Second World War public air raid shelter for 142 people, commenced in September, 1939, in the basement of the British Home Stores, 5-10 New Road, Gravesend. Details are unknown but the basement was probably reinforced with timber strutting. The shelter would have been decommissioned at the end of the Second World War in Europe in 1945 and any strutting rapidly removed (probably by 1946). The store has been rebuilt since that date but the original basement is said still to exist, although not accessible to visitors.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey : In private use as a shop basement, not accessible to the public.
Tourism Potential : Inclusion of a mention on a defence heritage trail
Condition : unknown
Date of visit : 20/04/06

Gravesend Council, 07/09/39, Minutes of Gravesend Council's Emergency Committee (Bibliographic reference). SKE13725.

Gravesend Council, 07/09/39, Minutes of Gravesend Council's Emergency Committee (Bibliographic reference). Ske13725.

Smith, V.T.C., 19/04/06, British Home Stores Second World War air raid shelter, New Road, Gravesend (Photograph). SKE13774.

Smith, V.T.C., 19/04/06, British Home Stores Second World War air raid shelter, New Road, Gravesend (Photograph). Ske13774.