[DFCskip]

Evening all,

I’ve just joined this excellent forum whilst googling for some information on greenhouse heat sinks. Anyway, I’m currently renovating my back garden and in the process came across a reinforced concrete WW2 air raid shelter. It was built completely below ground level and still has the stepped access. It’s 7’x 7’ with a headroom of 6’6”. I want to bring it back into use and would be interested to hear some suggestions from anyone on how best to utilise this within my garden. I’ve read a bit about root cellars but open to any ideas whether it be storage of preserves, home made wine / beer.

The missus is a little concerned I’ve become distracted with the find rather than getting on with sorting the rest of the garden out so need some quality ideas that will put here mind at rest, please 😁

I’ve attached some photos

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the forums and wow, what a find in your garden! I can see why you might get a little excited by it.

One of the problems with such a type of underground storage is keeping it dry and any rainwater run-off out of it.  Will that be possible with your shelter, do you think?  The amount of damp, and whether there is air circulation, might place restrictions on its usage.

[mumofstig]

It's amazing what some people find, all |'ve ever found is an old rusty bike and some horse shoes - plus the usual pet's bones and old tools that someone lost in the past
If it stays dry I'd just use it as my garden shed/wine cellar 

[Aunt Sally]

Mushrooms and forced rhubarb comes to my mind.

[Plot 1 Problems]

All I see is an epic man cave

[DFCskip]

Welcome to the forums and wow, what a find in your garden! I can see why you might get a little excited by it.

One of the problems with such a type of underground storage is keeping it dry and any rainwater run-off out of it.  Will that be possible with your shelter, do you think?  The amount of damp, and whether there is air circulation, might place restrictions on its usage.

Thanks, Yorkie. It looks like the shelter steps were fully covered until it was reduced to ground level and I’m planning to re-cover them again but not so it’s too imposing in the garden. There is a vent at the top of the shelter but not sure if that would allow sufficient air circulation depending on its eventual use.

The walls were all in good nick when I got into the main shelter after being closed up for probably 60-70 years.

I’ll be running power back in which will give me some other options.

[Timothy Pickering]

All I see is an epic man cave

I concur!

I would sort out the ventilation and restore it, popping some 40's themed decor in there. Amazing piece of history, that.