Oh do we have a treat for you explorers out there.
Inside brinksway deep level air raid shelters:
https://cdn1.28dayslater.co.uk/xf/2017/07/1431956_93a973bc67b73d3f96a9ef5c2b7e8850.jpg
Inside brinksway deep level air raid shelters:
https://cdn1.28dayslater.co.uk/xf/2017/07/1431955_bbb0ee96c526dca682beb2107499749b.jpg
Good afternoon everybody, if you are reading this in the U.K. I hope you have all enjoyed and made the most of what was a gloriously sunny bank holiday weekend. Or like me was stuck in work for the majority of what may just have been the height of our summer. I should really get myself a laptop and work from home so I can be free to enjoy our brief sunny moments, oh the dream.
https://thepitcher.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/team-summer.jpeg
But on to why I'm here,
I have recently become aware of some abandoned air raid shelters from the Second World War running under my housing estate in Stockport, Manchester, and potentially running right under my house. And on further research i have found that there are three shelters in Stockport in total, starting construction in 1938, and the last of the tunnel network completed in 1941. Seven feet high and carved out of the soft sandstone. They are the largest underground shelters in the UK, made to protect the residents of Stockport from the Luftwaffe and their bombs during the second world war. Chestergate shelter in Stockport town centre has been open to the public since 1989, yet barely half a mile away are Dodge Hill deep level shelter and the one I plan on visiting known as Brinksway deep level shelter. largely forgotten to all, except the explorer and those who remember the nights spent curled up on the bunks listening to the pounding of the bombs overhead. Though Stockport was only hit once on Christmas Eve in 1944 by a German V1 flying bomb killing one resident, Manchester went through the terrifying Manchester blitz starting on December 22 and ending once again on Christmas Eve in 1940 killing upwards of 800 people in two days of pure hell.
Stockport 1944 bombing:
http://aircrashsites.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/5690863685_523d792aea_o.jpg
https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article8342041.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/JS53263194.jpg
Aftermath of the German V1 bomb. Stockport, Garners Lane, Adswood, on Christmas Eve 1944.
I have already visited the Chestergate air raid shelters in Stockport town centre that is open to tourists, which was a very interesting visit, trying to feel what it was really like to be down in what would have been a rather scary situation to be in, wondering if your house is still standing or friends and family are safe.
My only criticism of chestergate shelters is all the health and safety signs glowing and information boards that take away the real feeling of these eary tunnels. But don't get me wrong, I understand those are vital for safety reasons and informative for us to learn the history.
https://images.contentful.com/ii3xdrqc6nfw/5YnQG9hdhSI20YIeEgQcA0/f9b1348858a890e70633d77b190f281f/Air_raid_shelters.jpg
Original entrance to chestergate air raid shelters.
https://secure.i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03258/raid-shelterexteri_3258146b.jpg
Chestergate entrance today.
Map layouts of Chestergate air raid shelter:
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/uploads/1447446753_Pic5_18stockportplan.jpg
https://www.derbyscc.org.uk/caving/caving_image/chestergate.gif
Back onto Brinksway deep level air raid shelters, I will be documenting my visit in the next couple of days with pictures, videos and descriptions. so stay tuned to see what we find. I went out late last night to scope out the area and to see if it was really possible to get in. Luckily I found the entrance, a small man hole cover easily accessible. unluckily it is based in a compound of what sounds like something to do with high voltage electricity systems. But there is a small and easy climb to get in so hopefully all will be successful.
Map layout of brinksway deep level air raid shelters:
http://chewy.cc/maps/Dodgehill.jpg
Original entrances to brinksway shelters now bricked up to be forgotten:
https://cdn1.28dayslater.co.uk/xf/2017/07/664147_0e0e16983554b94787bc3f02206967e0.jpg
https://www.tracesofwar.com/upload/7836100211172013.jpg
https://cdn1.28dayslater.co.uk/xf/2017/07/1054969_740eab828791e27178d5c834562eca5a.jpg
So to finish, I am rather excited to get down there to document what we find.
And please, if anyone has anymore information on these tunnel networks please leave a comment. I would love to learn more about what is literary under my feet as I'm writing this in my living room at home.
Many thanks,
Marksface.