Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Birkenhead park air raid shelters.

Here is a picture of men digging deep trenches in Birkenhead Park, which will become shelters. Birkenhead, Merseyside, 28th September 1938.

I was looking on the Britain from Above website and noticed these huge shelters in Birkenhead park. Maybe it is these shelters because they look extensive.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW001782

I think they were issued with 5 cigarettes per shovel.

Hahaha! I thought the same.
It is amazing that most people smoked back then and they were still more healthy than most people that don't smoke today. Is it food or cigarettes, you choose.

Timbering up the deep trenches in Birkenhead Park where shelters will have seats along each side and be covered with loose earth. 28th September 1938.


Couple of more pics of the Star Acadia and Hilbre Island in the same article here: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/gallery/september-1st-half-9976103

That's a great picture - can you tell me where the original photo can be seen so I can look at the detail? I want to see if I can identify any of the men and it tends to pixellate when you expand it here on the website. Thanks.

Just seen the link to the Echo - answered my question.

Did you recognise any of them Yoller?

No, unfortunately. One face looked familiar, but it's not who I thought it was. Great pictures, though.

There were two sets of shelters in Birkenhead Park, the others near the tennis courts. A few years ago I went round with a probe to see if i could detect any remnants but under the whole football field there appears to be a layer of hardcore, presumably to help drainage.

It wasn't until some time after that I found out that both sets of shelters were timber framed (I knew the other ones were), so they were bound to have been filled in for safety reasons.

There is at least one probable small concrete shelter in the surrounds of the park which is probably still extant, we had a go at getting in twice but were put off by the excess of rat/human pee/poo etc and it looked like it might have been capped with concrete.

There is also a rumour about another location by a now demolished school building but the information was sketchy and what we found was very inconclusive. I'm sure I found out more information about this one but I've forgotten what.

To be honest, I was surprised to see them being framed in timber. I'd imagine that it would be rare if any of these types of shelter to still be in existence.

I have found the other similar ones on BFA. They are on the right hand corner of Ashville Rd and Park Rd North.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW001792

I remember the shelter by the tennis courts well. After it was finished the earth was piled back on top to form a mound and then grassed. We used to have great fun as kids running up and down it.

Were they timber framed Joney?