It’s one of the biggest and best-preserved Second World War treasures Bristol has - and yet hardly anyone knows about it.
The hidden air raid shelter underneath St Nicholas Market and the Corn Exchange has lain almost untouched since the end of the Second World War when the devastating Bristol Blitz destroyed much of the Old City.
Up to 175 traders, brewery workers from Welsh Back and council officers would have taken cover inside the five-room shelter, which was given a ‘homely feel’ with coat hooks, dado rails and signage.
While inside, they would draw pictures on the wall - and remarkably, some of which can still be seen today.
Now, the story of the air raid shelter is being brought back to life after an artist started a tour within around the rooms in October. Duncan McKellar has also added war-time memorabilia from places like Blaise Castle to help tell the story.
And he has an ambition to one day open a museum inside the shelter.
Mr McKellar said: “Up until now, the site has only been open for the Bristol Open Doors event - but now we have reinstated the shelter to create an immersive experience showing what it was like during the Second World War.
“The level of preservation is remarkable. We have toilet signs, ARP [Air Raid Precaution] posters and even drawings of Hollywood actress Myrna Loy.”
The shelter was built within the old basement of the 1743-built Corn Exchange. Access used to be from the Glass Arcade, but today the entrance is from the Corn Exchange building.
The five rooms include two congregation rooms, an entrance/exit and two toilet rooms. If work goes ahead to create a museum, a new entrance could be created from Exchange Avenue with a lift.
Mr McKellar said: “It needs to be a museum because it is almost unique and so well preserved - it’s a part of our city’s history which should be exhibited.”
Mr McKellar’s two-hour tour St Nicholas Market and Air Raid Shelter Walking Tour runs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, starting at 11am.
Here are some incredible pictures from inside the air raid shelter:
1. Immersive experience
The signage is original to the shelter, but Mr McKellar has added items like the bike and sandbags to create the immersive experience.
2. Protection
The steel doors would have offered protection from a bombing raid.
3. Cloak room
The cloak room features the original clothes hooks. A dado rail was also added to provide a ‘homely’ feel to the shelter. It was unlike other large shelters which sometimes were simply a rock cave.
4. Ladies lavatory
Original posters from the Second World War remain on the walls of the cloakroom heading to the ladies lavatory. The wall of the old Corn Exchange basement blends with the brickwork from the air raid shelter reinforcement.