Dodge Hill Air Raid Shelters

Having seen the Chestergate shelters in all there restored glory was fantastic and the attention to detail was faultless. But being a museum. It does have its drawbacks and lacks the atmosphere.

Dodge Hill was closed after WWII but remained accessible for years. it was only in the late 70s and early 80s that the entrances to the shelter where sealed. One however has been opened in recent years.

Inside really does transport you back in time. The smell, dryness of the air and surprisingly the warmth. The most striking thing though is the claustrophobic feeling you get in there.

Chestergate could house upto 4000 people but the tunnels where much larger, where as Dodge Hill is somewhat smaller in size and would only hold a fraction of that.

In the event of an air raid the shelters would of been a very tight and uncomfortable place to be. We found it extremley hot down there and the air a little thin in places as well as claustrophobic.

One can only imagaine what it would of been like with a few hundred people crammed into all the passage ways and tunnels when an attack happened.

The corridors are scattered and still have the original bunk beds from WWII still in situ. What is surprising is just how good a condition the shelters are in.

Apart from the bunks theres not really a lot else to see. That in mind though these places where built more for functionality rather than luxury.

Compared to Brinksway. Dodge Hill is in best condition of the two and is also a much more pleasent place to be albeit rather confined. They do however make for an interesting explore and are the best preserved.