In late September 1939 Alderman Lefevre offered 61 Palace Street, part of his large group of commercial premises in central Canterbury, for refresher classes for full-time wardens (who had received Air-Raid Precautions training before the war. These would require various alterations and additions, expected to cost about £20, including fitting up a ‘lecture room’ and the construction of what was termed a ‘gas chamber;’ this was, in fact a ‘demonstration gas protected room’, in which gas masks could be tested for effectiveness. On occasion, members of the public could bring their masks in for testing. They were later adapted to provide a depot for the civil-defence wardens and Fire service depot after ‘the occupation of the former Centre at Kingsmead road, Northgate.’ This was approved in mid March 1942. The buildings owners ‘the Dean and Chapter’ were asked to remove the large plate glass windows flanking the entrance.’
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : Unknown
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

Bridge Blean Rural District Council, 01/01/39, Bridge Blean Rural District Council War Administration Minute Books (Unpublished document). SKE14724.

Bridge Blean Rural District Council, 01/01/39, Bridge Blean Rural District Council War Administration Minute Books (Unpublished document). Ske14724.

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). SKE14725.

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). Ske14725.

Crampton P., 1989, The Blitz of Canterbury (Bibliographic reference). SKE14726.