In the mid-20th century, the sky above Liverpool became a source of anxiety, as noted by liverpoolyes.com. One of the largest port cities in the United Kingdom, Liverpool, was a strategic target for enemy aircraft. The local authorities were well aware of this, so even before the first bombs fell on the city’s districts, they began building shelters. These structures were meant to give people a chance to survive, but they could not always guarantee safety. How exactly did Liverpool build its defences against air attacks? What were they like?
Liverpool under threat from the sky: why the city needed defensive structures
In the first half of the 20th century, Liverpool was the heart of British trade and shipping. The port received cargo from all over the world, and local factories worked at full capacity – producing ammunition and repairing ships. Such a concentration of production and logistics made the city an extremely valuable target for the enemy. A few accurate strikes on industrial areas or docks could seriously weaken the country’s economy.
Fears of air raids appeared in Britain after the First World War, when the consequences of air attacks on civilian targets were first seen. In the inter-war period, these fears only grew – not least because of the development of bomber aircraft. And although Liverpool initially seemed not very vulnerable due to its location, no one could feel completely safe.
When Europe began preparing for war again, the Liverpool authorities did not fall behind – based on national instructions, they launched a programme to build defensive structures for the civilian population. These included simple metal structures for private gardens, concrete street shelters, and cellars converted into temporary air-raid shelters. This is how the history of air raid shelters in Liverpool began.
How and what was built: types of shelters in the city
As the war approached, Liverpool began to actively deploy a multi-level defence system for civilians. The city combined centralised government programmes with local initiatives to provide maximum cover for its residents. The most common types of structures were: private “Anderson” shelters, communal street shelters, and underground bunkers – each with its own function, design, and degree of reliability.
Private “Anderson” shelters
The so-called Anderson shelters, named after the Home Secretary, began to be built in Liverpool even before the start of the active bombing. They were made of corrugated steel panels that formed a semi-cylindrical arch. They were designed to withstand a blast wave and protect people from debris, although they did not guarantee safety in the event of a direct hit.
These shelters were installed mainly in the backyards or gardens of residential buildings. They were partially buried in the ground and covered with soil for additional reinforcement. The typical capacity was 4–6 people, mostly for one family. The interior was quite cramped: camp beds, blankets, thermoses with tea – everything that could help them spend a night during the bombings.
Today, restored examples of such shelters can be seen in museum exhibitions in Liverpool, including the Maritime Museum and as part of the Spirit of the Blitz exhibition. They help to imagine what life was like during the war nights and the atmosphere of anxious waiting that accompanied the lives of civilians.
Communal and street shelters
For those who did not have a private plot or simply did not have time to get home, street shelters were built in the city. These were concrete or brick structures with a limited capacity – usually for 20–50 people. They were erected in the courtyards of residential buildings, near factories, and along pavements. The simplest models had a rectangular shape with a flat roof, ventilation holes, and entrance hatches or doors.
However, these structures also had their weaknesses. Their open location made them more vulnerable to blast waves, and concrete roofs did not always withstand collapse during powerful explosions. There are documented cases when street shelters in Liverpool were partially destroyed or collapsed due to nearby explosions, leading to civilian casualties.
Underground bunkers and special facilities
A separate category consisted of fortified underground structures that had strategic importance. One of the most interesting examples is the bunker under the historic Littlewoods Pools building. Here, under a thick layer of concrete, dozens of people were hiding, and graffiti: portraits, inscriptions, and symbols still remain on the walls. This space became a unique chronograph of the war – a place where memory literally grew into the concrete.
The most famous military facility in Liverpool was the Western Approaches headquarters, located under the building on Exchange Flags in the city centre. It was a fully-fledged command bunker with an area of over 5,000 m², equipped with telephones, a map of the Atlantic, and rooms for staff. It served as a central hub in the fight against German submarines and remains one of the few fully preserved facilities of its kind in the United Kingdom.
Life underground: how the shelters functioned
Nights in the shelters were a quest – both for survival and for the ability to coexist with strangers. People brought mattresses, blankets, food, and books with them. Children played, adults read or just sat silently, waiting for the rumble to subside. Despite the constant fear, these places became micro-communities where temporary habits and rituals were formed.
A diary kept at the North End Unitarian mission shelter in Liverpool documents the lives of more than a hundred people who came there to spend the night every day. The records mention problems with the smell, the lack of enough blankets, and arguments over places. At the same time, the efforts of the organisers to create at least minimal conditions for order are visible – shifts, collecting donations for tea and soap, etc.
Overcrowding became a particular problem during the intense periods of bombing. Lack of ventilation, cramped conditions, coughing – all this made staying in the shelters additionally exhausting. But at the same time, these circumstances forced people to talk, listen to each other, and share news – the shelters became a platform for informal psychological support.
Dangerous safety: when shelters did not save lives
Not all shelters coped with their main function – to protect. The most terrible tragedy was the strike on the shelter on Durning Road in November 1940. As a result of a direct hit, 166 people died – including women, children, and the elderly. This was one of the largest civilian losses in the United Kingdom during the Blitz.
There were several reasons. Often, shelters were built in a hurry, in violation of instructions or from materials that could not withstand a strong explosion. Some structures did not have adequate depth or wall reinforcement. And street shelters – although they were accessible – did not withstand collapses caused by the blast wave.
After the high-profile tragedies, discontent grew in the city. Newspapers wrote about the irresponsibility of officials, people were afraid to go into the very same shelters where their neighbours had died just yesterday. Trust in the defence system was shaken – many people asked: is it really safe?
What remains and what should not be forgotten
These days in Liverpool, you can still find traces of former shelters – although most of them are hidden under layers of time. Restored facilities, such as the Western Approaches HQ or the bunker under the Littlewoods Pools building, give an idea of the scale of the defensive infrastructure. But even more shelters exist in memories, museum exhibits, and archives that recreate the atmosphere of anxiety, mutual assistance, and resilience.
The history of these structures reminds us of how the city prepared for the worst. It turns out that in the darkest of times, communities are able to mobilise quickly and organise shelters or air-raid shelters. And although today Liverpool is more often remembered as a city of music and theatre (by the way, one of the interesting cultural topics is the musical about Speedo Mick), its military history contains valuable lessons.