There was a massive group of pre-cast concrete ‘emergency trench shelters’ on the south side of Littlebourne Road - clearly visible on immediate post-war aerial photographs. These were referred to as the ‘Littlebourne Road’ or ‘St Martin’s Hill’ air-raid shelters. Late in 1940 the Ministry of Home Security had adopted a policy of 100% provision for civilian air-raid shelters. Accordingly, at the start of the following year the Canterbury Emergency Committee decided to provide pre-cast concrete trench shelters for all civilians who required shelter in event of invasion attempt, and set about providing trenches sufficient for 10,000 persons. Littlebourne Road was the largest of these sites. The initial scheme was for no fewer than 2550 persons. By early 1941, however, the capacity of these ‘shelter trenches on the open space at St Martin’s Hill Housing Site No. 1’ had been revised to 1923, and it may ultimately have provided for only 1990. Work seems to have been underway by about June. A local source recalled how: ‘eventually there were air-raid-shelters in the field behind the council houses in Littlebourne Road’ They ‘had two-tier bunks with a passage way down the middle ... there was one entrance.’
Owner : Unknown
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Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). SKE14900.

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). Ske14900.

Eric Wilkinson, 01/01/95, "And We All Got Under the Table": Under Fire 1939-45 A VE Day Commemmoration (Bibliographic reference). SKE14899.

Eric Wilkinson, 01/01/95, "And We All Got Under the Table": Under Fire 1939-45 A VE Day Commemmoration (Bibliographic reference). Ske14899.