One of two air-raid shelters at White Cliffs College are simple structures which would each have had two parallel chambers half buried into a steep bank. The form of both shelters have been altered by the removal of their front walls to convert the two front chambers into covered, open-fronted areas on one side of a playground. One of the shelters has subsequently been further altered by the reinstatement of the front wall, in concrete block, to create a number of store rooms.

In total the four chambers of the two shelters could probably have accommodated up
to c.200 - 250 children and staff although there is some doubt as to what extent they were used. Most school children were evacuated from Dover before the start of bombing raids in the summer of 1940 and the schools were then closed until later 1941 when some reopened on a part-time basis.

It is uncertain whether St Radigund's Primary School (now White Cliffs College) was operational or fully open at this time because it was still under construction when the war broke out in
September 1939.


The above information was taken from Oxford Archaeology’s building recording at White Cliffs College at Dover. (1)

Oxford Archaeology, 2015, Air raid shelters, White Cliffs College, Dover, Historic Building Investigation and Recording (Unpublished document). SKE31369.