VIDEO: Air raid shelters under Sutton Green (From Your Local Guardian)

VIDEO: Air raid shelters under Sutton Green

10:52am Thursday 15th July 2010 in Sutton By Claire Fox

A row of Second World War air raid shelters have been found buried under Sutton Green.

The shelters were revealed when a hole opened up in the ground during the hot weather last week.

Minutes of council meetings dating back to 1939 and 1940 indicate three public shelters were built on the green and were designed to hold 450 people.

John Phillips, a historian from Museum Services, said: “Some of the surrounding houses with bigger back gardens would have had Anderson shelters but not all the houses would have the space available to do that.

“The shelters would also be used by people who happened to be walking in the area when the air raid siren went off.”

Sutton Council began excavating the site this week to discover more about them and to ensure the structures were safe.

Scorch marks on the surface of the green indicate the outline of the shelters, where the thinner earth on top of supporting walls has dried out in the hot weather. The marks were last visible during the summer of 2003 and can be seen from aerial photographs of the area.

Mr Phillips said: “There were a lot of public shelters in Sutton but a lot have gone now because land is valuable and they have been built on.

“Those that remain tend to be in parks and open public spaces. I know of about about 8 shelters in Sutton where the remains are obvious, like in Wrythe Lane, but I am sure people will know of other shelters where there is no longer any obvious evidence of them.”

The discoveries have revived memories of wartime Sutton and it is hoped people who remember the shelters will come forward with their stories and photographs.

Councillor Graham Tope, executive member for community safety, leisure and libraries said: “There may be residents who saw the shelters being built or even stayed in them during a raid. If you do have photos or memories, please come forward and share them so we can preserve this piece of the borough's history.”

Did you use the shelters in Sutton Green or other shelters in the borough? Do you have photographs, stories or information about the shelters? Call 020 8330 9544 or email cfox@london.newsquest.co.uk.