Sittingbourne Air Raid Shelter

Beneath a quiet green space in Sittingbourne lie four individual air raid shelters, each one built separately and set into the earth during a time of uncertainty and danger. These shelters were designed to offer safety to the local population during air raids, with each capable of holding around fifty people. Their solid construction and separation from one another reflect the serious planning that went into civil defence during the war years.

Originally, access to the shelters would have been directly from the road, allowing quick entry in the event of an attack. The location was carefully chosen to be both central and slightly hidden, providing a balance between accessibility and discretion. While the grass now appears undisturbed, the ground still holds the remains of a space that once offered critical protection to the people living nearby.

Today, the entrances are blocked and no longer in use, but the shelters remain underground, preserved in silence. Though unseen, they serve as a quiet reminder of the resilience of the local community and the measures taken to protect lives during one of history’s most turbulent times. This peaceful area now stands as both a public space and a link to Sittingbourne’s wartime past.