Stockport Air Raid Shelters
Encyclopedia
The Stockport Air Raid Shelters are a system of almost 1 mile of underground air-raid shelter
s dug under Stockport
, six miles south of Manchester, during World War II
to protect local inhabitants during air raids.
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.) The smallest of the tunnel shelters could accommodate 2,000 people and the largest 3,850 (subsequently expanded to take up to 6,500 people.)
The largest of the Stockport Air Raid Shelters are open to the public as part of the town's museum service.
Air-raid shelter
Air-raid shelters, also known as bomb shelters, are structures for the protection of the civil population as well as military personnel against enemy attacks from the air...
s dug under Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, six miles south of Manchester, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to protect local inhabitants during air raids.
Four sets of underground air raid shelter tunnels for civilian use were dug into the red sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
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.) The smallest of the tunnel shelters could accommodate 2,000 people and the largest 3,850 (subsequently expanded to take up to 6,500 people.)
The largest of the Stockport Air Raid Shelters are open to the public as part of the town's museum service.
External links
- Stockport Air Raid Shelters - official site
- Detailed historical record about Stockport Air Raid Shelters