We discovered a WW2 bunker in our back garden – the relics inside were incredible
A COUPLE have discovered a WW2 bunker buried in their back garden, complete with incredible relics from the 1940s.
Martin and Allison Tracey were stunned to discover the structure upon moving into their home in Coventry, West Midlands, last summer.
Since the bombshell find, keen gardener Allison has been digging the original Anderson shelter up, with the help of Martin’s granddaughter Robyn, 32, and eight-year-old great grandson James.
The trio are working to open the bunker up and decorate it with various plants and flowers.
Martin said that the previous owners of the property had lived there since the war and likely put the little building up themselves as the city was heavily bombed in the Blitz.
The family first noticed it after a neighbour told them about it, setting their curiosity loose.
Martin added: “It is amazing to have a piece of history in our back garden.
“It was really cool when we first discovered it. It was quite nostalgic too because it is something that relates to the history of Coventry. Inside of the house was a bit of a time warp too.
“It’s much bigger than I ever expected it to be, and it is perfectly preserved inside. It was a very well-made shelter.”
The bunker includes benches made out of long pieces of slate, old battery-powered car lamps, pipework and even drinks bottles.
It had sat undiscovered for around 80 years before the Traceys found it.
Martin recalled: “When we started clearing the bunker, we had lots of people popping their heads over the fence as they were interested in what was being found.
“As far as we know, it’s the only one in the street.
“It’s such an unusual feature to have in your back garden, and when it’s all finished with we are hoping to have it like a little garden room. James even plans on sleeping in it when it is all clean and dry.”
He also said that the family are planning to open it up to the public so people can take a look and enjoy a stunningly well-preserved piece of history.
It comes after pictures emerged of a secret air raid shelter 33 meters below a busy main road.
The stunning network of tunnels below the high street in Clapham, South London used to fit 8,000 people in to protect them from falling bombs, but now has a very different use.
Meanwhile. back in 2020, explorers uncovered a bunker believed to have been used by Winston Churchill’s ‘secret guerrilla army’ of assassins who were trained in suicide attacks.