The Estate - Bevendean History Project
ARP shelters at Moulsecombe Schools and the Church
In June and July 1939, before
War had been declared plans were drawn up for Air Raid Shelters to be
constructed for all the Brighton Schools. World War 2 started on the 1st September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland.
Map showing the location of the ARP Trench Shelters built at the Moulsecombe Schools.
Map showing the location of the ARP Trench Shelters built at the Moulsecombe Schools.
Here are the plans for the ARP Trench shelters built at the Moulsecombe Primary and Secondary Schools.
These plans are for
Moulsecoomb Junior Mixed to accommodate 560 children and
Moulscoomb Infants to accommodate 500 children. They were built
into the bank on the school field below the school buildings.
These are the plans for
Moulsecoomb Senior Boys School designed to provide accommodation for
350 children sitting on benches fixed to the side walls.
Duck boarding was fitted over the floor in case of water getting into the shelters.
Duck boarding was fitted over the floor in case of water getting into the shelters.
Site plan for an Air Raid
Shelter in the basement of St Andrews Church at Hillside. Many
buildings used by the public were provided with ARP Shelters.
This more detailed plan was to strengthen the roof of the basement and create emergency exits at the far end of the rooms where there were already windows.
Interior view of one of the two ARP shelters in the basement of St Andrews Church. The opening bricked up at the far end is where the emergency exits were made. Photograph taken in June 2019.
This more detailed plan was to strengthen the roof of the basement and create emergency exits at the far end of the rooms where there were already windows.
Interior view of one of the two ARP shelters in the basement of St Andrews Church. The opening bricked up at the far end is where the emergency exits were made. Photograph taken in June 2019.
Other air raid shelters in Moulsecombe.
The Downs Junior School in Ditchling Road still has an ARP Shelter under the playground which is open to the public a couple of times a year.
