RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Gloucestershire => Topic started by: lizb on Thursday 19 November 09 13:56 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone know anyhting about the PUblic Air Raid shelter in Redcatch park - used during the air raids in WWII?
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Hi Liz,
I don't remember the air raid shelter in Redcatch Park but I do remember the ones in Perretts Park. I spent a lot of time playing around those as a small child and a bit more when I was older as they provided a windbreak and a good place for a crafty smoke.
They were open with barred gates and they smelt terrible but I think they were bricked up later on. I don't know if they are still there, I shouldn't imagine so.
Elizabeth
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Hi LIz
I grew up near Redcatch Park. That was where we used to sneak off on the way home from school.
There was no shelter then so I think it was filled in soon after the war.
MY interest is because my grandparents and greatgrandparents used it during the war.
Another LIz from Bristol
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Elizabeth,
There's a bit about the park to be found with Google but nothing to help you.
The main purpose of air raid shelters was to protect people from tons of shrapnel from AA shells and falling masonry so any shelter in a park away from houses are most likely to have been used mostly by AA gunners (if any) for a brew up and/or air raid wardens/HG. I doubt if there was any falling masonry in a park.
Gloucester itself was fortunate that the Luftwaffe did not realise the strategic importance of the city's inland port and rail junction facilities for few bombs were dropped there - by aircraft returning from the central midlands I dare say. The smell of unused air raid shelters along many roads lingers still in my memory; e.g. Victoria Road and even in an isolated sports field not far from the newly built but unfinished Crypt school at Podsmead.
Regards
Chas
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This area of Bristol was bombed a lot in the war. It is quite near Bristol airport and the docks - and of course there where the engine and aircraft factories in north Bristol. My family talked about the raids and people who were killed.
A lot of people had garden shelters but my grandparents used the public one. I remember some of the shelters from when I was young - for instance the one at my school. I wonder if we would manage to get so many built in such a short time nowadays.
I have been following up the BLitz in Bristol and am amazed at the devastation. For instance Mardons. the company my great grandfather worked for, had nine factories burnt down.
Does anyone remeber the raids or the HOme guard (my grandfather was a member) in KNowle? I am interested in any stories that help me understand my families life there then
Liz
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Hi Liz,
I too used to hang out around Redcatch Park area and would sometimes wander through on the way home from school. I went to Merrywood. I used the library a lot though as it was the only one close to where I lived.
I think the Perretts Park shelters were used a lot though at least up until a bomb dropped in the park not far from one of the shelters. It must have put a lot of people off going there. It was great for us kids though after the war as it was fantastic for tobogganing. The park is on quite a steep slope and we used to get at the top. push off and go down through the crater leaving the ground as we exited the hollow. I was quite young then and a bit timid but we do have a bit of movie film showing me do that. I look scared to death.
We also had another bomb drop at the bottom of our road on St John's Lane so I think it must have been very frightening for the people living there. I was too young to know, fortunately, of the terror as we were squashed into a neighbours corrugated shelter.
Somewhere I have a photo of King George and Queen Elizabeth visiting a bombed site in Bristol. If I can find it I will pass it on to you if you like.
Such memories.
Regards,
Elizabeth
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One entrance to Redcatch Park was on Broad Walk and there was a brick shelter just opposite the shops on Broad Walk and by the bus stop. There was a fish and chip shop where we would get chips after going to the Gaiety Cinema.
I also went to the library - my sister in law is now librarian there but it has moved into the shopping precinct.
Mary
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My grandparents lived in Brooadwalk and then Redcatch Road. My greatgrandparents lived in SOmerset Road.
The library was very important to me when I was young. I used to go there several times a week to change my books. I remember it clearly.
There have obviously been some changes in the area since I last visited - about 20 years ago.
lizb
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It's amazing that so many people have these memories of Redcatch Park. My cousin met her future husband there - and I must admit to having had my first kiss there!!!!
Happy Christmas everyone
Mary
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Other memories - I went to KNowle Park junior school - as did my father before me. There was an annex in the road opposite the entrance to the park in Broad Walk. Also what was originally the COngregation Church Sunday School in Broad Walk. And wasn't the local swimming pool nearby - we went there from school - I hated that!
My father, grandfather and great grandfather were all stalwart members of Kmowle Park Bowls Club which met in Redcatch Park. I have been trying to find out more information about their time at this club and what has happened to it since. I don't suppose any Rootschat members can help me here?
lizb
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It was the Jubilee Swimming Baths which were more or less at the top of Talbot Hill (I think it was called) - the very steep hill that led from Knowle down to Brislington. I too used to go to swimming there.
A couple of names from Broad Walk - Millington and Wilkinson. Don't know if they ring a bell
Mary
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I was told that there was an air raid shelter on the triangle of grass at the junction of Wedmore Vale and Marksbury Road.
I grew up in Bath, but worked in Jubilee Hall, Wedmore Vale, Bristol in 1993-1994. So picked up information from local people whilst waiting at the bus stop.
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I have just found this post I started some time ago and thought I would revisit. Since then I have visited Redcatch Park.
I was HORRIFIED to find that the very popular Bowls Club which three generations of my family were members of - and was always very well used - no longer exists. Instead the bowling green has been turned into a croquet lawn! Apparantly this is a "more inclusive" sport. I disagree.
When I last saw it - in the late 1980s - the bowling green was heavily used - users had to book ahead - so would be about 40 people using all day every day. And there is no reason to think this would have changed - the bowling green near where I live now is certainly very popular. On the other hand, when I saw the croquet lawn it was deserted!
Even worse is the result of my attempts to discover what has happened to the Bowls clubs records and artefacts. I made email contact with a gentleman who was for a while a contact for the old club. He admitted that he held all the old cups and would get back to me if he could find out anything. Since then, nothing......
I asked what had happened to all the old honours boards - up to 90 years of recorded history - including information I would love to have retrieved about my family. Apparantly they were put into a skip.
I dont think I can write any more
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That is such a dreadful story. I cannot imagine why people would just throw out such valuable historical information and you are right, I am sure bowls is much more popular than croquet and actually more 'inclusive' - both men and women, young and not so young play it these days.
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I have just joined Roots because of your question. My father was in the Home Guard in Knowle, defending Whitchurch Airport. I have had a long poem abut the home guard at Knowle on line for a few years and I'm trying to update it. I'd like a photo of the 10th Battalion headquarters on Redcatch Parade and wondered if you knew of any.
The other matter, I have a photo and several league tables of shooting comepetions so if you can tell me the name of your family mebers in the HG I may be able to give you info. If you google "Barrington Fox hengrove poems" the long poem will appear. The home guard poems are somewhere in the middle.
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Pleased to read your post. t some point I have already found your poem about guarding Whitchurch airport but not the others or background to poem. It helped me get a sense of time.
it is good you talked to your father. I wish I had talked to my father or grandfather about it when they were alive. I grew up in area and remember the last effects of bomb craters etc but no one talked about the war. And things are forgotten so quickly. I talked to my aunt before she died but she was very vague about what her father and brother did.
Their names were Ernest Bishop and John Bishop. John was only involved briefly before he was called up. They lived in Knowle and Their unit was based near REdatch Park. That is all I have been able to establish.
I do have some photos of the area in war years and will see if I can find any of HQ. I have found it difficult following up home guard records. If I knew of any specific resource at a records office or in a newspaper I might be able to follow it up.
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Thanks for the reply. I've checked the names I have but I can't find a Bishop, I'm afraid - although the name seems very familiar. When I redo my big poem I have shooting scores and a photo of the shooting team to put in. There may by names you recognize.
I agree, it would be good to get Home Guard records. If you find source will you let me know. And if you have photos of wartime Knowle I'd be glad to see them
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If you send me your email address in a PM (personal message) using Rootschat link I will send pictures of wartime Knowle.
let me know if you remember or if d references to Bishop family in Knowle. My great grandfather and two brothers moved to the area circa 1910 and they all had sons and grandsons so it is possible they might be part of my family.