Anderson Shelter Restoration Project

In February 2011, Elburton Primary School in Plymouth, acquired a wartime Anderson shelter from a local resident. By June, 300+ hours later, the shelter was restored and installed in the school's 1940s themed garden in order to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Plymouth Blitz, and to educate the children about life on the Home Front during the second world war. This video documents the restoration process from the initial collection of the shelter, to its eventual installation in the ground. It is hoped that the Anderson shelter will survive for many years to come, and provide the children at Elburton with a stimulating learning resource, giving them first-hand experience of what residents went through during the air raids that destroyed the City of Plymouth during WWII.
Please visit our 'Dig for Victory' garden Blog to find out more:
1940s-dig-4-victory-garden.blo...

[@grubblesnert]

I was impressed with the metal work. Blending the patch panel areas and the smooth appearance of the area after the final finish. I know from experience that to acheive this level of perfection is not easy. My regards to you fabricator/welder/finisher(s). This piece of history will prove a priceless visual a tactile aid in teaching the kiddos about their heritage and history. BRAVO!

[@97WarriorGrad]

It is hard to explain why -- and maybe I shouldn't even attempt to -- but this film made tears well up in my eyes. If there ever was a more poignant example of bringing history to life, this short film fits the bill. Job well done!

[@williamanthony25]

if one sits and reflects about the fear and the tremendous amount of bravery that families must have experienced and displayed, i can see how tears of sorrow and pride and respect could show. War is a terrible reality that most of us non military ever truly comprehend. May those who have perished in the name of war, rest in peace.

[@vwthings]

Fantastic! Not the easiest thing to restore. Had one in my back garden in the 70s. We did what we could in this country to help reduce loss of life. I hope the children had a flavour of what life was like back then.

[@ThirdDegreeWitchExplores]

Simply....SUPERB,Great reminder of Britains resolve and fortitude in some very dark days.

[@Nelg230]

Great job. In the last year I've found and been given various Anderson shelter panels and there are many people wanting panels for shelters or sheds. They were an important piece of our history and should be preserved for education. And they weren't built to defend the occupants from a direct hit!

[@AmazingMrWonderful]

I can't imagine what it must've been like to go through the Blitz. I salute their bravery and I am proud to have them as allies in the fight for freedom and justice. America and Great Britain together and forever free!

[@your-a-tubelies-fake-false8764]

remember loads of people having an Anderson shelter in the back garden in the 1960s, used for garden sheds, some buried and grass growing on top of them, part of our not to far back history,

[@covingtonrace1]

I told my family I was building a bunker in case WW3 happens, my family said "your crazy" and left the room but my 103 year old grandmother did not think the same, i sat down next to her and asked her "why she did not think i was crazy" she said "my child, if WW3 does happen I hope that there will be room in your shelter for me" I replied "of course there will be room for you grandmother, why do you ask" gran said "the only reason your sat here now is because there was room in the first two"

[@Pippip3030]

thank you for sharing a wonderful piece of history

[@uncledodge9396]

My daughter is moving into an old Victorian house shortly that still has an Anderson shelter in the back yard so our plan is to restore it to original condition, and by doing so the grand kids have a place to play and hopefully they will learn something about how people lived during WW2.

[@houseoffire72]

Watched this vid twice now... This would make an affordable bug out shelter for people with basic skills... Great job on the restoration!!!

[@michaelthomas3105]

Nice video. There's a photo in one of my Civil Defence magazines of people emerging from their Anderson shelter looking unscathed, although their house in the background was totally blast damaged with walls blown away. Andersons certainly offered some protection & saved lives .

[@djpuffthethird]

Great video , thanks for the upload . The other day I pulled the Top centre piece from above the entrance , out of a local river near me. If that wasn't good enough I also heaved out with my fork a 6lb British ( brass ) shell case from an Anti Tank artillery field gun stamped 1942

[@christeler1337]

Go away, you just commented that so you could promote your shitty channel.

[@stealthplaysmc]

Chris Teler why don't you shut up with your shitty channel

[@christeler1337]

StealthPlayz but I'm not promoting shit

[@outdooroscar5693]

How is he promoting his channel?

[@tonyatbiggin]

Wonderful video and well done in constructing your Anderson Shelter. There is a similar project about to happen in Kent (an intact shelter dug up and going to be re-built). I shall be posting updates and photos on my website.

[@MollieandWendysWorld]

I loved this.I am making my husband build me one of these, complete with vegie patch on the roof! Beautiful video, well done!

[@Tiglets65]

I remember the anderson shelter in my grandparents back garden in Liverpool. They developed it into a sunken patio with bench seating around the sides.

[@maestro66uk]

Fantastic! When I was a kid, our next door elderly neighbour had one of these at the bottom of his garden. He let us use it as a "den". We cleaned it up and painted it and got the doors oiled and working again.

[@777LMA]

Love the music with this - pensive and goes along with a serious subject.

[@DadianSystemsLLC]

Thank you for posting this. I enjoyed seeing the history and the effort required to restore and maintain this shelter.

[@stugriggs]

@PhantomOfPanton Do you mean 'how long could it last in wartime'? They were never designed to take a direct hit, but rather deflect flying debris from houses that had been bombed during an air raid. Many families took shelter in Andersons during raids, and many families lives were saved as a result. As for now; I hope our restored shelter will last for many years and act as an interesting learning resource for the future! :)

[@NeillWylie]

excellent video and learning tool for the kids. Fantastic work!

[@legion3721]

The music is beautiful it brought a tear to my eye. Thank you

[@jackpinesavage1628]

Years ago, I helped a friend of mine build a barn at his farm in Whittemore, Michigan, here in the States, using similar materials. May God bless the men and women from the land of my fathers in England.

[@Livautowerx]

Brilliant! There is/was an Anderson shelter beneath our back yard. If i thought for a second it hadn't rotted to nothing i'd have a spade out now digging down to it.

[@grahammcmillan8880]

+davehayes2204 might be some valuable or interesting items down there. Get the spade out lol

[@Tel321]

Thank you Stugriggs, this was a piece of history I was not at all aware of. They say everyday you learn something new, today it was about Anderson shelters. Thanks again.

[@EastTNSurvivalist]

October Sky was amazing. My dad actually had a role as one of the miners. Parts of it were shot pretty close to where I live..

[@applecounty]

My paternal grandparents had one of these in their back garden, it was still there when my grandmother passed away in 1989, at least bits of it were. I believe there were different domestic air raid shelters, the Anderson being one of them, perhaps the most common.

[@jjh9355]

That is a beautiful piece of history that should not be forgotten. It, like others have said, made me a little sad. To see the faces of some in the old clips made me shudder to think of my children doing the same.

[@Saavik256]

A beautiful project. Thank you a million times for sharing.

[@marytica123]

Actually, this video inspired me to build my own disaster shelter ! Instead of corrugated metal, I was able to locate a large (5 ft. inner diameter) concrete conduit pipe from an abandoned construction yard. At 10 ft. long, it is adequate for 2 people seeking refuge from fire, nuclear attack, etc. Mind you, NOT large enough for long-term living, due to lack of plumbing for toilet and water supply. Hardest jobs were moving it and burying it. Sealed ends with bricks; metal door at front with vent.

[@lucil52]

Best History Lesson Ever! Kudos!

[@Voidfinest]

I rember being in his class back in the day i do miss elburton was and will be a awsome school

[@spitharoo]

My nan had one of these in her back garden right up until the mid 1980s. That's when she died. I don't expect it's there now. It was used as a shed.

[@TheOTGGirl]

Very well done. Thanks to all involved!

[@MrIanmmackay]

Absolutely Brilliant - Wonderful choice music too, very fitting!

[@altha2008]

Nice work. Will still make a good bug out shelter. usually do not comment on the music unless it is bad, but this music was good

[@scdevon]

I'm a 48 year old American. I've never seen one of these shelters. They are a very good simple design that would have been easy to assemble in an emergency situation. It must have been terrible during the war in Europe.

[@stugriggs]

Thank you! The music is from a film called 'October Sky' which tells the story of Homer Hickam Jr., who grew up in a small mining town in the States but developed a passion for rockets and space flight - he began building model rockets and ended up working for NASA and training space shuttle astronauts. A really inspirational tale. . .

[@lastpatriot4America]

Yes history is important. Good job.

[@stugriggs]

@TheRiverkayaker There are news articles from the time that suggest different ways of dealing with damp/flooding problems. The most common way would be to dig a 'soak away' under the floor of the shelter, filled with small stones, pebbles etc. In the event that the shelter became flooded, the water would hopefully drain away more quickly. Some shelters were lined with concrete, whereas others were simply lined with wooded slats to keep the bedding etc off the floor.

[@chuckbyf1]

I guess I grew up in the best of times. No air raids. Secure in a small town in America. Riding my bike around the country side. Safe, secure, and happy. Insulated from war. Time to pay the piper now.

[@ThePyrogenica]

Very nicely done

[@stugriggs]

@FriPilot Thanks for your kind comments! The end panels are longer for a couple of reasons. Firstly, to deflect flying debris away from the roof panels (sometimes these shelters weren't 'dug in', and were therefore more exposed) and secondly to help seal the join between the side and front/rear panels. The pieces are just a push together fit, so the difference in size allows sandbags to be placed around the join before the soil goes over the top; this also stops it leaking soil too! :)

[@GypsyHunter232UK]

My gran still uses her Anderson shelter as a potting shed and most of my uncles and aunts wer conceived in it ..

[@stugriggs]

@EastTNSurvivalist Wow - really? A fantastic claim to fame!! I will never grow tired of October Sky - a wonderful story.

[@TheGrayfrog100]

I had a dream about having an Anderson Shelter in my garden, did a google found this Video, its brilliant, my project for mext summer is to build one in the garden. Inspiring Video.

[@Richardproctor]

wonderful job done

[@gusthemuss]

I really enjoyed watching the slideshow and the music was a nice fit...thanks for sharing this little piece of recent history with us it was great seeing it all come together :)

[@huskierider1]

Wow! Thanks for this very interesting piece of history.

[@stugriggs]

@FtWin100 Yeah; evidence - first hand and from photos studied - would suggest so! Many families owe their lives to shelters like this. They were never designed to take a direct hit, but would protect sheltering families from flying debris during air raids.

[@katsongs]

@stugriggs I agree, the film is so nostalgic, and that beautiful music...we have lost so much nowadays haven't we...heartwise?

[@haunted1ap2608]

Very disturbing. I found this making me feel a sadness I seldom feel. I know every one had it rough during the wars. That every one had to sacrifice things to keep things going. These bomb shelters in the wake of todays technology werent much to keep a person from being bombed out of existance. The music and the theme of what you are doing by showing what things then were like was right for the time and theme. I would love to see the finished decked out shelter. History isnt so boring.

[@tylergonzales4842]

thanks for sharing that. that was actually really touching. hope all is well!

[@ShotgunRumble]

amazing music and amazing restoration, you kick ass and everyone who sees this comment you rock as well!!! this video made my day!!!!

[@mrbetta4496]

@memberofthetribe1 Yes they did the shelters protected them if a bimb fell directly onto them maybe not though but they helped a lot coz there is a picture in Google images. It shows a great big amount of rubble with a shelter just standing there.

[@justgivemethetruth]

very powerful piece of music … what is that? we need this kind of spirit for the whole world these days. i wonder if we've learned anything over time.

[@phoebegraveyard7225]

An excellent restoration. Though not bomb worthy anymore it is a fascinating rebuild. I can’t imagine spending hours and hours in such a small space. Still, better than being injured in the blitz.

[@ChrisLee-UK]

Outstanding workmanship, really enjoyed the video. Such a fantastic project. Well done :D

[@dontevercomehere]

simply WOW you did good

[@davidfrobel7582]

good vidio,,i remember going to my grandmars house in the 60s as a kid,,she still had her shelter there full of chickans,,she said my farther would stay out side and watch the plains fighting,,,in ww2

[@robbiemcc4355]

Fabulous work ✌️

[@Tunerguy23]

very cool liked this alot the music went with it very well...

[@CPProductions2022]

I had to watch october sky after hearing the music from this, and what a great film!!

[@applepiebetty]

Continued: I would think it has to leak water do to the basically "basin like feature" made at the entrance unless a drain is put in below the dirt table. With todays weapons not much chance anything will save you, but your God. Your choice of music was very apropo. All well executed. Thank you for the insight.

[@Shakingstevesallotment]

I have one in my back garden, its now used as a ferret court/shelter, with added outside run

[@mrflashs22]

the complete Restoration of the great Anderson Shelter means alot to me a a british person god save those how put up the shelters god save the queen !!

[@phoenixj1985]

although i initially thought would of better of just replacing the highly corroded sheets, the finish is clean and seamless as far as i can tell, so good job and great that children get to use it as an educational resource (and a den for playing armies, if children are still allowed to play armies this these days)

[@gf1001]

Such an interesting film, thanks for sharing.

[@marcibb3167]

Very interesting thanks for posting this

[@samkelly8322]

I love your videos mr Griggs

[@julianodammsurvivor]

Muito interessante, um belo projeto. Abraço !!

[@huntnpb]

@hpmacmurray It was never meant to survive a direct hit by any means, the whole purpose was to shield one from flying debris and to get them out of buildings - prime targets that were quickly reduced to the shells many times throughout WWII

[@DietrichKaiserfs]

Excellent choice for background music.

[@oppswellthatdiddntgotowell1660]

35 people more than likely wouldn't be around if their Great Grand parents had, had the same ideal's and 6 people should learn how to use and view a KZbin video! Fantastic job to all those involved in the restoration.

[@IKS-Exploration]

nice video! many thanks :)

[@dailygamingvideod8349]

yea man its a NISE video

[@Osakaenterprisellc]

wow it was super kool... very beautiful video....

[@MemorialRifleRange]

I think it may have been wise to look for a few better condition panels to replace the worst of them. But i do applaud the effort, as well as the history lesson being brought to life.

[@7dave2ful]

Close to corbett school, baschurch, shropshire. Bits of an old anderson shelter were reused at ground-level to make a farmers hay store. Eyton lane / kings road north. Lost amongst the brambles and hawthornes. But look hard and its still falling to bits waiting for the scrapman to come.

[@THEACESCOLONEL]

... very Very VERY nice job

[@astrialkil]

To end the swimming pool in my fall shelter problem , try a french drain about 2 meters deep back filled with gravel. To keep shelter from rusting out get some white latex roofing compound, it stays flexible for 25 years.

[@chlo6004]

I am lerning about this It is AMAZING

[@Peter-lm3ic]

These film clips are early in the war as I recall the Anderson shelter at the time of the doodle bug V1 they were fitted with a concrete blast wall in front of the open door way.

[@scottpd1404]

Nice to history restored.

[@sicks6six]

Used to have one in back garden. Played in it as a kid. Not much room in them THREE people and it's ONE to many !

[@Neddyfram]

Upgrade it and expand it into a fallout shelter for the school.

[@raysykes6725]

Used a number of these as pig pens in the 1980's farming on Dartmoor.

[@ZephaGaming]

dude, i go elburton and thats how i got to this vid lol! didnt no they had my schools anderson shelter on utube!

[@stugriggs]

@cheeseandpineappl100 Hey - glad you checked out the film too! It's one of my favourites - a simple story, but has a real heart. I love the last scenes especially :')

[@thornwarbler]

Great bit of work that ....Very well done. What piece of music is playing throughout? Its beautiful. Back here 4 years later just to say i now have a shelter of my own 😁😁

[@hafezeku]

nice video dude,,good job!!

[@SuperDeltaRomeo]

Great job,really good vid

[@sgtpepper1138]

@EastTNSurvivalist LOVE that movie, highly underrated.

[@duprebs]

fantastic video! It was most interesting to watch. In a week or so, I'm going to rescue an Anderson of my own, that is pretty much complete with a few holes, but mainly surface rust. I would like to get in touch if possible to ask some questions regarding the restoration, paints used and filling holes etc. I look forward to hearing from you.

[@manuelsantos7273]

felicitaciones, eso es pensar en la familia,mañana no se sabe...

[@NicholasAarons]

Fantastic :D

[@joshman501]

Cool, but I hope you caulked the shelter so no water leaks in, and I hope you add a door. Don't let it flood, and don't let water get inside or else it will rust, and mold will form. Great video though! Hopefully this shelter stays in good condition!

[@IceInMySnowCone]

Brilliant. :)

[@wildairsoft1]

very good video thank you :)

[@saxonman2]

very good