Simon Marks, a 37-year-old man, had an unsettling experience when he thought he had driven onto a flowerbed and got his car stuck in a hole. Initially frustrated by the damage to his car, Simon was shocked when strange noises began emanating from under the driveway. As he knelt down to investigate, the ground started cracking, revealing an eerie sight. The dirt beneath him easily gave way, exposing a metal object hidden below the surface.
Simon tried to uncover the object by hand but couldn’t pull it out. He called for help, and his father arrived to assist him. Together, they dug through buckets of dense mud until they uncovered an opening. They climbed down a rusty ladder into the hole, where they discovered something unexpected: an old air raid shelter. This type of shelter was built during World War II as part of a strategy designed by Sir John Anderson to protect citizens from bombings.
Simon later learned that the shelter had likely been covered up when the house was built. The previous owner must have known about the shelter and chose to fill it in, creating the driveway above it. After further investigation, Simon found out the shelter had been constructed during WWII, and one of its walls appeared to have been bricked up to accommodate the house’s foundation. Despite the uncertainty of what lay beyond that bricked-up wall, Simon was determined to preserve this historical discovery.
Simon and his father plan to restore the shelter, with hopes of turning it into a historical monument. They believe that although the war is long over, the period should not be forgotten. Their goal is to create a space where people can visit and get a glimpse into this chapter of history.
This story highlights an incredible discovery that connects the past with the present, offering a tangible link to the hardships and resilience of wartime life.
