Family discovers a WWII bomb shelter in their back garden while digging up their patio

Family discovers a WWII bomb shelter in their back garden complete with its own fireplace and chimney while digging up their patio to build a new shed

  • Bruno Neri found the war shelter in his garden in East Howe in Bournemouth
  • After clearing away soil they found a small room filled with rubble and bottles
  • Family plan to build a shed over shelter with a trapdoor leading to the room 

A family discovered a World War Two shelter in their back garden after they dug up their patio to build a new shed.

The shelter, which has a fireplace and a chimney, was discovered by Francisco Goncalves and his son-in-law Bruno Neri at his home on Barnes Road, East Howe in Bournemouth.

The pair had been removing slabs to erect a shed when they found a gap between them which opened up into a ‘little corridor’.

The shelter, which has a fireplace and a chimney, was discovered by Bruno Neri (pictured) and his father-in-law Jose Francisco Goncalves at his home on Barnes Road, East Howe in Bournemouth

They had been removing slabs to erect a shed when they found a gap between them which opened up into a 'little corridor'

They had been removing slabs to erect a shed when they found a gap between them which opened up into a ‘little corridor’

Mr Neri told the Bournemouth Echo: ‘We started throwing soil under it when a rock fell in and we heard water dripping. We thought it was a sewage pipe or something at first, but there was no smell so we kept digging.’

After clearing away the soil, Mr Neri slid into the gap in the earth and discovered a small room that was filled with rubble and bottles.

With the help of Mr Goncalves and Bruno’s wife, Gabriella, they spent the next few weeks clearing the shelter so they could invite their children, Jasmine, 6, and Brendan, 3, to explore.

 Mr Neri said: ‘They really love it and are very interested in why it was built and what it was there for’.

The family now plan to build a shed over the shelter with a trapdoor leading to the small room so they can make use of the incredible war artefact. 

And Mr Neri says the family also want to learn more about the family who used the shelter during the war.

After clearing away the soil, Mr Neri slid into the gap in the earth and they discovered the small room that was filled with rubble and bottles

After clearing away the soil, Mr Neri slid into the gap in the earth and they discovered the small room that was filled with rubble and bottles

The family now plan to build a shed over the shelter with a trapdoor leading to the small room

The family now plan to build a shed over the shelter with a trapdoor leading to the small room

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