Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 04 November 1939

Air Raid Shelter for Pickhills Avenue

Pickhills Avenue has just given a demonstration of community spirit. When war broke out the householders considered the question of constructing air raid shelters, and they agreed that providing separately for each family was scarcely the best method. So they got together and “rationalised” the effort in accordance with the principles of the new economics.

It was agreed that the cost of materials should be equally borne by each householder and that the work of construction should be undertaken by a voluntary party. The Committee is chiefly composed of men who have had experience of active service and who know most things about the making of trenches and “dug-outs.” They stake their reputation that the shelter they are just completing is proof against any attack that may be made in Goldthorpe district.

The shelter is an extraordinarily neat job and is fitted with seating accommodation for sixty persons. The committee have drawn up regulations so that the shelter may be reached and used in emergency without the least confusion.

Each person in Pickhills Avenue is to be allotted a seat which will bear a label showing the occupier’s name. The seat labelling will also enable a check to be made of the occupants of the shelter and if there should be absentees enquiries will be promptly made. Someone is to be deputed to undertake the proper management of the shelter — to restrict occupation in the first place to authorised persons, to keep doors closed, and to make enquiries about absentees. The committee are also to make plans for the maintenance of the shelter in a good, clean condition. This co-operative effort seems to be the largest yet made in the district. There are a few instances of next-door neighbours collaborating in the construction of a shelter, but I have no record of an entire street getting down to the task. It is an achievement that other groups may wish to copy, so the cost of the scheme may be helpful.

Floor boarding, lining and haulage totalled £4 16s. cement and sand for flooring and haulage £1 12s; iron sheeting, sleepers and haulage £1 7s 6d.: lighting, 11s.; making a total of £8 6s. 7d.

There are 21 houses in the Avenue and the cost per household will be 8s There is an average of three occupants per house, so that the shelter is available to all at a cost of rather more than 2s. 6d. per head. A ridiculously cheap insurance premium!