Forum Topic

Air-raid shelters in Putney

Does anyone know what communal air-raid shelters were built in Putney? I believe some were built beneath the Wandsworth Park/Disraeli Gardens area (still there?), and that there were plans to built some under Putney Lower Common, but I'm not aware of any in central Putney. Were the vaults under the east end of Lower Richmond Road (now used by Putney Pies and Tequila Mockingbird) used, for example? Or those under the south end of the bridge, used by St Mary's Church? There's a pen & ink drawing by Australian artist Eric Wilson titled "Air-raid shelter under Putney Bridge".

Philip John Evison ● 1718d17 Comments

An air raid shelter was never constructed under the Hippodrome Theatre.When the theatre was finally closed, together with another member of the Wandsworth Historical Society (WHS), we had the opportunity to walk round inside the building, with torches, making notes and taking photographs for record purposes.During the demolition, we found and examined the foundation stone, and discovered a niche on the underside containing a bottle which enclosed several messages about the theatre, and the dignitaries present at the stone laying ceremony.      When the site was finally cleared, the WHS undertook a very brief and limited excavation below the floor, finding little of interestJim. Melbourne Australia

James Slade ● 1711d

I believe a shelter was also built below the old Putney Hippodrome Theatre (now demolished).

Clifford Cowell ● 1711d

Thanks Jim - a fascinating contribution.

Jim Cleary ● 1715d

I have some information on communal Air Raid Shelters, but only for the area bounded by the High Street, Upper Richmond Road, Erpingham Road and The Embankment. The largest underground shelter was constructed on the Putney Lower Common, very roughly from the Spencer pub in the Lower Richmond Road (LRR) to Willow Farm Road, adjacent and parallel to the LRR. It was, from memory, about 175m  x  25m, and was removed, I believe, around 1947/8. Another underground shelter was constructed in the centre of Wandsworth Park, much smaller than the Putney Common one. It was hit by a bomb on 7th October 1940, killing four people. I don’t know whether it was repaired or not. The vaults under the east end of LRR and one of the arches used by St. Mary’s Church, were connected and used as an Air Raid Shelter. It was possible to walk into the shelter from the churchyard and emerge onto what is now called the Watermen’s Green. There were many smaller shelters built by modifying the basements of shops and other buildings. These were excellently constructed and saved many lives. Jim. Melbourne, Australia

James Slade ● 1715d

Rose that'sinteresting, I have to see if there is a picture somewhere to jog my memory as I can not remember them.I thought the Pleasance might of had one but it turns out they were toilets according to old maps

Ed Robinson ● 1717d

I mean the Dover House parade of shops...

Rose Compton ● 1718d

Yes that is correct.  There were two enormous ones there opposite the parade of shops until roughly 20 (maybe 30??) years ago, when they flattened them to turn them into the parking areas.  They were completely intact up until then — we used to play on them as children in the '60s & '70s.  When they started to dismantle them I finally got to go inside — they were full of wonderful WW2 posters of the 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' type.

Rose Compton ● 1718d

I never heard that before.Towards the other end of Putney Park Lane there was one near Medfield Street:"People were standing on their doorsteps in Medfield Street, facing the Green where an air-raid shelter existed for a while. Suddenly the people rushed down their steps and across the road. Once across, they immediately dived down into the grass. I was watching this scene, and I knew what it meant. I shot out of the front room of our house (which was in Ponsonby Road), making for our cellar when there was a heavy explosion. All our front glass was blown in, including the front door."https://www.holytrinityroehampton.org/?page_id=1930

Ed Robinson ● 1718d

I remember hearing there was a shelter on the Upper Richmond Road by the parade of shops near Dover House Road, I understand it's where the cars park for the shops there now.

Sarah Stevenson ● 1718d

Those are the ones.

Freddie Francis ● 1718d

I’m pretty sure there’s one under McDonalds on Putney high street.

Emma Burley ● 1718d

This may be the East Sheen one that Freddie is referring to:https://flickeringlamps.com/2015/10/10/a-block-of-flats-in-south-west-london-with-its-own-second-world-war-air-raid-shelter/

Ed Robinson ● 1718d

I’ve read quite a few books on the area and also have several books on underground bunkers and shelters in London. Whilst I do know of a shelter in the forecourt of an apartment block in Sheena/Mortlake I have never heard of any in Putney. I doubt the vaults near the bridge woukd have been used as a bomb would easily penetrate brick arches with no reinforcement. Wandsworth Oark us too close to the river in my opinion so doubtful and it’s position be I only near houses on one side might also make it less cost effective. I’d love to be proven wrong though as I love this sort of subject.

Freddie Francis ● 1718d

Any help? Not sure what you'd picked out.https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/categories/

Michael Ixer ● 1718d

Thanks Freddie. Good to know. Sadly I'm having problems getting back to the same page but such an interesting search!

Katrina Black ● 1718d

Copyright doesn’t concern links being shared.

Freddie Francis ● 1718d

I can't answer your question but I did google it and found some interesting tales on BBC WW2 People's war which you might find of interest. I would pass on the link but it does say they have a copyright so I wasn't sure about that!

Katrina Black ● 1718d