‘We found an air raid shelter under a flowerbed’

Workmen said they were amazed after uncovering a World War Two air raid shelter under a flowerbed at a house in Derbyshire.

Builders were widening a driveway in High Lane, Simmondley, near Glossop, when they struck an unexpected concrete object.

Karl Dixon, from Peak Paving, said they “had no idea” what it was when a bit of concrete “vanished into the ground”.

The property’s owners, David and Janine McKown, have placed a time capsule in the shelter before filling it back in to carry on with their renovations.

Mr Dixon said they were carrying out standard work when they made the unexpected discovery.

“I thought it could be an old springwater shaft but then we kept digging and found a big hole about 10ft (3m) by 3ft (0.9m),” he said.

“We worked out it was a World War Two air raid shelter that the people who live there never knew existed.

“We went in and had a good look around and found it was a concrete top and sides, supported by old doors and Singer sewing machine parts, as they would have been short of steel at that time.

“We’ve never found anything like that before, and I love my history, so I was really pleased.”

Mr McKown said he was in the garden with his wife when they were alerted to the “surprising” find.

“The flowerbed has always been really high, but we never realised that something like that was the reason,” he said.

The McKowns have since had the ground filled back in while they carry on with their planned renovations, but they placed a time capsule featuring a copy of the Glossop Chronicle newspaper documenting the discovery.

“We thought that would be a nice thing to do, just in case someone in 50-60 years wants to dig up the drive,” said Mr McKown.

“Although, we are hoping the work which we’re now doing will last another 100.”