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| HER Number: | MSH2407 |
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| Type of Record: | Building |
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| Name: | The Bargate - site of Air Raid Shelter |
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| Grid Reference: | SU 4199 1163 |
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| Map: | Show location on Streetmap |
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Summary
During World War II, the medieval town gate known as The Bargate was adapted for use as a public air raid shelter. As far as is known, all of the shelter adaptations have since been removed.
Protected Status
- Scheduled Monument 1001930
- Conservation Area: Old Town North
Other References/Statuses
- Defence of Britain Non-Anti-Invasion Record: 2810
- HER backup file (new series): MSH2407
- Old Southampton SMR No/Backup file: SU 4211 NW 26
Monument Type(s):
- AIR RAID SHELTER (Building adapted for use during World War II, Second World War - 1939 AD? to 1945 AD?)
Full description
During World War II, the Bargate was adapted for use as a public air raid shelter. A drawing [2] shows adaptations for shelter toilets in 1941, but also shows the blast walls added to the ground floor, presumably earlier in the war. [2] also shows batten seats in the towers flanking the gate. Photographs [3], probably taken between 1944 and 1946 (IP), show the Bargate exterior, with brick blast walls on the ground floor and shelter signs. [1] refers to "white brick blocking in arches". All of the shelter adaptations shown in [2] and [3] have been removed since the war [1]. It is not known whether any strengthening work was done to the upper floor of the Bargate, however this has been extensively altered inside, with concrete floors etc, probably since WWII [4].
IP 12/2/98: There may be other documentary sources in City Archives.
IP 24/12/04: photocopies of sources in backup file, including some of the photographs.
[5]: No further information (derived from [1].)
Sources / Further Reading
| [1] | SSH2291 - Unpublished document: Wylie, AE. 1997. Defence of Britain Project - site report form for Air Raid Shelter at The Bargate, Southampton.. all |
| [2] | SSH2293 - Graphic material: Borough Engineer, County Borough of Southampton. 1941. ARP Public Air Shelter - Bargate, Southampton - Proposed Men Lavatories (Drawing No 3655/20).. |
| [3] | SSH2292 - Photograph: 1942-1946. Dalton-Newfield Photographic Archive. |
| [4] | SSH2294 - Verbal communication: K White. 1998. Pers comm concerning the former use of The Bargate as an air raid shelter.. |
| [5] | SSH2280 - Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2003. The Defence of Britain Project - Non-Anti-Invasion Defences Database. Record 2810 |
Associated Finds: None recorded
Associated Events
- ESH1606 - Documentary Research into former use of the Bargate as an Air Raid Shelter
Related records
| MSH2240 | Child of: Town Defences - The Bargate (Bar Gate) and Guildhall |
Associated Links: None recorded
If you have any feedback or new information about this record, please email the Southampton HER (her@southampton.gov.uk).
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