He thought that his day could not get any worse, but apparently it could. The previous night, he was unable to get a good night’s rest because of the noises that he heard. This man then got his knees on the driveway so that he can check out what was underneath the car. As he was taking a better look at the concrete, a sickening sound shocked him. But what on earth was going on beneath the driveway? When he bought and moved into his new house, he had no idea that he was going to find something like this!
What Was Making All The Weird Noises Below The Driveway Of His New Home?
His New Home
When you buy a new house, it is impossible to know exactly what you are going to get. However, Simon Marks could not help himself after finding a house in Luton for such a great price. The 37-year-old man took care of the paperwork and transferred the payment right away. At the time, he did not even question why the owner was trying to get rid of the property so hurriedly.
His New Home
It Was His First Night
A couple of months after this, Simon started to unpack his boxes. He was excited to spend the first night in a new home. After spending the weekend hauling his things to the new place, he went to bed tired. After considering the distance between the house and the office, he was happy to set the alarm for 8 o’clock in the morning. However, he then heard a weird noise as he was lying in the dark.
It Was His First Night
Time To Investigate
He held in a breath so that he can listen better. The sound came yet again, and he could tell that it came from outside the house. It was a muted and dull noise that sounded like gravel on metal. He was intrigued by this disturbance, so he stood up and looked at the garden from the window. He could not see anything moving. Everything was silent once more, so he shrugged and went back to bed.
Time To Investigate
Discovery In The Driveway
The following morning, he put his Vauxhall Zafira into reverse. To his surprise, the car did not back out of the driveway and lurched forward instead! He coursed and tried it again. However, it looked like the wheel got caught on something. He revved the engine until his vehicle jumped backward and sighed in relief. After this, he went out to take a look at what was blocking the front wheel.
Discovery In The Driveway
The Driveway Gave
Simon knelt down to get a better look at it. This was when he noticed that the driveway pavers had cracked. Not only that, but the driveway started to give in right before him! He jumped back upon hearing the snap as the concrete came apart and crumbled into the earth. It was only when the dust started to settle that he saw a very unnerving sight. What was going on here?
The Driveway Gave
It Should Not Be There
As far as he knew, the house was constructed in the ‘70s by the elderly couple that used to live there. However, this was clearly not part of the house plans! After he was confident that he could rest his weight on the pavers, he went down on his stomach and started crawling forward. He saw something in the earth that made him fetch a trowel and start digging. What was he going to find down there?
It Should Not Be There
Beneath The Ground
Soon enough, he broke into the dirt. It revealed a piece of metal protruding from the soil! He used his hands to get rid of the dirt until he could hold the object. After that, he pulled at it with everything that he had. However, the rusty thing simply would not budge regardless of how much strength he put into it. He then dug around it until he could free it. As he saw more and more of it, he realized that this piece of metal was attached to a bigger object. What could it possibly be?
Beneath The Ground
What Was Hidden There
As the hole got bigger, his mind started to race with images of the sinkhole swallowing up his car. Even worse, what if the entire house sinks into this strange void? After working some more on the hole, he saw what looked like a man-made object below everything. This was when he realized that things were even more sinister than he thought. He grabbed his phone and asked for help.
What Was Hidden There
They Saw An Old Ladder
Gerald, his father, raced to the scene. Without any equipment or professional tools, they started to work on the hole. Carefully, they got rid of the cracked concrete surrounding the piece of metal and found a rectangular hole down there. They saw a rusty ladder that descended into the darkness! They made them feel very uneasy. What was a secret passageway like this doing beneath the driveway? They wondered where it went. In the end, they only had one way to get the answers to their questions.
They Saw An Old Ladder
They Went Even Deeper
Simon made sure to do his homework before he bought the old house. Of course, it was his responsibility to figure out what he was about to get into. He knew that ordinance surveys were not going to help solve the mystery of this hidden tunnel. The records said that it was all empty land before the construction of the house. A shiver went down his spine as the pair started to dig deep.
They Went Even Deeper
Going Down
The mud was packed so densely that the two of them had to cart away the dirt in buckets. As the hours passed by, the pile of dirt just kept getting bigger and bigger. In the end, they were able to excavate approximately five feet of soil, which gave them enough space to use the ladder. It was time to investigate! But what were they going to find down there?
Going Down
It Had Hidden Rooms
Simon started to make his way down the tunnel and felt strange once he was halfway through. He did not want to explore any further. After all, it might not be safe! He returned to the house to grab a selfie stick. After attaching his phone onto it, he went down the hole. On the screen of the phone, he saw that there were two rooms in the underground tunnel. Gerald had a theory about what they were looking at, but it was important to confirm it first.
It Had Hidden Rooms
The Secret Beneath The House
Simon bought this property for the solid price of half a million bucks. However, it turned out that the land had been in use for a different purpose before the house stood there. Even though the elderly man he bought it from was the house’s original owner, he did not tell Simon about the secret lying beneath the house. The sound that he heard the previous night was actually the soil giving way beneath the cement as it fell into the hidden room.
The Secret Beneath The House
A Strategic Location
Simon and his dad decided to stop digging while they do some research on the property. They checked the plot number, which helped them understand what was going on more quickly. Before the elderly couple, the plot of land was empty. But Gerald pointed out that it was located in a pretty strategic area in town. In the end, however, what gave them an idea was the time in which the house was made.
A Strategic Location
Doing Their Research
“My dad saw it and instantly said it’s an air raid shelter,” explained Simon, “We googled it and found there are quite a few in this area.” They conducted more research, and he found out that it was a shelter made during the Second World War. He told reporters, “The previous owner must have known it was there and when he built the house and put a garden in… he must have filled it in.”
Doing Their Research
A Man Called Sir John Anderson
In 1938, at the beginning of the Second World War, a man called Sir John Anderson was given the task to prepare the people for war. Mind you, this was not an easy thing to do. His duty was to make a strategy that would protect the citizens of Britain from the bombings and onslaught that were sure to come. This was the reason he drew up a plan to make sure that civilians would be safe.
A Man Called Sir John Anderson
Building Backyard Shelters
Sir John Anderson, together with a group of engineers, planned and assisted people with the creation of simple underground shelters located in the backyard. It was important for these bunkers to remain close to the house so that they can retreat there at any given moment. The walls of the structure were made with a flexible yet lightweight metal, which was better than concrete. Overall, they made more than two million bomb shelters like this across the country. However, this was not what Simon found!
Building Backyard Shelters
The Design Was Different
By taking a look at the chamber, Gerald could tell that it was not a bomb shelter designed by Sir John Anderson. However, it was true that the structure was built sometime around 1938. This was fairly close to a bombing that happened near Luton. People living in the area felt scared after learning that the small city had become a target. Many of them wanted to ensure that they would be safe no matter what.
The Design Was Different
A Better Structure
The community got together and came up with a plan to make a community shelter. The people living in the area wanted to ensure that they can have something that would withstand air raids. Gerald knew that it was not the typical Anderson-style bunker because it came with two rooms. On top of that, it used concrete and bricks. As Gerald and Simon dug deeper, they also found a number of artifacts!
A Better Structure
Finding Artifacts
The duo discovered a newspaper clipping in one of the rooms in the tunnel. The Herald newspaper was published during the Second World War. One of the headlines said, “Luton Airport is this the end?” On the other hand, the articles spoke about daily life in the middle of the war. The artifact gave them the chance to look at what it was like to live in Britain during the war. What else did they find down there?
Finding Artifacts
It Was Made By Hand
The pair also stumbled into proof that there used to be a lot of water and food stocked down there. People needed sustenance if they were going to hide below the ground, after all. It was possible that they would be holed up in the shelters for days or even weeks on end. When Simon was interviewed, he said, “It’s incredible to think it has all been made by hand.”
It Was Made By Hand
The Materials Used
The underground shelter had concrete walls, which were reinforced with brick and mortar. This gave it a buffer that would keep it safe from the air rides. Even though Gerald and Simon already found an incredible discovery, this was not the end of it just yet. “It’s been a case of dig, dig, dig. We’re about five feet down at the moment so it’s just another five feet to go until it’s finished. I think we’re going to have to get a skip in because there’s so much rubbish to get rid of,” explained Simon. However, they soon made another amazing find in the shelter!
The Materials Used
That Was Not All
“One of the walls has been bricked up. I’m 90 percent sure we won’t find out any more rooms but we don’t know. They might have bricked up one of the walls when the house was built to make way for the foundations,” he informed the reporters. He said, “If that’s the case we’ll just have to leave it.” After some time, this amazing story made rounds on the internet!
That Was Not All
The Arrival Of Reporters
As Simon and Gerald kept digging in the area, neighbors and news reporters flocked to the front driveway. Everyone wanted to see the unbelievable discovery. However, Simon did not really care for the attention that he was getting after finding something so important in his own home. No, he was more concerned about a different thing. Mind you, he did not spend so much time digging just for the fame!
The Arrival Of Reporters
An Incredible Part Of History
Simon believed that it was important for everyone to know about the shelter. However, he did not do it for fame. He just felt like it was his obligation to shed some light on the history of the country. It would have been a shame if this part of history was forgotten. He wanted to preserve the air-raid shelter for generations to come. But what exactly is his plan once they are done clearing up the shelter?
An Incredible Part Of History
It Will Not Be Forgotten
Simon and Gerald now plan to work on it and preserve it. They are also hoping that it is going to be declared a historical and important monument. The duo believes that we should never forget about this just because it has been decades since the war happened. It is their hope that future generations can go to the shelter and learn more about this important time in British history.
It Will Not Be Forgotten
A Similar Discovery
As if this story wasn’t enough, in 2014, something similar happened. Something was discovered on the grounds of Stoke Community Primary School in Medway, Kent by a student there. Harvey Cotton, the student, was taking part in an outdoor school activity when he noticed something. The courtyard of the school was once an orchard. While outside, Harvey noticed a block of concrete that seemed to be out of place.
A Similar Discovery
Initial Investigation
Immediately, Harvey turned to his school teachers and caretaker to tell them about what he saw. They went to investigate the unknown object right away. Doing so, they uncovered a staircase, a bricked-up wall, and a wooden door behind it. Where would it all lead? They had no idea what was standing on the other side of that door or what it was hiding inside. There was only one way to find this out.
Initial Investigation
Lightbulb Moment
The caretakers, teachers, and students were shocked when they found items covered in a layer of dust from decades earlier. There were even items like milk bottles that were left untouched. What amazed them the most, however, was the lightbulb. The one inside still worked! After all those years, one solitary lightbulb somehow didn’t break and still worked as well as it ever did. With a light source, the school staff took their investigation a step further.
Lightbulb Moment
Educational Purposes
After looking more closely at their surroundings, the school staff realized what they were standing in: an underground bomb shelter. Not just any bomb shelter, however. It was an Anderson shelter used by the school’s students during World War II during the air raids. It only makes sense that a school would use such a historical discovery for educational purposes. In all honesty, we’d be surprised if they didn’t.
Educational Purposes
Rich History
That’s exactly what the school ended up doing. With the help of the students, the school restored the shelter to its former glory. This allowed the students to get hands-on lessons about the Second World War and what happened in their country all the while. It truly was a unique experience. Anita Meggs, the school principal, reported, “There is so much history in the school, which has been here since the 1800s.”
Rich History
Just Another Day
Additionally, the principal explained how the shelter was to be used in lessons. The school planned on inviting older villagers who might have used the shelter back in the day. They were to come to the school and speak about their experiences during the war. What’s most impressive is the fact that this story wasn’t the last of its kind. A couple from Southampton came across another Anderson shelter – in their garden!
Just Another Day
Amazing Condition
Graham and Lizzie Hendra had no idea that they would be coming across an incredible piece of history when they went out to do some gardening. “We were tidying up the garden and there’s always been a bug heap of dirt behind the garage – like a massive compost heap. So the gardener dug it out and he said there was a load of metal,” Graham said. When the two caught sight of something strange, they were shocked.
Amazing Condition
Asking the Experts
The couple was shocked when they saw the shelter was in great condition. “It’s in an amazing condition. There’s no door – just a bit of tin holding the dirt back. It makes you think how horrible it must have been to be in there,” Graham said. The couple thought that perhaps the shelter would be put to better use at a local school or given to someone who would actually use it. It was better than it just sitting in their garden.
Asking The Experts
A Shame
A London-based Anderson shelter expert by the name of Martin Stanley said, “Just from the photos it looks like it’s in its original position. It may well have been a builder who made it because it looks incredibly strong. I suspect someone put it a lot of effort.” There was one point where the British government had given out many Anderson shelters to civilians for free. Preserving the ones left was important seeing as there weren’t many of them.
A Shame
Most Are Gone
Most of the shelters in question were removed after the war so the iron could be reused. Others were converted into gardens or even pig sheds. “It would be a real shame if it was lost for good.” Martin happens to have an Anderson shelter of his own in his garden. It partially sticks out of the ground while the rest is covered in plants and flowers. He likes keeping it there to preserve it as an artifact.
Most Are Gone
Eye-Catching Feature
When Stanley moved into his home 30 years earlier, instead of getting rid of the shelter found on his property, he began using it for storage. He also opens the shelter for school parties and TV companies. “We’re very fond of it now. It’s quite a feature,” he said. His neighbor also has an Anderson shelter in his garden – in great condition as well. It’s the same as it was back in the 1940s. Robert McConnell, Stanley’s neighbor, said the whole area opposite his house was destroyed in a bombing, but the shelter made it through.
Eye Catching Feature
Not The Norm
Many people dream of moving to America and living the “American Dream”. Who wouldn’t want a nice big house with a green yard for the kids to run around in? Wayne Martin had those things already, but he had his heart set on a project that would set him apart from the rest. He started digging. His friends and neighbors thought he lost his mind, but he had a plan in place. What he did with the hole he dug was impressive. And it wasn’t a swimming pool if that’s what you’re thinking.
Not The Norm
Buying A Container
After laying down a layer of gravel that would suffice, he added something else that had no place in a swimming pool. Immediately, his neighbors noticed that he had brought a full-sized shipping container onto his property. What could it have possibly been for? Before Martin even started digging the hole, he made the decision to buy a 20-foot shipping container. No on knew why.
Buying A Container
Shutting It Tight
It would be surprising to find out how many shipping containers are available online. They don’t even cost all that much to purchase! Many DIY enthusiasts know all about how important it is to keep costs as low as possible when working on a project. It’s easy to go over your set budget if you aren’t careful enough. The last thing you need is to run out of money before the project even begins.
Shutting It Tight
Thinking In Advance
Martin managed to find a container that fit his needs while staying within the budget he had decided on. But what did he want to do with it? The first thing he did was ensure that the container was properly sealed. He didn’t use the double doors but made sure to close it completely and place a swinging door on the other side of the container instead. What was all of this even for? Did he plan on going inside?
Thinking In Advance
With Pea Gravel
Making sure that nothing went in or out, Martin also made sure that the new door he put in place would swing inside the container and provide a one-way entrance in and out of it. The biggest mistake he could have made was creating a hole too small for the huge container.
With Pea Gravel
A Professional Touch
Martin made sure to check that the hole in the ground was at least two feet deeper than the container’s height, just to be on the safe side. He wanted to have extra room on all sides to there would be space for the container to swing out at first.
A Professional Touch
Like A Glove
One thing Martin didn’t forget to do was line the bottom of the hole with pea gravel, which was good thinking on his end. This small step was really important since he had to get something soft to put the container on. It needed to be something that would allow him and water to filter through the soil on stormy days.
Like A Glove
A Sump Pump
At this point, it’s easy to guess what Martin had in mind for this hole and the container. Keep reading to find out if what you thought was correct. This might have been a DIY project at first, but it still needed some professionalism to make it work.
A Sump Pump
How To Get In
What else would a person do with a 20-foot container and a huge hole they dug in the backyard? This was why Martin hired a septic tank company to help him out. After all, it was a better idea than getting his friends to help him do it haphazardly.
How To Get In