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View Full Version : Gotts Park Air Raid Shelter, Leeds - 07/03/10



freebird
08-04-2010, 01:33 AM
Prior to WW2 when tensions were mounting many air raid shelters were erected underneath the city parks of Leeds to provide places of safety for the public. Many of these shelters were made by digging out trenches for concrete sections or brick linings to be erected within. The shelters were then covered over with the excavated soil. Many of the shelters were built with seperate male and female/childrens toilet areas, water points, warden stations, heaters (possibly coal), emergency escape hatches and a number of entrances/exits. Gotts Park was reported to have had two Air Raid shelters built beneath it which were sealed after the war. However, one has recently been accessible.
When this beauty presented itself to us we just had to get straight there to have a look! The place was great to explore. Internally each long corridor was accessible by climbing through the small gaps over piles of bricks used to block each access point up years ago. These don't half leave nice bruises on your bum! In some places roots twist down through cracks in the walls, creeping along and dangling curtain like, droplets of dew glistening on the ends. An old pram sat rusting in one section and the old 'painted on' signs all add to the atmosphere. Yet again another interesting and photogenic place to explore.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4442070756_aef5e5b065.jpg

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Thanks for looking. :thumb

sqwasher
08-04-2010, 01:34 AM
Here's a few from moi....enjoy!

A view of a simular shelter & heater while in use, found on Leodis
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4441520834_08be8a1ca0.jpg

A (kind of) simular view minus the heater & chimney
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/4441519524_3b88468c96.jpg

Our entrance today
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/4415817295_895fdc661f.jpg

Once inside we thought the shelter was small until we climbed over this brick mountain
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4415809983_f58213bb12.jpg

Nature trying to invade the system
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4416933291_f9ef75d21b.jpg

An old parrafin lamp
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4416928049_f635e25d59.jpg

One of the escape hatches, closed & concreted over
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2800/4417675274_559f0131b6.jpg

You don't need funny glasses for this 3 D shot!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4416908255_c93175d850.jpg

One of the original 'walk in' entrances
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4417666490_cebd28034d.jpg

A feeble attempt at colour picking
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/4417665546_265fa8ff51.jpg

Finally that pram!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4416580950_dd4338c9e6.jpg

Even more perusing to be had with the full Flickr set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sqwasher/sets/72157623509119783/

Cheers for 'avin a butchers :thumb