Forgotten bomb shelter found in back garden (From Watford Observer)

Rickmansworth man discovers bomb shelter beneath back garden

10:01am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

Photographs show the cramped inside of an underground bomb shelter which has been hidden beneath a Rickmansworth garden for at least 30 years.

The dark entrance to the brick and concrete structure was discovered by Shepherds Way resident Anthony Abadjian, 62, after he removed turf from a sagging area of his lawn.

The shelter, which is roughly five feet high and a similar width, would provide a safe haven for a small family during the blitz. It was discovered on New Year’s Day.

Initially Mr Abadjian, a semi-retired computer consultant, believed the structure could be even older because the worn edges of the concrete roof structure looked like stone.

However, after excavating a large area of his garden over the weekend, the semi-retired computer consultant was able to enter the bunker and take photos inside.

He said: "I’d say you could get two people in there if they were sat side-by-side."

The detached family home was built in 1929 so the bomb shelter is likely to have been a later addition.

During the blitz, 16 bombs fell on Rickmansworth according to the Bomb Site website and although none fell on Shepherds Road, neighbouring Berry Lane was hit by a high explosive bomb between 1940 and 1941.