WWII air raid shelter, in the grounds of Sutton Valence primary school. Survey undertaken prior to conversion into a meeting room.
Above-ground brick-built rectangular building measuring 15m x 4.85m x 2.40m, on a concrete plinth, with a flat reinforced concrete roof. Two doors in the north end enter into two corridoors which in turn enter into the main area. The main area is partitioned into two equally sized rooms by a central wall, with a passage linking the two spaces. Additionally there is a small room on the east end. Angled frames in the entrance corridoors show the location of blast doors, now removed. 5 vents in the walls, each measuring 32cm x 25cm, would have provided ventilation. A window has been inserted in the east end, lighting the small room. Hooks on the walls presumably once held oil lamps, though one electric light was positioned on the east wall to light the small room. Iron pipes would have provided heating. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2007, Sutton Valence Primary School, Maidstone, Kent: The Air Raid Shelter - A brief architectural description (Unpublished document). SKE16644.