World War Two relic unearthed

A couple in Simmondley were stunned to discover a World War Two air raid shelter hidden beneath a large flowerbed in their garden.

David and Janine McKown, who live across from the Hare and Hounds Pub, are currently having their driveway updated by local builders Peak Paving, who stumbled across the fascinating find. 

Janine explained, “We are having the drive re-laid and wanted to make the large flower bed narrower. Karl from Peak Paving is doing the work and he came running in to show us what he had found.” 

Karl added, “It’s a big hole which has a concrete top and sides, supported by old doors and Singer sewing machine parts, as they would have been short of steel at that time. We will dig further down and hopefully find a time capsule! Eventually we’ll need to fill it in, build the wall back up and make sure it’s safe.” 

Photo: Peak Paving Team, father and son Karl and Niall

David and Janine have lived in the house for 21 years, but the building itself was built in 1826. It was originally a beer house called The Angel Inn. 

During the time of World War Two the Government encouraged civilians to construct air raid shelters at the bottom of their gardens disguised by flowerbeds. The shelters could accommodate up to six people when the bomb warning sirens were sounded. It’s estimated that 3 million shelters were erected across Britain during the war.