This air-raid shelter, in a cellar under a warehouse belonging to Swoffer and Co., fruit wholesalers, was in preparation - probably by inserting timber struts - by the start of September 1939. It was intended to hold 140 persons; in the event, however, space seems only to have been found for 75. This provision was approved in early January 1940. A Civil Defence warden’s post (Post E/6) seems to have operated at this shelter by mid October 1940 (possibly earlier). This post was provided with sleeping accommodation around the end of that year. Further steel reinforcement was inserted in the shelter late in May 1942. The warehouse was destroyed during an air raid of late January 1944 and the shelter was, of course, no longer available thereafter.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : Unknown
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : Destroyed
Date of visit :
Owner : Private
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Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). SKE14880.

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). Ske14880.