The Dodge Hill shelter in Heaton Norris had a capacity for around 2,000 people.Inside the tunnels there’s enough room to comfortably stand, the passages are around seven feet in height and width. Dodge Hill is the smallest of the deep level shelters in the area with a capacity for around 2,000 people and it sits directly above the Tivot Dale Rail tunnel.
The majority of the tunnels are lined with three tier bunk beds, some of which are galvanized and still look in good condition whereas a handful of others which pre-date the galvanization technology now sit rusting severely. The bunks are connected one to the other, head to toe, for entire lengths of the passageways and are nailed and cemented into the ground.
Where a toilet block approaches the double lined passages become less dense and make way to just one row of bunks, making beds by the bucket toilets a desirable, spacious location to spend the night.
Throughout the shelter there are inconsistencies in the sandstone, the tool marks are clearly visible all over the shelters and there are naturally occuring areas of compression or water faults. The sandstone easily crumbles to the touch and where there are areas that water seeps through the soft ground beneath is worn down and forms small holes.
Some areas of the tunnels are quite black ,probable these are the stains from old smoking areas.
Though it’s all very basic in here you can see the remnants of electrical wiring where lighting was installed, and one light in the roof. A couple of the toilet blocks remain intact and are still fitted with the chemical toilets.
Here and there throughout the system you can spot evidence of wardens posts, tool stores and wooden benches and with a little imagination can picture this an almost civil place to rest.
0 Comments