Hidden Rickmansworth bomb shelter could be one of many (From Watford Observer)

Honorary curator of Three Rivers Museum says Anthony Abadjian's hidden bomb shelter could be one of many

5:30pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

Historians believe there could be many more undiscovered underground bomb shelters hidden under the gardens of Rickmansworth.

Anthony Abadjian, 62, of Shepherds Way, discovered the entrance to the small brick and concrete shelter on New Year’s Day after removing a patch of sagging turf from his lawn.

After uncovering the hideaway, barely big enough for two people, Mr Abadjian contacted the Three Rivers Museum who passed photos on to archaeological experts.

Ann Vernau, the honorary curator of the museum, says the structure of the shelter makes it more likely to have been built by the residents of the house rather than provided by the local council.

She added: "The shelter would have been built by the occupants because the ones available would be galvanised steel.

"I gather that steel shelters were provided by the local authority and I think they were quite popular because people were afraid of the bombs coming down.

"After the war, what’s happened is many of the entrances to these have been blocked and it has just revealed itself after all the rain we have had recently.

"There is no reason why we wouldn’t see many more of these popping up."