This is the second in my series on WW2 structures still standing in Norfolk. Today i visit this rather unusual air raid shelter situtated in the Kettlewell Lane recreation ground.
You beat me to the first outing of the year Steve. Short but interesting video my friend. I wouldn't like to be crammed in that shelter with to many people for too long. Hope you're well mate. Keep them coming. ATB
Thanks for your comment Jim, yeah had to take my son and his girlfriend to the railway station so thought I`d do this at the same time instead of a separate journey. I want to do a lot more of these this winter I`ve already got a new lead to some more shelters. Doing well up here at the moment, hope to see you on here soon mate! ATB Steve.
Do you know where some of the others are. As a child we played and New about most of them 1 Park opposite South gates in the flower bed on the side of the old drain there is one 2 in the walks opposite the library entrance left hand side there used to be a concrete block on between the trees can't remember how far in though 3 Tuesday Market place there was a concrete block and man hole again adjacent to the old telephone box opposite the midland bank And the one in your video
Hi Stanny 1972, i`ve only just noticed your comment. Thanks for the information on the other shelters i`ll check them out when the weather perks up a bit! Thanks for commenting ATB Steve.
I used to play in that shelter in the 50s. The escape door on the top was a hinged piece of steel then held down by a padlock. We used to climb in there. Another shelter we used to play in was opposite the library right next to County Court rd. The entrance was right beside the stone pier holding the railings up. It always had lots of water in it so the drainage was not to good. The other ones we played on top of as we could not get into them were in the little park next to the south gates. There were two there.
Thanks for that, that was very interesting where i come from down south back in the 70`s all our air raid shelters were open with just a picket fence around them to `keep us out`! Can you still see any trace of the other shelters you spoke of? Thanks for commenting.
@@1Tommytip No there is no sign of the others now. The ones in the South Gates park were removed a few years ago. Have not been down County Court Rd for a while but I think the entrance which was quite deep down a flight of steps has been filled in. Point of interest in the tree above the old shelter. If you look up into the tree you will see a large chain holding up one of the branches, The large chain has been there for so long it is coming straight out of the trunk. My brother first showed me that chain in 1950. If you are by that way on a walk see if you can find it.
I was wondering why they would go to these levels to build an air raid shelter in Kings Lyn. Did it have a strategic purpose in the war being a small port? Very interesting its survival mind. Thanks for sharing. Mark
Hi Mark, Kings Lynn was indeed a strategic port as it was attacked in both wars. It was pretty historic too so Hitler may have wanted to flatten it for that reason too. A chap who works with me remembers playing in it in his younger days, and through my video only just learned what it was!
Best get this opened back up lol
I’ve lived in Lynn my entire life and had no idea this was here 🤷🏻
I am glad this has been of interest to you, pop along and have a look maybe!! Thanks for commenting.
Very interesting!
You beat me to the first outing of the year Steve. Short but interesting video my friend. I wouldn't like to be crammed in that shelter with to many people for too long. Hope you're well mate. Keep them coming. ATB
Thanks for your comment Jim, yeah had to take my son and his girlfriend to the railway station so thought I`d do this at the same time instead of a separate journey. I want to do a lot more of these this winter I`ve already got a new lead to some more shelters. Doing well up here at the moment, hope to see you on here soon mate! ATB Steve.
Do you know where some of the others are.
As a child we played and New about most of them
1 Park opposite South gates in the flower bed on the side of the old drain there is one
2 in the walks opposite the library entrance left hand side there used to be a concrete block on between the trees can't remember how far in though
3 Tuesday Market place there was a concrete block and man hole again adjacent to the old telephone box opposite the midland bank
And the one in your video
Hi Stanny 1972, i`ve only just noticed your comment. Thanks for the information on the other shelters i`ll check them out when the weather perks up a bit! Thanks for commenting ATB Steve.
I had my car vandalised in Wyatt Street in 1997.........
I used to play in that shelter in the 50s. The escape door on the top was a hinged piece of steel then held down by a padlock. We used to climb in there. Another shelter we used to play in was opposite the library right next to County Court rd. The entrance was right beside the stone pier holding the railings up. It always had lots of water in it so the drainage was not to good. The other ones we played on top of as we could not get into them were in the little park next to the south gates. There were two there.
Thanks for that, that was very interesting where i come from down south back in the 70`s all our air raid shelters were open with just a picket fence around them to `keep us out`! Can you still see any trace of the other shelters you spoke of? Thanks for commenting.
@@1Tommytip No there is no sign of the others now. The ones in the South Gates park were removed a few years ago. Have not been down County Court Rd for a while but I think the entrance which was quite deep down a flight of steps has been filled in. Point of interest in the tree above the old shelter. If you look up into the tree you will see a large chain holding up one of the branches, The large chain has been there for so long it is coming straight out of the trunk. My brother first showed me that chain in 1950. If you are by that way on a walk see if you can find it.
I was wondering why they would go to these levels to build an air raid shelter in Kings Lyn. Did it have a strategic purpose in the war being a small port? Very interesting its survival mind. Thanks for sharing. Mark
Hi Mark, Kings Lynn was indeed a strategic port as it was attacked in both wars. It was pretty historic too so Hitler may have wanted to flatten it for that reason too. A chap who works with me remembers playing in it in his younger days, and through my video only just learned what it was!
@@1Tommytip yeah I thought it might have had some significance. It's good to hear of you meeting the chap. That's illuminating...