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Their Past, Your Future

Kingston Museum and Heritage Service

Air Raid Shelters

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ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, Alexandra Recreation Ground 6 June 1939

ARP trenches, King Edward Recreation Ground

ARP trenches, King Edward Recreation Ground

Tiffin Girls School showing trenches

Tiffin Girls School showing trenches

SHAEF office buildings in rear, including one under camouflage net on right. Slit trenches were dug when V-1s started arriving

SHAEF office buildings in rear, including one under camouflage net on right. Slit trenches were dug when V-1s started arriving

Mr Martin digging air raid shelter in garden of 52 Franks Ave, New Malden, c1940

Mr Martin digging air raid shelter in garden of 52 Franks Ave, New Malden, c1940

Martin family in the air raid shelter at 52 Franks Ave, New Malden

Martin family in the air raid shelter at 52 Franks Ave, New Malden

Mr Martin’s neighbour’s Anderson shelter damaged by blast, late 1940

Mr Martin’s neighbour’s Anderson shelter damaged by blast, late 1940

Air Raid Shelters

There were many public shelters across Kingston . The Fairfield shelter was designed to take up to 2,700 people. Many public shelters became overcrowded and insanitary. The Surrey Comet reported that 150 people had crammed into the Surbiton Lagoon Shelter, which was designed to hold just 70. The Surbiton Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Linsee, recommended urgent action to improve conditions at shelters on the Alexandra recreation ground in Tolworth.

Anderson and Morrison Shelters were distributed to households, but these often flooded during the winter months.