The initial impression was of a long, low earthen mound (approx 7m x 14m) with concrete walls and entrances visible at either end, aligned east to west. Bothentrances were inaccessible because of a concrete cover, but the removal of the eastern cover by mechanical excavator made access possible through this entrance. Extensive photography of the exterior and interior was undertaken, and hand-drawn plans were made. A Total Station survey was undertaken which produced a plan showing:
• The extent of the grass-covered mound
• The top of the grass-covered mound
• The two entrances
• The extent of the central concrete chamber
The earth mound stood approximately 1.2m above modern ground-level at its highest point and was covered in heavy undergrowth. The stump of a freshly felled mature tree was rooted in the south side. This mound was removed by mechanical excavator. Access to the shelter was through two sloped entrances, one at the north-west corner, and the other at the south-east corner. Once the mound had been removed, it was apparent that the top of the western entrance was 60cm above the roof of the chamber whilst the eastern entrance was 30cm above it. Both entrances were capped by wooden planks covered in concrete sitting on a 5cm deep lip that ran around three sides of the entrance walls. The entrances were 5.4m long by 1m wide in plan and led down six steps into a corridor that ended in a recess. The internal width of the corridor was 70cm, indicating that the entrance walls were each 15cm thick. The recess was approximately 87cm deep and occupied by a rudimentary toilet. This comprised a straight-sided metal cylinder with a hinged wooden seat and lid. The toilet had a metal pipe connected at the rear, which rose vertically through a centrally-located hole in the roof, presumably acting as an outlet for waste gases. This hole was 10cm in diameter. The floor of the corridor was of poured concrete with five 60cm by 46cm concrete slabs set into it.
The central chamber externally measured 7.35m long by 2.45m wide by 2.45m high with an internal measurement of 2.25m at the widest point and 1.7m at its base. The sub-circular chamber was unpainted and was constructed of reinforced concrete, evidence of shuttering being clearly visible. The construction technique was clearly the same as for shelter 1, producing fifteen distinct panels of concrete – plus the floor – around the circumference of the chamber. Twelve 60cm by 60cm concrete slabs extended down the centre of the chamber beneath which was a channel, 18cm deep by 46cm wide, and lined with wood, which was divided into five sections.
A light switch and junction box were located at the western end of the chamber with a metal-cased wire leading up the wall and along the chamber roof to a centrally mounted bayonet light fitting. It was uncertain if this was contemporary with the airraid shelter’s construction. Three more of the exhaust vents were evenly located in the roof. The whole structure, with the central chamber and two sets of stairs at either end, displayed an inverse symmetry in construction, as shown by the plan. <1>