• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    There's support for people with dementia, at a singing Memory Lane cafe in Tilehurst and Wokingham. Picture: Remi Walle via Unsplash

    Carers afternoon in Twyford offers information and fun

    Blackcroft Farm, between Arborfield and Farley Hill,

    Plans for 650 homes near Arborfield revealed

    One of the trees off Easthampstead Road. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    ‘Safety’ cited for footpath closures

    Jenni Donato.

    Wokingham businesswoman nominated for award

    Ascot Top Hats is based in Wokingham.

    Ten tips for a top day at Royal Ascot

    Wokingham Methodist Church

    Church Notes: Strength in weakness

    The Arts Society Wokingham looks at the work of Gertrude Jekyll this month. Picture: Sue Whitehead

    ‘Remember that in a garden we are painting a picture’

    Peter Markwick

    It’s top of the championship for Wokingham racing driver

    Clergy for the new Parish of the Holy Family in Maidenhead and Twyford Father Ephraim Odhiambo, Deacon Peter Kelly, Father Liam Cummins, Deacon Mike Jackson and Father Kevin Hughes.

    Twyford and Wargrave’s Catholic churches merge with two parishes in Maidenhead

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Peter Markwick

    It’s top of the championship for Wokingham racing driver

    1871 EVENTS PRESENTS: Jimmy Quinn

    Reading FC legend Jimmy Quinn to share his memories of title success and Wembley heartbreak

    Reading FC

    Reading FC to host Swindon Town and Oxford United in pre-season friendlies

    Reading FC fans

    Reading FC chairman Rob Couhig gives update on season ticket sales

    Golf Picture: Pixabay

    Unique Golf Club celebrates 50th anniversary with publication of a history book

    Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens

    Premier League club close in on signing Reading-born Borussia Dortmund star

    Chem Campbell

    Reading FC keen on bringing Campbell back on permanent deal

    Todd Trosclair and Rob Couhig

    Reading FC chairman sends message to supporters

    Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.

    World-class polo plans for borough

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    There's support for people with dementia, at a singing Memory Lane cafe in Tilehurst and Wokingham. Picture: Remi Walle via Unsplash

    Carers afternoon in Twyford offers information and fun

    Blackcroft Farm, between Arborfield and Farley Hill,

    Plans for 650 homes near Arborfield revealed

    One of the trees off Easthampstead Road. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    ‘Safety’ cited for footpath closures

    Ascot Top Hats is based in Wokingham.

    Ten tips for a top day at Royal Ascot

    Wokingham Methodist Church

    Church Notes: Strength in weakness

    The Arts Society Wokingham looks at the work of Gertrude Jekyll this month. Picture: Sue Whitehead

    ‘Remember that in a garden we are painting a picture’

    Clergy for the new Parish of the Holy Family in Maidenhead and Twyford Father Ephraim Odhiambo, Deacon Peter Kelly, Father Liam Cummins, Deacon Mike Jackson and Father Kevin Hughes.

    Twyford and Wargrave’s Catholic churches merge with two parishes in Maidenhead

    The new contract will start from June 2026. pic: WBC.

    Waste contract awarded to Biffa

    Claire Chappell's donated locks will be made into real hair wigs for young people who have lost their own. Picture: Claire Chappell

    Claire’s hair today, gone tomorrow, for little princesses

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People

    MICHAEL TATLOW DARLISON

    Jenni Donato.

    Wokingham businesswoman nominated for award

    Ascot Top Hats is based in Wokingham.

    Ten tips for a top day at Royal Ascot

    Over 350,000 people in the region had been treated for seven common conditions without the need to visit a GP since the programme was launched in January last year.

    Pharmacy First initiative sees over 350,000 consultations in first year

    Thames Valley Air Ambulance Picture: MICHAEL MOLLOY

    Thames Valley Air Ambulance urges people to ‘summer safely’

    Shute End, Wokingham Borough Council.

    Compensation for care home ‘frustrations’

    Hurst Bowling Club, in an idyllic village setting, is England's second oldest club, and possibly its friendliest. Pictures: Emma Merchant

    Why ‘England’s friendliest bowling club’ needs a new clubhouse

    Party in the Park on Saturday.

A balcony view.

    Get ready for Party in the Park

    Marvellous is a tribute act festival. Pic: WBC.

    A Marvellous tribute at Dinton

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment

    RaW Sounds celebrates five years of championing local music

    Party in the Park on Saturday.

A balcony view.

    Get ready for Party in the Park

    Marvellous is a tribute act festival. Pic: WBC.

    A Marvellous tribute at Dinton

    Double Standards

    New play ‘Double Standards’ at South Streets Art Centre to explore hypocrisy in dating

    Wokingham Pride

    Could you help Wokingham Pride 2025?

    REVIEW: “Three Hens In A Boat” at The Watermill Theatre

    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Two concerts in one day from Reading's APO. Picture: Pexels via Pixabay

    An orchestral event in Wokingham promises evening of drama and contrast

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Bomb shelter unearthed at the bottom of Woodley garden

by Taz Usher
May 30, 2020
in Featured, Wokingham, Woodley
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

NORMALLY people find fairies at the bottom of their garden. Or even a compost heap. But a Woodley man has discovered a blast from the past.

Brian Hunt, who lives on Reading Road, has unearthed a Second World War bomb shelter following an investigation into an unusual spot in his garden.

He unearthed the historical relic earlier this month after years of suspecting something peculiar was beneath his lawn – he’s lived there since 1975.

It’s not the only unusual find in his home: he’s previously dug up a Greek urn. But it is the bomb shelter that is attracting attention.

Mr Hunt said: “Over the last 10 years or so I’ve noticed something solid under the grass while gardening.

“Warmer summers meant the spot became more obvious and caused a mossy, lighter patch of grass to appear.”

Related posts

License review for Woodley shop

Woodley care home plans move forward

The curious resident – who took advantage of the lockdown period to investigate the section – added:“I decided to dig up the area of lawn, suspecting to find a wall or patio underneath but was very surprised to find what I did.

“After 10 minutes of digging I uncovered a hole in the roof of the shelter which I was able to look through and soon realised what it was.

“The shelter is roughly 7ft by 9ft and constructed with thick concrete and 8in to 10in iron bars so it’s likely the shelter was a special design rather than the typical Anderson shelters of the era.

“There’s a lot of glass and rubble in the shelter which I imagine was poured through the hole so it’s difficult to make out what else is in there apart from a shelf which I can see.”

Since finding the artefact, Mr Hunt has used title deeds to identify the shelter’s potential owner.

The records show that the previous homeowner, George Cripps, worked as a street mason in the area and may have built the shelter after he bought the property in 1929.

Mr Hunt said: “In the past, I’ve found things in my garden like a concrete shed and a Greek urn which I dug up under the flower beds.

“This, however, is something I never expected to find and by the looks of it required a lot of skill and motive to create.”

And addressing his future plans for the shelter, the Woodley resident added: “I’ve had suggestions from friends about what to do with it. The ideas include turning it into a wine cellar, adding open steps or making a garden feature of it.”

“My favourite idea so far is that I remove the moss from it and surround it with gravel and Mediterranean grasses.”

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: bomb shelterSecond World WarWoodleywoodley newsworld warworld war two
Previous Post

Traffic wardens back on the beat from Saturday

Next Post

Sir John Redwood looking forward to buying presents in Wokingham town centre

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Todd Trosclair and Rob Couhig

Reading FC chairman sends message to supporters

June 6, 2025
Golf Picture: Pixabay

Unique Golf Club celebrates 50th anniversary with publication of a history book

June 9, 2025
The new contract will start from June 2026. pic: WBC.

Waste contract awarded to Biffa

June 9, 2025
Cllr Stephen Conway

FROM THE LEADER: Why do people become involved in local politics?

June 9, 2025
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay.

Wokingham house prices up 4.6%

June 6, 2025
Solstice Picture: Andrew Merritt

RaW Sounds Today: Featuring Solstice, Steve Hackett and Chesney Hawkes

June 6, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.