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| St Leonard's Air Raid Shelter, East Sheen |
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A drawing from the Borough's Local Studies Room shows that a sleeping area was added in 1940 - perhaps in recognition of the seriousness of London's situation. Beneath the pepperpot entrance building, narrow steps lead down to separate male and female day rooms, fitted with bench seats and chemical toilets, and two sleeping areas with triple-tiered bunks, each with its individual lamp holder, hooks and hand -painted numerals.
Heating was basic, in the form of a cast-iron boiler, and metal rungs on the end walls provided the only route for escape.
In 2008 plans to develop the shelter to provide two subterranean homes were defeated at appeal thanks to the efforts of residents and members of local societies led by their ward councillor Virginia Morris. Subsequently the Environment Trust, advised by Paul Velluet, applied to English Heritage for listed status for the shelter. In October 2010 it was designated at Grade 2, for the following reasons:
In April 2011, a meeting of St Leonard's Court Residents confirmed that the majority would be happy for a project to restore the air raid shelter to be set up, for the purposes of bringing visitors and school groups to see it by appointment. Permission of the freeholder has been obtained, and a Steering Group has been set up, consisting of local residents, members of local history and amenity societies, mentored by the Environment Trust. We have started by researching other examples of communal shelters, and are currently commissioning a structural survey of the building, before investigating potential funds for its restoration and for an education programme to be run within it. A meeting with the Imperial War Museum's Education Officer has confirmed our belief that it would make a wonderful resource for schools exploring the Home Front as part of World War 2 studies, and two local primary schools and one secondary school have already expressed enthusiasm for the idea. English Heritage and the Borough's Conservation Officer visited the site in autumn 2011 to offer their advice. Placing the building on the Heritage At Risk Register was agreed to be an important first step, opening wider possibilities of funding for its repair and future use.
The Steering group are: Eleanor Stanier, Barnes and Mortlake History Society Nicky Gill, Mortlake with East Sheen Society Anne Reeves, St Leonard's Court Residents' Association Mireille Stanton, Chair of Mortlake with East Sheen Society Darren Thornton, Co-ordinator Mortlake Community Association Shaun Lamplough, Barnes and Mortlake History Society Cllr Virginia Morris, Cabinet Member for Environment, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Angela Kidner, Projects Manager Environment Trust How you can help!A resident aged 103, who can remember using the shelter during air raids, has already given a filmed interview to Tom Stanier. If you know anyone who can remember and describe war-time life in this area, or if you have memories you would like to share, we would love to hear from you! In due course we will be seeking memorabilia of the Home Front to include in an exhibition too. Please contact Mireille Stanton: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it For a great collection of images of the air raid shelter, go to the website of Subterranea Britannica English Heritage recommendation for Grade 2 listing English Heritage Grade 2 listing Map showing the location of the shelter
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AIR RAID SHELTER at St Leonard's Court, Palmers Road, East Sheen, SW14
