Can anybody ID what this unusual wartime concrete structure was?

Hi everyone. My friend Ed discovered this unusual concrete structure whilst clearing out a friend of the families garden who had passed away a while ago. We are not sure what it was. Some sort of air raid shelter?

I'm posting this message below on behalf of Ed. Any help or ideas would be hugely appreciated. Thanks -


"Can any WWII archaeologists shed some light on this structure please. Until recently, was underneath a rubbish heap. Little bit of background history about the property: The house is in Quorn (England) and was home to a Bomber Command pilot flight Sgt. Peter Dean that died in action (interesting story in there too) Quorn was also home to the US 82nd airborne based here. Just a few hundred yards up the road was a railway yard used to transport ammunition (maybe the walls are particularly thick relating to this) and also Beaumaner Hall, that was involved with code breaking German submarine radio comms. Other Shelters are located nearby for the Railway Station, but the construction of this is much deeper and substantial than anything else in the area. Also, this is in a private residential property. Heater unit, bottles, possible bed structure, radio components stamped Essen and gas lamp (American) all time stamp this as a war era site. The walls go deep underground and the full enormity of the concrete structure is still not fully understood. Probing the ground shows walls or concrete structures going off in different directions, in one case, 10mtrs across the garden. Outside what I assume is the entrance, a flat concrete base is found. Too large and flat to be amateur construction for a shelter. One thing that did pass my mind, could this be barrage balloon anchor point and winch house. Doubtful a gun installation but too big, deep and complex for a family air raid shelter. Any ideas folks?"

interesting, there was builder in Quorn that was building aorraid shelters. www.quornmuseum.com/display.php?id=482. a possibility?

Peter wrote:

From the info I assume the house was built pre war and occupied during the war by the family. This means the structure was built by them, unles the garden was partially requisitioned or extended post war. A few things spring to mind as to its poteential use:

1) A public air raid shelter fro the whole road.
2) A local command bunker (As per Time Team discovery in gardens on Shooters Hill a few years back)
3) A private air raid shelter
4) A post war nuclear bunker.
5) Wine cellar!

You forgot the Covid Isolation Bunker. Some people were very forward thinking.

An interesting structure.

Any idea how old is the house?

Thanks for your replies guys. I've forwarded them onto Ed who replies -

"wow!
That Quorn shelters seems very interesting and makes total sense,…

Definitely fits.
The house was occupied during the war by Flt. Sgt. Peter Dean who died after 59 operational flights over Germany with bomber command. He had a mother, farther and brother who was in the army. A public air raid shelter seems very plausible too, and other people have suggested a command bunker due to the known location of the Home Guard just over the road. Nuclear bunker and wine cellar can be ruled out, as the previous occupants history is know. Little old lady.

The house was built in 1925.

Thank you everyone for your input so far.

Cess pit, pre mains sewerage system?

John wrote:

Cess pit, pre mains sewerage system?

Ed's dug out a few old treasures found buried inside since I last posted. -

......& then yesterday..........a British WW2 4.2" mortar round apparently!!!!!
The street was evacuated & the Police & Army arrived (I've not heard from Ed since )

The usual HE Bomb had a tapered body although there was a parallel side version. Could also be Smoke.

Re Photograph No 4. I see police are looking into it......