Preparing air raid shelters at Harrison Park
30th September 1938

About this memory
This photograph is dated 30th September 1938.
Harrison Park long trench was 125 yards long and one of many air raid shelters built for the public throughout Edinburgh.
To protect people from the bombing 30,000 public and 110,000 private air raid shelters were built. These were known as Anderson shelters and were built almost underground – six feet down and covered with earth and grass. Some people grew vegetables on the top. Because they were underground many would fill up with water making them damp, cold, smelly places to be. Children often had the job of checking the shelters and bailing the water out.
Edinburgh in pictures
Edinburgh Collected is a community archive of Edinburgh memories. Explore the city’s rich history through images, documents and objects.
Explore pictures
Edinburgh in scrapbooks
Scrapbooks are collections of our community’s memories giving unique perspectives on life in Edinburgh.
Discover scrapbooks
Edinburgh in words
Uncover personal memories of life in Edinburgh, recorded in the written word.
Read memories
Share your memories and make history
Sign up for your free account today, to share your photos and memories, and create your own Edinburgh Collected scrapbooks.
Join today
Discuss this memory