World War II air raid shelters and defenses in the Liverpool area

[az_gila]

The shelters at Dovedale School have been demolished...as I found out, when I went to photograph them recently.
Google Streetview:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&so...12,358.29,,1,5

Duncombe Road school (Auigburth/Garston area) had bomb shelters on the Duncombe Rd. side into the 70's - but they are gone now. Simple brick square buildings with a concrete roof and a open, but "zig-zag" entrance, IIRC.

[squiggs]

We still had them in Varley Road up until a few years ago !, our next door neighbour used his as a shed, whilst my dear old Dad spent ages demolishing ours !

[essexscouse]

Excuse my ignorance but the point of the Dragons Teeth was ?

[az_gila]

Hi everyone know am late but if anyones interested I have a underground air raid shelter in the back garden. Its puzzling me on what type though because it seems to be an anderson shelter inside although it is fully underground with concrete roof walls and stairs going into it, looks like a professional job and not something knocked up during the war. It is partially filled in I am in the process of getting all the crap out of it.
My grandad filled it in years ago when he bought the house. I cant find any information on this type of shelter being used so if anyone has or knows were I can find out would be much appreciated.

BTW the house is by broadway in norris green.

Could it be a Cold War "fear of nuclear bombs" shelter, and not a WWII one?

[87_dave]

Could it be a Cold War "fear of nuclear bombs" shelter, and not a WWII one?

Possibly but the house is around 1930's so would of thought it to be ww11. Going to take some pics after waters pumped out.

[marky]

exacta2a's Dragons Teeth photo at Crosby featured in the Liverpool Echo (8/4/11)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/exacta2...ol-816926@N21/.
There are also a few along the Cheshire Lines cycle path, East of the Formby by-pass, near a couple of bridges.

[gregs dad]

exacta2a's Dragons Teeth photo at Crosby featured in the Liverpool Echo (8/4/11)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/exacta2...ol-816926@N21/.
There are also a few along the Cheshire Lines cycle path, East of the Formby by-pass, near a couple of bridges.

The wife wasn`t happy, she said "You always called me your page 3 girl, what am I doing on page 20"

[grekko]

Could it be a Cold War "fear of nuclear bombs" shelter, and not a WWII one?

This WW2 air raid shelter matches quite well to your description Is it anything like this one?
http://www.adalhs.mooncarrot.org.uk/...%20Shelter.pdf

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi,

I have a map on my website of the area you refer to www.worldwar2defences.co.uk The structures are part of old Fort Crosby and it did defend the estuary. The site was built before both world wars but was beefed up during the second world war to defend the North Western Approaches. If you're interested in WW2 Pillboxes and defence structures in merseyside there are more on my website. I am constantly adding locations there are so many it is going to take me a long time to photograph and add them all!

Hope that helps

Derek

Hi Derek

Thanks for pointing us to your very interesting site. I had a look at the interactive map. I seem to remember dragon's teeth in the fields to the south of the railway bridge on Speke Hall Road. They would have been across the road from the Retail Park but south of the bridge. Am I remembering correctly? This would have been in the Fifties or early Sixties.

I am sure you can answer DaisyChains query about whether there are any other air raid shelters still about in Liverpool. Of course, the Western Approaches Command Centre at Derby House would be one, but I wonder if there might be other air raid shelters in Liverpool still in existence but derelict or put to other uses? In the postwar years, my grandfather used my family's old Anderson shelter as a toolshed and I am sure other Liverpudlians did likewise, so there may be a few of those around as well.

Chris

[marky]

I know 3 pillboxes in Liverpool. Clarke Gardens, 2 at Garston Docks. One of the Garston ones can be seen from the very Southern end of Cressington Esplanade. You have to lean out over the raillings and look left to see it.
I have heard there are a couple more around Hunts Cross/Speke (or used to be).
There used to be a pillbox at the rear of the Army base at Aigburth Road, but with all the new houses around St Michaels, I guess it went years ago. I last saw that one about 30 years ago.
I have a distant memory of seeing those pyramid defenses around Oglet beach, possibly around the 'dungeon'. There are also modern-day copies of these pyramids, to keep motorbikes out of parks etc.

[PhilipG]

The Park Nook site in Ullet Road/Princes Park had what I'm sure were air-raid shelters until a couple of years ago when they built new flats on the site.

[Degsy_b]

Hi,

Erm there's so much information coming thick and fast I don't know where to start answering! Firstly I'd be very grateful if people here would submit pictures and locations of pillboxes they know of and aren't on my site. As for any remaining air raid shelters there are some recorded in the British Archaeological survey, any one interested can check out http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/map.cfm I haven't managed to track any down myself, but I think there's one in Kirkby and there are a few recorded on the Wirral. Again if anyone can pinpoint these structures for me I'd be hugely appreciative. I love the pictures of the basement shelter, is it the royal Liverbuildings? Can I use the pictures on my site? Can people visit them?

I know of a Pillbox at Garston docks right by the shore line. I don't know of the other one, so if you could tell me where that is? that would be great! I had a look for the pillbox at St Michael's hamlet behind the TA barracks about 5 months ago and I think it has been lost to housing development, it was a a Type 23 anti aircraft pillbox and it still recorded on the Brit Arch Survey.

Thanks for everyones contibutions what a fabulous response!

Derek

[snappel]

I love the pictures of the basement shelter, is it the royal Liverbuildings? Can I use the pictures on my site? Can people visit them?

It's the Royal Insurance Building - it's got a gold dome on the top, and has been vacant for some years now. It's not publicly accessible I'm afraid - my access was through a basement window, which unfortunately has now been boarded up as I'd love to have another look round.

I'll sort you out some better quality photos if you like - I have better ones than those above. I'm happy for photos to be used on other peoples' websites free of charge - all I ask is that they retain my small watermark so that people know where they came from.

PhilipG - are these the ones you meant? I went to photograph them back in 2004, but builders were already on site. All gone now.

http://www.williamsontunnels.com/articles/martineau.htm

[Degsy_b]

It's the Royal Insurance Building
I'm happy for photos to be used on other peoples' websites free of charge - all I ask is that they retain my small watermark so that people know where they came from.

http://www.williamsontunnels.com/articles/martineau.htm

Thanks so much.

I will of course incliude the water mark and the a credit in the pop up window (what an accolade hey)? Is it the royal Insurance Building Liverpool? Near the Pier Head?

Thanks

Derek

[peter]

up till a few years ago booker avenue school in allerton had shelters in the playground. i work sometimes at heron eccles playing fields and the headmaster sometimes let us store machinery in them. been in them a few times they were above ground, long and low ,and had thick concrete roofs.
inside they had seperate rooms which were staggered to confine any blasts.
unfortunately they have now been demolished to upgrade the playground.i am sure the school will have some pictures of them. there is an old man who lives by us who claims to have been one of the few survivors of the blast in clint road school by durning road . unfortunately i believe the boilers received a direct hit and most victims were scalded to death. Harry said he dragged himself out of the rubble and staggered to his grans house who then told him off because he was filthy. hope this helps. pete.