Whiteknights Park Air Raid Shelters, Reading

After hearing about Air Raid Shelters at Whiteknights Park I decided to get up and start looking for them, after many attempts going through the woods looking for air raid shelters or remains I finally found them tucked away close to Earley Gate.
There is 3 Air Raid Shelters I know of on site one is a white square brick building near the prefab WW2 buildings the others are red brick.
The red brick ones are not accessible and there is no chance of getting inside while the white brick one is accessible and always has been from what I have been told.
Inside not much remains mainly just full of junk and a old bicycle but the weird thing about the air raid shelter was the power it worked!

History 

These three air raid shelters sit on the site of the Former RAF Reading now known as Earley Gate.
During the Second World War, part of the park closest to the Earley Gate entrance was used for 'temporary' government offices, and several ranges of these single story, brick built, corridor and spur buildings still stand.
WW2 air raid shelters from the dispersal of the Civil Service from London to safer areas. Each shelter would have had its own lean to bike store. The recent demolition of one of these has brought to light original Ministry of Works signage.
Base of what could have been a WW2 Air Raid shelter which was demolished
Air Raid Shelter one with the blast wall
Air Raid Shelter two with the blast wall
Original blast wall surprisingly in good condition.

Tank/Pump inside the third air raid shelter on site (this could have been something linked with either Regional War Room 6 or the Former WW2 Office buildings.
Graffiti from the tank test inside Air Raid Shelter three
Air Raid Shelter Three Exterior 
Former WW2 Offices/POW Hospital which is now used by Reading University 


Location: Reading, UK

Comments

Mike said…
Hi there. Where-abouts are the first two shelters you mention?
I can’t place them.
Thanks v much
Mike
9 August 2020 at 13:50
Callums Night Photography said…
Hello Mike, the first to are by the University Social Club on the other side of the white prefab looking buildings at Earley Gate.

Cheers
Callums Night Photography
21 August 2020 at 08:27
Mike said…
Thanks. Is that near the bowling green? Don’t suppose you could put a couple of Xs on a map, please. I’m in a FB group about the history of Whiteknights among other things, which is where I saw this. I lived nearby on and off for 50 years but these are something I wasn’t aware of. Thanks
21 August 2020 at 09:16
Ian Burn said…
Morning Callum. I am interested in the history of the Whiteknights site and keen to find out more. I have walked the campus a lot during lockdown. The history of the wartime occupants of the campus is a frustrating topic as so much is either unrecorded or hidden away. Good work trying to discover it. Ian
27 August 2020 at 03:16
Alex said…
Around 1968 I was an apprentice electrician for a company called F H Wheeler. We rewired some of these buildings. They were known as T.O.B's or temporary office blocks.
21 November 2020 at 08:34
Alex said…
Around 1968 I was an apprentice electrician for a company called F H Wheeler. We rewired some of these buildings. They were known as T.O.B's or temporary office blocks.
21 November 2020 at 08:34
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