Shelter Signs: West End

As promised, more old Second World War shelter signs, this time from the West End. Although all of these are at eye level they are much harder to spot than their Deptford equivalents, being a fraction of the size and badly weathered. Fortunately I had the very informative book London's War by Sayre Van Young to help guide me. All of these signs point down to vaults and basements...

At 25 Longmoore Street Pimlico (stretching the definition of "West End" a bit):

And just down the way at 36 Longmoore Street:

To save straining your eyes, (I think) it reads "public shelters in vaults under pavements in this street".

Moving on to between 42 and 48 Brook Street, near Grosvenor Square:

And at 72 Brook Street:

And similarly at 43 Upper Brook Street:

Shelter Signs Revisited

Recently I've been seeking out more of London's old air raid shelter signs that haven't quite faded into history. To start with thanks to Caroline for finding this small one at the south end of Deptford High Street back in January. The inscribed stone above reads "Elizabeth Place 1811" - follow this link for a close up. For other old shelter signs around the High Street, see my original post. More from central London to follow.

S stands for Shelters

One of the great things about living in SE8 is simply walking out your front door and stumbling into history. Since moving here a few years ago I've been fascinated by Deptford's wartime past in particular. It's a subject I will certainly return to in future posts. In the meantime a posting by Deptford Dame has reminded me of these photos I took last month of local air raid shelter signs.



Above is the very well preserved example on Frankham Street (just off the High Street).

Sadly what I assume was a similar sign on the building opposite has been erased at some point.

Below is the example on Comet Street (opposite Elgar Close):

And one which thousands of people must pass every day - but how many have noticed it? This one is right on the High Street by the Deptford Project:

I'm sure these aren't the only ones around Deptford and its environs - please let me know of any others.

Open House 2008 - Woolwich Barracks

Hmm, a week since my first post, I'll try and do better... on Open House Sunday I bussed it to Woolwich to take the Woolwich Barracks tour. Although the Royal Artillery may have left (though the King's Troop seem set to return in a year or so) the Guards regiments formerly housed at Chelsea will move here - indeed the parade ground is being extended for rehearsals of Trooping the Colour.

The Royal Garrison Church of St George was also open - or what remains of it after it was hit by a flying bomb in 1944. Whilst I can sympathise with the decision not to rebuild it, the obvious weathering of the fine murals of St George was a cause for concern. Clear perspex panels would surely help to ameliorate this.