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

[davegore2005]

Here is one for the history buffs among us, my family and myself were walking on the path from the coastguard station out towards Hightown and Formby today and I mentioned to my wife that there used to be what I imagine to be old air raid shelters dug into the sand dunes somewhere along there, I remember climbing down into them when when I was many years younger.

We walked as far as the waste water treatment pumping plant but for the life of me i could not place where the shelters were, or even how far they are from the coastguard station...any help to jog my memory would be gladly appreciated

Dave

[MarkA]

I remember seeing them last summer. Can't pinpoint them exactly but we walked a bit further inland along the edge of the golf course walking back to the coastguard station. There was a fenced off part that was presumably for the Natterjacks, then there was a large sand dune and just past that there was what looked like the back of large pill boxes facing inland. Sorry I can't be any more specific.

[ChrisGeorge]

Here is one for the history buffs among us, my family and myself were walking on the path from the coastguard station out towards Hightown and Formby today and I mentioned to my wife that there used to be what I imagine to be old air raid shelters dug into the sand dunes somewhere along there, I remember climbing down into them when when I was many years younger.

We walked as far as the waste water treatment pumping plant but for the life of me i could not place where the shelters were, or even how far they are from the coastguard station...any help to jog my memory would be gladly appreciated

Dave

Hi Dave

As MarkA mentions, it sounds as if you are talking about pill boxes for coastal defense rather than air raid shelters.

Chris

[sconhead]

there was a ROC post there and i think it has been destroyed now it was in the fenced off area near the coast guard station

[snappel]

The structures you refer to are pillboxes. I explored them (in all of about 2 minutes!!) a year or so ago. I'd hoped there would be some link tunnels and things, but they're individual pillboxes once used for the defence of the Mersey Estuary.

I know that Formby's ROC post still exists, although it's in bad shape and totally stripped/burnt out inside. Last time I was up there you could get inside it, although obviously not much to see now...

[Degsy_b]

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

[Ged]

Very interesting that, I used to wonder what that concrete construction in Clarkes Gardens was, I guessed it had something to do with the war but wondered why one, out on a limb like that. I remember the anti tank/landing craft triangular concrete structures on Crosby beach in the late 1960s or am I dreaming?

[DaisyChains]

I just wondered if there are any other air raid shelters still about in Liverpool?

[Cadfael]

I just wondered if there are any other air raid shelters still about in Liverpool?

I know of one in Childwall in someone's back garden!

[ChrisGeorge]

Excellent pics and information, snappel. Thanks!

All the best

Chris

[Degsy_b]

Excellent pics and information, snappel. Thanks!

All the best

Chris

Hi Chris if they are the ones by Hilfoot road Bridge. I went to look for them a few months ago and couldn't find them. I never give up until I've been back in the Winter. You can see much more when the vegetation dies back. So I will be going back, perhaps with a few more pillboxes to look for with the kind help of people from this forum!

Better go look busy

Derek

[ashy]

i my self used to play in the bunkers on crosby beach from about 1988 to 94, i've since found out a lot more info. Crosby fort used to have hundreds if not thousands of german prisoners of war. check this link out as a starting point.

http://www.crosbyherald.co.uk/news/c...8459-22296186/

this guy is friend of my mums and he's done a few books like this about the crosby area..

the german prisoners used to put plays on for the locals as i understand it. think it was torn down in the 60's although it was still partly in some use in the 50's.

My older cousin was convinced there were more tunels connecting some bunkers. I have been as deep as you can go in the larger bunker an its impossible to say if they extend or are linked because of the ruble, sand, and rubbish in there. my cuz actually went as far as to set off a small home made exposives in the dunes next to the bunkers trying to uncover further passages, obviuosly i know now this was a bad idea but boys will be boys! and no he never did find that elusive hidden bunker! i know around crosby the took down signs to confuse the germans if they ever did land. Theres a boundary stone by my mums which marks where great crosby and little crosby are, it points in a certain direction, its been there for years an years, they even defaced this just incase it helped the ememy find the way.. some really intresting facts like the old duck pond being used for bull fights and many more detailed storys all factual... like i say a good read indeed..

[87_dave]

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.

[Ged]

That's interesting Dave.

I know there's an air raid siren on the roof of St. Georges Hall which must have been a good vantage point.

[marky]

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