tarboat's photos with the keyword: shelter

Perched atop a gantry over the roof of the former Ordnance Factory No.10 (Roften) at Hooton was this very rare item to find in situ. It is a 'Consol' firewatching shelter which were installed in order to provide some protection from shrapnel for the firewatchers who were there to protect the factory from incendiary bombs. It is made of a goodly thickness of mild steel and contained a seat and small shelf with, almost certainly, a telephone. This site which manufactured heavy anti-aircraft guns during WWII has since been demolished.

Two corrugated iron buildings for the price of one at Halkyn Mountain. The shed was definitely decrepit, whilst the Anderson shelter in the background looked to be in reasonable order.

My mother has always told me that the bombing of Hull was extensive and went on for many nights during the war. She told me tales of how their dog was always first into the shelter when the raid warning sounded and also how uncomfortable it was with everyone crowded into a small space which had a tendency to fill with a certain amount of water. However, her family survived, unlike the two nearby pubs that were both victims of incendiaries. Mum was taken back to Hull recently for a nostalgic look around and called at her old house. She was astonished to discover that the old shelter was still there, probably because it was built of brick whilst all the neighbours had Anderson shelters. For many nights up to eight people from the two adjoining houses, plus the family dog, sheltered in this tiny structure.

Advert for fire watching shelter. There are still odd ones lying around as the steel they were made of was so thick.

Whilst out walking the dogs the other day I espied an interesting feature perched atop a gantry over the roof of the former Ordnance Factory No.10 (Roften) at Hooton. This is a very rare item to find in situ and is a 'Consol' firewatching shelter. These were installed in order to provide some protection from shrapnel for the firewatchers who were there to protect the factory from incendiary bombs. It is made of a goodly thickness of mild steel and contained a seat and small shelf with, almost certainly, a telephone. This is one of two that survive at this site which manufactured heavy anti-aircraft guns during WWII.