Entrance to Trenches Harrison Park / West Bryson Road

Category

Library Item

Item no

7447

Title

Entrance to trenches Harrison Park / West Bryson Road

Description

A group of smiling schoolchildren are standing in the underground entrance to an air raid shelter. The shelter is unfinished and has bare earth on top. The doorway has been constructed from timber and corrugated metal.

Artist / maker

Bain, L. P.

Date

1938

Size

8.8 x 10.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Item is dated 9th September 1938.
Harrison Park long trench was 125 yards long and one of many air raid shelters built for the public throughout Edinburgh.
To protect people from the bombing 30,000 public and 110,000 private air raid shelters were built. These were known as Anderson shelters and were built almost underground - six feet down and covered with earth and grass. Some people grew vegetables on the top. Because they were underground many would fill up with water making them damp, cold, smelly places to be. Children often had the job of checking the shelters and bailing the water out.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

Clothing and dress > Garments > Skirts

Clothing and dress > Garments > Suits

Clothing and dress > Garments > Trousers

Events > Disturbances > Conflicts

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

People > Military activities > Civil defence

Places > Edinburgh areas > Shandon

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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