| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Rob
Average Member
44 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Mar 2010 : 21:03:01
|
| Hello everyone, i am new to using this forum so i hope you give me a nice welcoming wave, Anyways i had a very odd question, i been learning about the history of angmering in my own time as i lived here all my life which is around 27 years now, I was trying to find out about a old bucker that i heard about in the past, one which was meant to be across the road from where the village hall stands which is now covered by dirt, my question is this, is the bucker real and if so is there any pictures of what it used to look like or does anyone have any information on it or what size it used to be, its just one of those things that has been in my mind for some time..and wish to know the truth. |
Edited by - Rob on 27 Mar 2010 21:03:58 |
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2010 : 21:31:31
|
Welcome Rob. Presume you mean "bunker"!
Yes,there is an old air raid shelter underneath the bank opposite the Village Hall. This became a bit notorious after youths were using it for dubious purposes in the early 1950s and it was earthed over. Up to about 3 years ago, a bit of concrete was seen jutting out at the bottom of the old entrance but this was cut out as it jutted out about 3 inches onto the path.
It is rumoured that there is an entrance/exit hatch in the bungalow that was built later above the shelter.
I do not have any photos of the interior and I do not know how big it is, but it must have been of a reasonable size to cater for village needs.
Within the last year, Southern Water were re-doing piping in the area and have connected a new pipe to the shelter. |
 |
|
|
Rob
Average Member
44 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2010 : 21:49:41
|
| Its a shame it was covered over as it is part of the history of angmering, but i bet it would of been a issue even today if it was not covered over, i bet even the youths of today would use it like they did in the 1950s, and play about in it, do you know if only the Entrance was earth over or was everything inside the shelter covered in earth too. |
|
|
|
clueless
Average Member
United Kingdom
51 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2010 : 22:37:52
|
Wow, that would make a brilliantyouth club for the youth!?
Welcome Rob, and thanks for unearthing some more history of the village.
|
|
|
|
Rob
Average Member
44 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2010 : 23:45:47
|
| Hello Clueless and was that meant to be a joke :P? "Unearthing"? get it ...."shuts up" |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2010 : 16:54:28
|
| Think it is empty inside. |
|
|
|
clueless
Average Member
United Kingdom
51 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2010 : 20:22:46
|
If its empty why did the water board fit a new water pipe to it???
|
|
|
|
Bert
Advanced Member
484 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2010 : 11:08:02
|
| Possibly a drainage pipe Clueless. |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2010 : 16:31:55
|
May not have been a new pipe, clueless - perhaps a piece of new pipe going off from a junction. Southern Water were doing some work for the house next to the shelter.
Wouldn't I just love to get into the shelter. It's not clear whether the top hatch is in the bungalow's garden or a covered and sealed entrance within the house.
The main entrance, I think, has a tree growing close to it which could be a problem in excavating.
What above a bit of historical archaeology? The land belongs to the Parish Council, but does all of the shelter, I wonder. It would be a great project which would interest many residents. Perhaps it could be opened as an Angmering History Museum. I wish! |
|
|
|
BRAM
Advanced Member
373 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2010 : 12:54:02
|
| An ideal office for APC I would have thought. |
|
|
|
derekdainton
deleted
579 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2010 : 15:03:38
|
| Off message! |
|
|
|
apples
Junior Member
21 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 00:16:08
|
On some forums there is an option in the user control panel to put selected members on an ignore list and I really wish that was an option here. I Reckon BRAM has put this whole forum on APC's ignore list. I wonder if it's an inside job!!!!
He, or she, is a troll, and a predictable and very boring one too.
|
|
|
|
Rob
Average Member
44 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 01:08:48
|
| Hey neil, if theres a tree growing close to it, who knows what damage the roots have done to the place itself, for all we know the shelter itself could of fallen apart over the last 60 years or so or it could still be standing, on another note i do wonder where the hatch is as well, and would this means the the place belongs to the people over it, aka the Bungalow or the Parish Council, But i am still wondering the size, i wish there was some records of the shelter somewhere about it getting build or even some blue prints...;p |
Edited by - Rob on 31 Mar 2010 01:09:43 |
|
|
|
compost
Advanced Member
265 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 06:34:28
|
Rob,
Interesting topic, i went to school in Angmering in the 80's and have lived in the village 7 years but never knew about the bunker.
It would be interesting to know if the building/bunker was built in situ by local people or was a standard shelter widely available - this would help determine the size (if a widely available one was used).
Have you thought of contacting the owners of the building above?
If I get time today will drive past and have a look at the mystery bunker. |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 08:01:09
|
apples - you have pushed me too far - there's also a rule on these Forums about individuals not registering in more than one name! Just how many names have you and your spouse registered? This is deceiving other users - especially when you write under a topic with one name and then support your argument with another! |
|
|
|
derekdainton
deleted
579 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 08:41:38
|
| Dastardly! I wouldn't have thought that recent topics on the Forums have been serious enough to warrant such nefarious practice. |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 08:59:39
|
Perhaps I should provide a list of all the names under which this couple have been writing. What do others think? An apology would not go amiss for the deception that has been caused!
IP addresses are such a giveaway!
|
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 09:56:48
|
Regarding the air raid shelter, the earth bank certainly belongs to the Parish Council. There used to be a wooden notice on the bank to this effect until it rotted away a year or two ago. So some of the shelter probably also belongs to the PC.
I was always amused by that notice - it started something like "This bank known as The Bank opposite the Village Hall ......."
I wonder how this is all handled in the deeds of the owners of the bungalow. I would have thought that they would have been the owners of all that land/shelter beneath their property unless the shelter is some way excluded from their ownership. And what about access to and from the shelter from the top hatch?
Any legal beavers out there who could advise? |
|
|
|
Bert
Advanced Member
484 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 12:14:18
|
Neil, the issue you highlight with "apples," is in my opinion unacceptable.
Your rule that individuals must register and post in one name only, is very sensible and the only way to run a forum, and has clearly been abused by this person/this couple.
He/she/they are trying to be clever. They obviously underestimate you, and is/are treating you, and the rest of us with contempt
It is perfectly clear from the many postings, that he/she/they are "very close" to Angmering Parish Council.
If he/she/they are members of Angmering Parish Council, I suggest this makes a poor situation into an unacceptable situation.
He/she/they, should be identified by all the names under which this couple have been posting, as you suggest.
If that identifies their true identity, they have only themselves to blame for trying to be so devious. |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 13:11:31
|
Bert, I appreciate what you are saying and I suppose that fundamentally I feel the same as you. However, I have now had a personal apology and hope that the multi name postings will cease.
Disclosing the various registrations together might be damaging for this couple and I have actually no intention of doing it. I do not want to hurt them.
To be perfectly honest, I only included the rule under the FAQs fairly recently when I established the extent of these postings. And, if any person is wondering, I only have one registered name!
|
|
|
|
Bert
Advanced Member
484 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 14:22:05
|
Neil, I respect your decision, of no sanction whatever, as I appreciate these people have put you in a difficult position.
However I note that you fundamentally agree with my view.
You have had a personal apology, but the posters on this forum have not.
"Disclsosing the various registrations together might be damaging for this couple.."
And exactly whose fault is that?
They were trying to work and influence this forum, totally unfairly.
You only included this rule recently "..when I established the extent of these postings."
So you had to make a rule specifically because these people were abusing your system?
"Perhaps I should provide a list of all the names under which this couple have been writing."
This suggests that "apples" is not the only additional name that has been used.
I think this is an extremely poor show. Giving views under a number of different names is totally unaceptable to such a good website and forum.
Many of the postings under the name of "apples" have been in the defence of reasonable comments about Angmering Parish Council. Is one or both of this couple involved with Angmering Parish Council? |
|
|
|
Angmeringite
Senior Member
152 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 16:08:58
|
Going back to the subject of the bunker,
I have been told by an older menmber of my family that played in it as a kid,
the bunker was only big enough for about 30-40 people.
And it was oblong in shape with wooden benches inside and there was a metal ladder attached to the wall that went up to a manhole cover above.
Now when i was a kid about thirty years ago someone did tell me about the bunnker and they said there was an entrance in the pathway above,
but not sure if this still exists? |
|
|
|
compost
Advanced Member
265 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 16:24:28
|
On the bunker subject - as it was for only around 40 people - were there other bunkers around the village? Was it a first come first served basis on getting in.
Really interesting topic as i said earlier.
On the other thread that has crept into this topic, if you name the multi names for one person then all multi listings should be listed. I am concerned though as a number of houses may have 1,2 or even 3 contributors to these forums using the same PC. I am aware that a member of my family has contributed from the same pc and i would not want there views to be thought of as mine. (or is this not an issue - not sure what ip address's are) |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 18:26:43
|
For reasons partially outside my control, we have two topics running here.
Don't be concerned, compost, I only check IP addresses if I become suspicious of abuse - sometimes it's is just what and how things are said. I was unsuspecting of "apples" until I recalled something almost identical was written on the Forums over a year ago by "someone else". No doubt there are a number of households where there are two registered Forum members. I'm aware of a few of them - no problem. An IP address sent by a computer will look something like 134.65.110.126.
I keep members' information confidential and will not divulge names - not even those banned from the Forums.
Yes Bert, multi names had been used but I'm totally confident that not all of them were used to hoodwink other Forum members. Hopefully, lessons have been learned in this current situation. |
|
|
|
Rob
Average Member
44 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 18:27:35
|
manhole cover? So for all we know its somewhere along the path and it looks like a normal drain cover? Hmmmm...or it could of been sealed up...maybe someone will have to go for a walk along the path and look for it, or look for any bumps in the path where it looks like something may had been sealed away under it?
(Could i please ask for the other talk to be taken to PM'S please as its ruining the topic itself, sorry.) |
Edited by - Rob on 31 Mar 2010 18:30:32 |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 18:35:23
|
Angmeringite, 2/3 years ago, I looked for signs of a manhole cover to the shelter in the path above it leading to Mill Road Avenue. I could not see one. Perhaps I missed it, but my understanding was that the entrance was in the bungalow garden or in the bungalow itself. Has a conservatory been built over it, I wonder?
compost, I have never heard of another bunker in the village.
If anybody is interested in Angmering's WW2 history, you can read more about it in my article at:
www.angmeringvillage.co.uk/history/Articles/WartimeAng.htm |
|
|
|
Angmeringite
Senior Member
152 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 19:45:12
|
The manhole cover may well be in the grounds of the bungalow, i'm not sure.
As i said it was only what i had been told by others.
Maybe someone on here knows the owner of the bungalow and could ask them if they have any info.
Also apparently there is an entrance to underground tunnels in the old headteachers house at the top of the hill by fletchers field. I was told they may have been used by smugglers. |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 20:42:38
|
These questions should be asked on the Bygones & History Forum and not the General Forum.
I'm copying the tunnels question posed by Angmeringite to the Bygones & History Forum for further discussion, but the air raid shelter one can remain here. |
|
|
|
Rob
Average Member
44 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 21:39:35
|
| I think i started something up now! everyones going to be looking around for things like this now ;p |
|
|
|
DEGOO
Average Member
United Kingdom
79 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 22:56:06
|
Tunnels and Bunkers in Angmering, well I never!!
Where exactly is the bunker supposed to be located?? I read this post the other day and went a hunting but couldnt see anything at all opposite the village hall. However, I do recall many moons ago seeing the 'step to no-where' but cant remember where I saw it!!!
And tunnels..............and I thought Angmering was such a dull but pretty place LOL |
|
|
|
Rob
Average Member
44 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 23:21:28
|
Ummm, the bunker is under the bank across the road from the hall, the front way in is covered in dirt now and no way to get inside from the front.
Update: I been told by my Father he remembers the door to get inside the bunker, it was a big iron door. and he remembers it from the late 60s |
Edited by - Rob on 31 Mar 2010 23:50:11 |
|
|
|
doroy
Average Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2010 : 09:44:48
|
I was a youngster in wartime Angmering,and well remember the air raid shelter opposite the village hall.It's entrance protruded from the bank almost to the pathway. It had very thick walls possibly 12 to 18 inches thick. This led to a heavy steele door.Inside was a chamber about 30 feet long,15 feet wide and 6 or 7 feet high. At the far end was a steel ladder to an emergency escape manhole that exited to the fields above. Everything except the entrance was totally covered with soil.
I have spoken to an ex Angmering resident and she says she seems to remember that the shelter was built by the local builder Z, Peskett & Sons who had their business in Arundel Road.
The entrance walls must have been demolised but I don't know if the entrance was sealed up and covered or more extensive demolision was done
I suspect that possibly everything is still intact under the surface as it would have been a major job to demolish.
I think it was purpose built to take people from the village hall should the need arise.Most houses had their own metal indoor shelters known as Morrison shelters.
I dont think it was ever used in anger,but I remember going to film shows in the village hall run buy the troops,where we were always told to go to the shelter should the warning sound.
The shelter was extensively used by the village youngsters but not for sheltering from air raids |
Roy Green |
|
|
|
uskoks
Average Member
United Kingdom
74 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2010 : 16:41:49
|
quote:
Originally posted by doroy
The shelter was extensively used by the village youngsters but not for sheltering from air raids
LOL - i'm sure no-one knows what you mean :)
Thanks for this thread btw - has been the best one on here for a very long time :) |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2010 : 17:48:28
|
Further to Roy's posting above, he has sent me a photo of the bank where he recalls the bunker was sited. See photo:
www.angmeringvillage.co.uk/forums/pics/bunker.jpg
Roy believes the bunker entrance door was to the right of the tree on the left-hand side of the photo.
This is about 10 yards to the south of where I thought the entrance was - where a slab of concrete had been jutting out onto the path before it was cut away.
However, Roy's location seems more plausible for three reasons:
- The bank looks higher at that point
- The owner of the bungalow above the concrete slab site has never found a hatch in his garden or house. Somebody who knows him mentioned this to me this afternoon.
- A lady I spoke to this afternoon used to play in the bunker as a girl in the 1950s and entered through the hatch in what was probably the garden of the bungalow immediately opposite the Village Hall which can just be seen on the right of Roy's photo. The front entrance had been earthed over by that time.
What then was the purpose of the concrete slab that stuck out onto the path 10 yards further north? Did something stand on it during WW2? A barrier base or a base for a Fougass land mine? |
|
|
|
jammer
Senior Member
172 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2010 : 18:18:05
|
Neil,
can you lay your hands on any photos of the bank from years gone by?
|
..//.//..//..//.. |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2010 : 19:08:33
|
Despite having 200-300 old photos of Angmering, I do not have a single clear one of the bank - probably because it contained nothing of interest! However, from one early 20thC photo, I get the impression that the bank may have been lower than it is now. Perhaps the path up to Mill Road Avenue was built up to cover the bunker.
I've just been down and cut back the earth to reveal a 4ft length of concrete at the bottom of the bank in Station Road - below the wall of the bungalow above (see photo below). As I mentioned earlier, this slab is about 10 yards closer to the village from where Roy believes the main entrance is situated. This would be approximately where the yellow pimpled slabs are lain in the path signifying the crossing to the Village Hall.
Incidentally, it has been suggested to me today that the entrance nominated by Roy would be the closest part to the Village Hall where people could dash across the road in the event of an air raid. This makes sense and ties in with the reasons suggested in my earlier posting.
Immediately above that suggested entrance in the pathway leading to Mill Road Avenue is an unmarked metal cover. Could this be the hatchway to the bunker?
Here are some photos I've just taken:
www.angmeringvillage.co.uk/forums/pics/bunker2.jpg
www.angmeringvillage.co.uk/forums/pics/bunker3.jpg
www.angmeringvillage.co.uk/forums/pics/bunker4.jpg |
|
|
|
patty
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
738 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2010 : 19:24:22
|
Do you think there is any possibility that the two trees in Roys picture, mark the outer boundaries, planted purposely at some time so that people knew where to find it??
|
any comments and views listed above are those of myself personally and not as a Parish Councillor, and in no way reflect opinions of the Parish Council or any other professional bodies |
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2010 : 19:52:34
|
Interesting theory, Patty, but Roy is suggesting that the entrance was just to the other side of the right-hand (southerly) tree.
Also trees look less than 20 years old - possibly planted between 1990 and 1995. Parish Council must have paid for them.
|
|
|
|
neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2010 : 21:18:34
|
| Re-reading Roy's posting, I am not entirely convinced that the cover on the path above the bunker is the emergency exit. Roy says it was at the rear of the bunker which would probably put it further east into the garden of the bungalow behind the fence - directly opposite the Village Hall. |
|
|
|
doroy
Average Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2010 : 09:52:19
|
Interesting topic.
The path abovce the bank was not there during the wartime,it was added after the houses were built. I am almost sure the manhole from the shelter was a round one.This could of been altered of course when the path was made.
The emntrance did have two or three steps in the front.
Roy |
Roy Green |
|
|
|
doroy
Average Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2010 : 10:45:43
|
As this topic has created a lot of interest. I mentioned the MORRISON shelters issued to Angmering households. You can see drawings of these if you GOOGLE ("MORRISON SHELTERS WW11") There were two types of shelter offered,The Morrison an indoors shelter made of quite thick steele,or the ANDERSON shelter which was for outdoors.Both are shown on Google.
The MORRISON was not issued free,household had to pay the princely sum of 10 shillings or 50p in to days money. Remember though 10 shillings was probably about a quarter of the average weekly wage.
I don't think there were any ANDERSON shelters issued to Angmering households. |
Roy Green |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
