Blackpool's Hidden Abandoned WW2 Bunker

Pill boxes are a feature on the Fylde today like the railway bridge defences over the B5124 Devonshire Road Blackpool. Most are located at Squires Gate Airport - Blackpool’s main Airfield since 1909. Originally built for pleasurable flying displays with a race course - part of the attractions in 1911 however it soon became a Military hospital for WW1.
As the advancement of flight became a more common feature for all in the advent of war this naturally took battles far in to the sky. As the signs of conflict loomed the Air Ministry took over operations in 1938.
This resulted in 6 Squadrons inc a Polish Fighter Squadron flying out of Squires Gate. Many fighters were sent to protect Liverpool and hunt for German vessels in the Irish Sea.
The Ministry of Aircraft Production built an aircraft factory during 1939-1940 on the airfield to construct 2,584 Vickers-Armstrong bombers.
Mainly the hexagonal type 22 shape Pillbox around the airport designed for use by the Military or Home Guard riflemen were built to help defend the grounds.
So in this video my quest is to find most of the Pill boxes and defences left on the Fylde cost and tell the story like never before.
Many thanks to Stewart Riley a local history researcher for his valuable details towards the making of this short film.
Song Title: Now The Silence
Music by Juan Sánchez: juansanchezmusic.info/
Nodrog ©️

[@stewriley1183]

A cracking short film getting us out and about looking for relics (can’t be a bad thing), I can see mini series here 👍

[@martindooley4439]

Reminds me of growing up and sneaking under the fence at Blackpool airport to play in pill boxes on the St Anne's side of the airport. Great history Gordon

[@anfieldlad70]

Hiya Nodrog, cracking film yet again - we all can't be wrong! lol - BUT, yes some of the comments I do agree with. I had to turn the volume up at points to catch what you were saying - only to turn it back down again when the sound effects were too loud. Richard Lord's comments about the story board sounds good and it wasn't until I read his remarks that I realised he had a point. Please don't take my comments the wrong way, I am a patreon of yours and want you succeed. Can't wait until you're allowed out to film freely as I think the train operators will have plenty of requests to you for project publicity etc. You will be in demand, mark my words.... cheers for now, Jase.

[@rolioYT]

Excellent Gordon! You deserve a TV slot for productions like this.

[@nodrog]

Thank you buddy 👍

[@Tom-gr6nx]

fantastic video gordon love ww2 and ww1 stuff and dont forget the blackpool air disaster.

[@whiskymacable]

Great to watch and very well put together...Thanks for sharing with us!

[@mtem2253]

Really enjoyed that, well put together and very informative. Cracking stuff!

[@JosephJJolly]

Wow, what an amazing documentary Gordon! I never realised that there was so much history of WW2 connected to Blackpool! 👍👍👍

[@modelflyer]

loved every minute, a lot of information put together very well

[@Sim0nTrains]

This was really brilliant to watch, it did make me wonder an I watching a Nodrog Video because it editing, the voice overs, the music was really amazing indeed. Awesome video Nodrog.

[@AndrewShenton]

Fascinating video, I really liked the production quality on this one.

[@frankfitzgerald5832]

Very interesting we came across the pill box near stanley park with the soldier on the roof during one of our many walks..Thanks Gordon great little video mate...Frank & Lee...

[@cyberdonblue4413]

Loved it but sorry to be a spelling critic - "Lest we forget," (at the end of your film) is how it's spelt.

[@peterrossall9399]

Lived here all my life - and I'm 65 - and I only knew of the pillbox in Salisbury Wood. Thanks Gordon, very very interesting.

[@andrewbrazier1267]

Love that vlog Gordon a little different and very well made and interesting 👍

[@allthingsautomobiles933]

Absolutely fantastic vlog pal on Blackpool outstanding history with World War that not many people will realise. Absolutely fantastic content and brilliantly delivered

[@BigBones-Ste]

Absolutely brilliant film mate really enjoyed it . Stay safe

[@nigelbroster5577]

Brilliant Gordon loved it very educational as I never knew about the pillar boxes I could of lent u some footage of when the British and Canadian lancs were at Blackpool airport

[@joshstransportvideos9810]

amazing video as always!

[@jacobporrett]

Fascinating video Gordon. Didn't know Blackpool and areas were full of history within the war.

[@andymoore9977]

I read something years ago about the tactical use of pill boxes. It seems that in the event of a real attack the door would be closed and that everyone inside would know they had virtually no chance of coming out alive. One can only respect those brave souls who thankfully never had to listen to that door clang shut and the bolts be slid into place for real.

[@wayne.s]

Wow, amazing video, will have to visit there.

[@nodrog]

Have fun!

[@mikedoesexploring9033]

good film, i've been upto something similar myself during lockdown, i have info about air raid shelters/various ww2 structures in blackpool.

[@muskeeta_nautica]

Nicely done. Great use of b-roll too 👍🏻

[@nodrog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@spongebobgrumpypants6862]

Very interesting and informative and extremely well presented, I always look forward to your video's. Just a gentle criticism though - the background music/noise in this case was, at times, a little too loud which made it difficult to hear what you were saying.

[@paulinbispham1588]

class watch, thanks Gordon

[@cherylriley2823]

Brilliant video Gordon, really interesting 👍🙂

[@nodrog]

Glad you think so!

[@warrencrosby2620]

Would be great if the town came together or form a group to maintain those historic sites. Clean out all that trash from the bunkers and point out the importance in history they had.

[@tonygillett6428]

That's Gordon that was Very interesting.

[@normanyates6735]

A really informative film of an area rich with military activity in wartime, including the American contingent, not forgetting the tragedy of the air crash on the school in I think Freckleton,

[@chrisnicholls8636]

Astounding what history is on your door step, I mountain bike past the pill box near the zoo and got some great shots of it. I have been told there's tunnels under the airport from the old Vickers factory it would be interesting to find out if they are still there or were filled in. Keep up the great work Gordon

[@RichardLordRix]

Wow Gordon the production quality of this film [to call it a video does not do it justice] is outstanding. The editing of the transitions and cutaways to include archive material is so polished this can easily be considered to be broadcast quality post-production. Others have suggested that music and effects levels are too loud, and that may be true in a very few circumstances but generally I think you have got the balance [sic] about right. There is always a trade off between the audibility of the narrative and that of dramatic effect, for if the latter is too low it may well not be perceived at all by the listener. It seems churlish to criticise, but may I continue my critique by suggesting one area of improvement. I think the film would have benefited from a more polished script. There does not seem to be a story, a cognitive pathway that links the film together in a progressive journey. I think that could have been improved by a process of story boarding, where you have pre-determined the progression of the phases of the film. In some cases this would merely entail moving segments of the film around, in others you might possibly need to film additional material in order to join up the dots. Please don't take this to heart. The film is a fine piece of work and a credit to your skills and ambition. All I am suggesting is a way for you to augment those skills and finesse the ambition in order to progress your filmmaking career. Kudos sir, bravo! Bring on the next one.

[@seandonno9248]

Really good video. Would love to get into the old Vickers site now and get some pictures, before it changes too much.

[@nodrog]

I’ve asked.... again. Il give you a shout if owt’ happens.

[@seandonno9248]

@@nodrog Thanks buddy. Would really appreciate that :-)

[@SiVlog1989]

I can't remember which year it was, possibly 2010 or something like it, but in a green space in my home town of Sutton, Greater London, the remains of a WW2 air raid shelter was gradually unearthed after nearly 70 years of being buried and forgotten about. For a brief time, it made local headlines. On a similar vain, a resident living on the same street as my family reused an old Anderson Shelter as a garden shed

[@kingfoxjunction2181]

That was a brill video

[@paulpalin9565]

Wow Gordon made me feel so proud well done mate we have many pillorboxes here on the Wirral plus my grandad was a pow he was captured at Dunkirk after a fire fight with the nazis on the way to Dunkirk beach to get rescused which he inspired me to became a trainee pilot in the raf but after 2010 Cameron government us trainee pilots got the push an now I'm a train guard with merseyrail

[@stewriley1183]

Wow, quite a story regards your grandad Paul, was he captive for the duration? My wife’s grandad was evacuated from Dunkirk on a coal barge

[@paulpalin9565]

Yea he was captive for the whole war he did try an escape but again captured least your wife's granddad could fight again

[@stewriley1183]

@@paulpalin9565 yes, he ended up in the desert as a mechanic maintaining Montys caravans a one point

[@paulpalin9565]

Wow with the monty that's incredible mate such history between our family's

[@stewriley1183]

@@paulpalin9565 👍 we’re lucky enough to have scrap book that his wife made from 1939 to 1945. Can’t imagine the terror on Dunkirk though, for your grandad to survive a firefight was a miracle, let alone another 4 years of captivity.

[@wightnoise3577]

Most excellent video, great topic, well put together, but the music was too loud in places and drowned out your commentary. This is the sort of film kids should be shown in the local area, to gain an appreciation of the surviving war time history.

[@japinik]

Big question now though with ww3 not far away what's protection do we have now

[@Jays_Channel]

Wow hats off to you nothing short of amazing work. Only been on the flyde coast for 4 years and never about this, very informative and thought provoking subject, keep up your amazing work and dedication to your videos..

[@AndrewG1989]

Suppose you have heard about the new Bow Street railway station on the Cambrian Line in Ceredigion, West Wales that reopened on the 14th February. Which I think that more new railway stations in Wales could soon be reopened with more people travelling on trains. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Street_railway_station en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrian_Line

[@ianfrench1577]

Hi Nodrog, I don't know if you're aware, but even with volumn up, your commentary is really quiet and hard to hear.

[@bowjana8128]

Where abouts is this

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

One of many positive factors that Battle of Britain occurred at the now named Blackpool Airport was in July 1940. The RAF 303 Squadron was formed there on that date. The Squadron went on to down the most enemy aircraft in the Battle of Britain of any RAF Squadron, quite an achievement considering that they were only allowed to enter the battle on the 31 August 1940 - about halfway through. Those who doubted their ability were shocked when in the first 15mins of combat downed 6 Messerschmitts with out loss. Their story is available on KZbin check kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJu4Z2qBgb5kitk

[@Jimyjames73]

Interesting - shame that the Bunkers are full of rubbish - some one ought to give them a good sweep!!! 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@aspiemedia3280]

Would Gordon be interest in getting a very nice price on real estate yes

[@nodrog]

6X6 shed would be great! :)

[@aspiemedia3280]

I am in a foul mood yes >:(

[@seany84uk]

Is it just me or is his voice mic very low and the music is overpowering his voice? :) Polite note

[@TheMicj38]

Yes the audio balance was way off. Music was drowning everything out

[@aspiemedia3280]

HI

[@nodrog]

Hello dear boy. And how are you on this fine sunny day.

[@aspiemedia3280]

Gordon hi

[@nodrog]

👀

[@aspiemedia3280]

Guess what

[@nodrog]

What 🦻🏻

[@user-lc7el8mo1q]

9 мая день Великой Победы над нацизмом ! Не забывайте !