A Second World War air raid shelter, consisting of concrete-lined tunnels. (1)

The trench shelter was first dug during the Munich Crisis in 1938 following the issuing of instructions in September. Work was halted after 3rd October of that year. They were subsequently completed and made permanent in 1939, consisting of three blocks. The trenches were lined with reinforced concrete and roofed with the same. There were ramped entrances and eight emergency exits. The completed shelter was advertised on 22nd May 1940 in the local paper as able to house 653 people. The shelter was hit by a bomb on 3rd April 1942 and nine of the 30 occupants were killed. The middle block was damaged and sealed off following this. The two remaining blocks continued in use. After the war, the shelter was sealed off but not before some alterations to support the roof. All fittings were removed at this time. During demolition work in 2013 a few examples of graffiti were found, flame marks drawn on the ceiling. (2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2012, Land at Buckland Hospital, Coombe Valley Road, Buckland, Dover, Kent: Provisional Desk-Based Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE18146.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2013, Former Union Road Air-Raid Shelter, Buckland Hospital, Dover: Historic-building recording and watching Brief (Unpublished document). SKE24329.