APS Evacuates To Stockport's Air Raid Shelters - Mar 2011

War children evacuated Altrincham Preparatory School to take a tour of Stockport's labyrinth of air raid shelters.

The Year 4 children turned back time to find out what life was really like 70 years ago during the Blitz. As part of a living history exercise, the young historians dressed up for the special visit to the mile long network of tunnels and were accompanied by mums dressed as land girls and factory workers.

Hewn out of the red sandstone hills on which Stockport stands, the air raid shelters were designed to keep 6,500 people safe from the Nazis bombing raids.

Fitted with electric light, wooden benches, bunk beds, a wardens' post, a first aid post and, unforgettably, 16-seater toilets, the shelters illustrated the fear and privation of their great grandparents.

APS mum Lesley Fairlie said: "With children preparing to evacuate their homes in Japan, the visit showed that history is very much relevant today."

APS teacher Andy Sheppeck said: "We have been studying life on the Home Front in class and this visit cements our work on what went on back in Blighty, while the boys were fighting overseas."

Pictured from left to right are: Nik, Jenson, Lesley, Jack and Harry.