Air raid shelter to des res
Last updated: 13 March 2008
Ruth & Garry Smith bought a house in Bagillt, Flintshire, complete with an air raid shelter which they have since renovated.
My husband and I bought a bungalow in Bagillt in 2000. We had both retired from the Royal Navy/Wrens and were resettling in North Wales. The air raid shelter is situated immediately next to the bungalow and is on our property. Nothing had been done inside the shelter when we took it on and it was split into four small rooms which were used for bunk beds and a passageway with four small recesses which were used as toilets and for washing. There was no electricity or water supply, no windows and a reinforced concrete roof.
We decided to convert it into extra accommodation and it now has a master bedroom, a lounge and bathroom. My husband did most of the renovation himself. The Home Office have given permission for the air raid shelter to be demolished at any time at our expense but we are really glad that we have preserved something of the local history of Bagillt.