Chestergate Air Raid Shelter.

Chestergate Air Raid Shelters where constructed between 1938-1939 and cut into the soft sandstone rock which is visible all round Stockport, the shelters where capable of housing upto 4000 people in the event of an attack.

The shelters had electric lighting, bunk beds and plumbing as well as a first aid section, wardens shelter and tool shelter.

Chestergate shelters where part of 6 other shelters built for the borough, now only Dodge Hill and Brinksway still remain these how ever are still in there original condition.

After WWII Chestergate shelters where sealed up until 2000 when Stockport council decided to restore the shelters to there original glory and open them as one of Stockports historical sites.

Myself and Cyclone decided it was long overdue to visit this place, so one sunny afternoon in July we popped in.

After a brief audio visual display we wandered freely around the shelters, there are certain sections that can only be accessed by guided tours which take place in the evenings.

Definatley worth a trip if your in the area, SMBC have done a great job in getting this place right.

We have researched in depth about the other air raid shelters in Stockport, visiting the local library as well as sifting through old newspaper clippings and maps of the era.

Brinksway and Dodge Hill are the only ones that remain now and have changed very little since WWII.

The lost shelters are them of Portwood or Rock Hole as it was known locally, Heaton Park and the Stewart St. shelters, sadly these are long gone and the M60 motorway now sits in there place.

Myself and Dodgerat spent a full day searching for the access points to the Portwood and Stewart St. shelters but to no avail.

Although we did get some rather strange looks from passing motorists as we casually strolled down the side of the M60!

The Chestergate shelters are about as good as you can get and are in exceptional condition, there well worth seeing as they also contain a lot of period artifacts, from gas masks right down to propaganda posters, and a fully equipped infirmary and kitchen area.