enthusiast, at best.
I think somebody had moved this to entrance deliberately - either as a beacon to find their way out or so they could come back and steal it.
The first section is unlined so you can see the raw bedrock. Jamie Oliver would describe it as 'rustic'.
A bit further along there's some nice brick wall, and a corrugated metal roof.
The roof was partly aesthetic, partly to protect shelterers from any bits of falling rock, and partly because OMG LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY COLOURS
Women's toilets! Even in the middle of a bombing raid I bet the ladies still went in together so they could have a natter, or whatever it is women do in there.
Would've loved to go inside, but that would be terribly indecent!
Sounds like a jolly nice place to sit and eat my Foxs Crunch Creams, let's go...
...or perhaps not. Unless you like the taste of asbestos.
This canteen was near Entrance No 1, and the area around has been graff'd and damaged much worse than the rest of the place.
Wasn't really expecting any changes in height. When you're 60ft underground anyway, what's the bloody point?
Photos really don't do justice to the scale of this place. This corridor looked a LOT longer in the dark...
These was a letter painted at every junction in the shelter.
My exclusive historical research revealed that these were for playing Giant Underground Scrabble to take their mind off the bombs.
TRIPLE LETTER SCORE!
Lots of fuseboxes and electric switches dotted about the place.
My research suggests that these were for shelterers to charge their iPhones.
An old lamp of some variety. Looks similar to the ones on trains but not quite the same, anyone know much about these?
Here's a view looking roughly west from the south-east corner of the shelter.
It looks as though the walls were originally whitewashed...though the place has enough salt deposits to keep Walkers in business for a decade, so it could've been that.
Finally, we found the gents!
There are something like 120 toilets in the shelter.
The council suggested reusing them in new houses being built after the war, but it looks like that never happened.
Yes, I did take a photo of the inside of the bowl. No, you don't want to see it.
The toilets have vent things in the roof.
My painstaking research has revealed that these were part of a bitchin' shelter-wide sound system. The DJ decks were located in the Warden's Post, and operated entirely by volunteers.
It was probably the most relaxed, calm place I've ever explored - it felt totally safe.
The fresh rockfalls around the place suggested otherwise.
The place is a goldmine if you're into rusty old cans. Which is probably a euphemism for something horrible.
The way the brick and sandstone almost flows together is pretty impressive. The guys who built this knew what they were doing.
These handy signs stop you getting lost in the dark.
Except there are actually three entrances, and two of them are completely sealed. Hope you brought sandwiches.
Well, that was totally worth the asbestos exposure. Shame we didn't find any secret Nazi gold. Pub?
Cheers for reading!
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