Consol Portable Shelters

this isn't a consol however it is claimed to be an air raid shelter in the stanton ironworks archive - I'm no so convinced - does anyone have an opinion to offer on alternative uses ?

www.picturethepast.org.uk/frontend.php?k...action=zoom&id=26794

I have not seen one of those before.

The door appears to hinge on the left and would suit a southpaw running to take cover but climbing in doesn't look to be easy. Well protected with the thick segment construction but I wonder if it is rolled steel plate and not cast iron. The rotary ventilator in the door is a weak point and there should be another vent somewhere.Perhaps the circumferential gap under the roof cap. No lifting lugs visible

I think the suggestion is that is where the door goes - I am more inclined to think it's been mislabelled. I hadn't considered the implcations of cast iron, you'd end up contributing to the bomb fragments rather than being saved from them. I can find no other mention of one man shelters associated with Stanton so I remain to be convinced it's not an industrial component, there is a slim chance it could be a prototype I guess.

I believe that people miss the point of these shelters .
The most important aspect would be the psychological effect engendered on the occupant .
If he/she has been told it's splinter proof , they would be much happier doing their job of firewatching , and certainly , the size and shape of the thing would give quite good protection .
The occupant would certainly have been happier than if they were standing in the open .
Given the apparent thickness and shape , I would doubt that an aircraft's .303 shell would penetrate from the range at which it may be fired .
I would rather stand in one than out in the open with bombs , shrapnel , splinters , flying bricks and so on , flying around my ears .
One of my Dad's blokes at Wilmot Breeden got hit on the shoulder by an incendiary ; I bet he'd have been glad of one , as it was he didn't get chance to complain .

jet

One at IWM London that I saw recently

Richard wrote:

One at IWM London that I saw recently

RMARG have one at RAF Welford.

I understand it was "rescued" from the roof of a WW2 shadow factory in Tubney Woods, Oxford.

I think Duxford have one as well