Dave and I went to Stockport Air Raid Shelter museum. We really enjoyed it. It exceeded my expectation with the total atmosphere in which they have helped create.

The Stockport shelters dug out of The Gorge which is the main sand stone cliff in Stockport, another is situated next to the Manchester ring road as you pass Stockport, just for future reference.
In 1938 the labyrinth of underground tunnels 40feet below was started, 12 months later in 1940 they were complete. Please have a look at our photo story of our experience. We highly recommend this visit if you are in or about Stockport any time.
The tunnels are 7feet wide and 7feet high.
In 1941 the tunnels were extended to accommodate a thousand more people.

The area within the red ring was where we explored.. the other area are either unfit or locked up unless on a guided tour.

Coming into the main tunnel, benches and benches as far as the eye can see. the atmosphere is dark and depressing. Imagine sitting here on end for hours not knowing what's happening 40feet above your heads.









This leads you to the Wardens Post.



Then to the workman's room and then the tool shed. The workman was always there and ready for if there was a cave in or the entrance was damaged from bombs.







Not to long after the shelters were done the council supplied bunks for those who stayed long enough to sleep.







This is so you can get a feeling of size, remember I am only 5ft.



Now we come to the toilets. The shelters were fondly named by some as "The Stockport Hotel" as they had flushing toilets and cold running water, well for some they did. In most parts there were bucket toilets. For one bucket toilet there were 25 people using it, they had to be emptied every morning. ewwww.

Nurses toilets. It looks like they had the best toilets but with the work they had to do and also the hours they had to work I think they deserved them. We come to the first aid part of the shelters later on. I thought the sign on the toilet was rather funny.













The women's toilets which were a way down the tunnel from the nurses. Women's were okish, they were all open except for one which was private.

Mens toilets. Oh and I forgot to add, in each are toilet rolls consisting of cut up newspaper.







Now we come to the core of the shelters. The First Aid Post. Can you imagine giving birth in the shelters?? Neither can I but many women had too, also as you can imagine many people died in this area of the shelters.















This is a very narrow passageway which is what the nurses used to use to get to all the first aid and mini hospital areas quickly.



A side tunnel, it said this was a nursing section for mothers to nurse there babies in private. I used to think the private nursing rooms at Mothercare were bad.. Breastfeeding during the war was the easiest thing to do, it was amazing how many people must have been cramped in this section soothing and feeding there babies.





A Paraffin stove



This is a kitchen which has been placed down here, the original place for this was a brick shed just at the entrance to serve tea. This isn't there anymore so they put it in one of the side tunnels.



At the end of the journey you come to a very dismal sight. The web of war. All the wars which have happened and all the wars which have happened because of that war happening. Quite depressing and eye opening when you have a look at it. Then the final picture is the last you see before you go back out into Stockport Town Centre.



We are definitely going to go back. On the first Wednesday of every month there is a guided tour which takes us into the unlit tunnels which are padlocked at all other times.

Very interesting looking place - will definitely have a look if I am in the area .

great pictures and history clare looks well worth a trip

Brilliant! Totally engrossed there for a while - will have to visit when the other bits are open.

Nice post girl!

I like this, never knew it was there! Next time i'm over there i'll have a nosey!