Knowle, Bristol - Redcatch Park - air raid shelter

[lizb]

Does anyone know anyhting about the PUblic Air Raid shelter in Redcatch park - used during the air raids in WWII?

[Liz in France]

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

[lizb]

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

[ChasH]

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

[lizb]

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

[Liz in France]

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

[Mary Crane]

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

[lizb]

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

[Mary Crane]

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