There was an impromptu public air-raid shelter making use of a pre-existing kiln-trench at Cozens’s (Stour Brick, Sand and Gravel Co.) brick kilns at the junction of Salisbury Road and St Michael’s Road. (A similar shelter was provided among Cozens’s other brick kilns adjoining Sturry Road and Reed Avenue). This shelter, most often referred to as the ‘St Michael’s Road’ shelter, was intended to accommodate 150 persons. The shelter provision was approved for use on 9 January 1940. Early the following year an emergency feeding centre seems to have been established here – equipped with camp boilers etc.. At the start of January 1941, a portion of the shelter was considered for adaption as an alternative Control Centre to house the ‘Air-Raid Precautions Services, Police and Fire Services and Municipal Offices’ in case the centre at the Municipal Offices were damaged. This idea was rejected later that month ‘due to flooding’. By 25 February 1942 the shelter had, for some time, proven damp and unsuitable for sleeping. At this time – on the ‘removal’ of the supervening building – it was found that the shelter roof had consisted only of ‘a half brick arch covered with rubble’ and the shelter was declared ‘unfit for any use’; it was derequisitioned and ordered to be replaced with a Nissen hut. It is not entirely clear whether the latter was provided as the shelter is not mentioned in a list of public shelters made circa 1943; it seems the original kiln-trench shelter continued to be used on an unofficial basis. On 16 May 1944 it was proposed to supply a replacement shelter composed of ‘linked Andersons for (say) 50 persons’, providing the former shelter could be closed-off effectively. This provision was ‘postponed’ on 8 September 1944 due to the improving military situation, and was never to be executed. The area has since been redeveloped for housing.
Owner : Unknown
Publicly accessible : Unknown
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : Destroyed
Date of visit :

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). SKE14865.

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). Ske14865.