When were Stockport Air Raid Shelters built?

1939
Opened in 1939, the shelters were the largest purpose-built civilian air raid shelters in the country. They were originally designed to provide shelter for up to 3,850 people. Due to demand they were extended to accommodate as many as 6,500 during the second world war.

What did Anderson shelters look like?

Anderson air raid shelters Made up of sheets of corrugated iron, the shelter was designed for easy assembly by the householder. In order to be fully effective, the shelter had to be dug into a 4ft deep pit in the ground, with the soil being heaped on top to provide cover against nearby bomb blasts.

Could an Anderson shelter survive a direct hit?

The Morrison shelter was not designed to survive a direct hit from a bomb, but it was really effective at protecting people from the effects of a bomb blast. Over 500,000 Morrison shelters were made and they were given free of charge to families who earned less than £350 a year.

What did they have in air raid shelter?

These shelters were half buried in the ground with earth heaped on top to protect them from bomb blasts. They were made from six corrugated iron sheets bolted together at the top, with steel plates at either end, and measured 6ft 6in by 4ft 6in (1.95m by 1.35m).

Who built air raid shelters?

This shelter was named after John Anderson (later Sir John), the then Home Secretary, who was responsible for Air Raid Precautions. The shelters were made from straight and curved galvanised corrugated steel panels, which were bolted together.

What were air raid shelters made of in ww2?

How were Anderson Shelters Safe?

Anderson shelters were effective only if half buried in the ground and covered in a thick layer of earth. They were therefore inherently cold, dark and damp. In low-lying areas the shelters tended to flood, and sleeping was difficult as the shelters did not keep out the sound of the bombings.

Are there any Anderson shelters left?

HISTORY and VISITS. I know of only 15 standard (or near-standard) domestic Anderson shelters that remain in their original position. They are listed in the ‘Surviving Shelters’ box below. Other Anderson shelters have been moved, rebuilt and/or used for other purposes, or survived because they were clad in concrete.

When did the air raid shelters start in Stockport?

Four sets of underground air raid shelter tunnels for civilian use were dug into the red sandstone rock below the town centre. Preparation started in September 1938 and the first set of shelters was opened on 28 October 1939; Stockport was not bombed until 11 October 1940.

Where did the Stockport air crash take place?

The aircraft became uncontrollable and crashed at 10:09 am local time in a small open area at Hopes Carr, close to the town centre. Despite the crash occurring in a densely populated area, there were no fatalities on the ground.

Why was there no air raid shelter before World War 2?

Prior to World War II, in May 1924, an Air Raid Precautions Committee was set up in the United Kingdom. For years, little progress was made with shelters because of the apparently irreconcilable conflict between the need to send the public underground for shelter and the need to keep them above ground for protection against gas attacks.

When was the winkelturmer air raid shelter made?

Winkel patented his design in 1934, and from 1936 onward, Germany built 98 Winkeltürmer of five different types. The towers had a conical shape with walls that curved downward to a reinforced base.