Time Line Downs School Ditchling Road

The Estate - Bevendean History Project

Time Line for the Downs School in Ditchling Road

1898	School built and known as Ditchling Road School.
1939	School holidays - Shelters were built is the three playgrounds. They were referred to as the 'Trenches'.
3rd Sept 1939	War was declared.
8th Nov 1939	Parents afternoon when visitors were shown around the almost completed shelters.
15th April 1939	Air Raid Precautions practice in the shelters for the first time since December, due to failure of the lighting.
3rd May 1940	There was still no provision of toilets in the shelters – From the School Log book.
14th May 1940	The ARP Shelters were finally finished.
12th - 21st Aug 1940	The Shelters were used almost daily by the children.
27th Sept 1940	‘We have spent most of today in the trenches’ – From the School log book.
8th May 1945	Victory Europe Day.
1947/1948	Ladders, benches and toilet door removed from the shelters due to a lack of building materials.
July 1948	The Senior Boys School that was on the site in Ditchling Road was replaced by other schools in Brighton. The school was then renamed the Downs School.
1958	The first school canteen for the Downs School was built.
1958	The entrances to the ARP shelters were blocked up.
1974	The Downs Infants School was built on the other side of Ditchling Road, opposite to Florence Road.
1983	Workmen clearing the school drains raise a manhole cover in the top playground and rediscover the shelters.
25 November 1983	'Explored the old air raid shelters rediscovered under the playgrounds.’ Headmaster Mr Morgan wrote in the school log book.
June 1990	The Headmaster of the Downs School, A. J. Morgan writes a brief history of the shelter.
1994	Sheltered Lives book published by Diana Knapp. (Copies are available in the school gift shop).
1990's	Tours were held in the top playground shelter. But it was subsequently closed due to safety fears about the small entrance.
2012	The entrances to shelters in the top playground were widened. Tours conducted for parents and pupils.
2015	Refurbishment of the shelter in the top playground begins.
May 2016	The top playground shelter was opened as 'Take Shelter'.
2017	Sheltered Lives republished.
2020s	Funds were obtained to replace the entrance hatch by a wide flight of steps with handrails to make access easier.
15 April 2023	On Saturday the 15th April 2023, The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Lizzie Dean and the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Andrew Blackman visited the school for the official opening of the more accessible entrance to the WW2 school shelter.