We take a look inside a secret air raid shelter hidden beneath the Bristol Corn Exchange

Beneath St Nicholas Square in Bristol’s historic city center lies a secret air raid shelter that has remained largely untouched for nearly 80 years. Located beneath the Corn Exchange, the World War II shelter has just been open to the public on a walking tour for about a year.

The bomb shelter was planned as early as 1937 to prepare for the eventuality of bombs falling on Bristol in the event of war. Three years later, on 24 November 1940, the Bristol Blitz would take place, devastating much of the area, including Castle Park.

But by that time, the shelter under the Corn Exchange was ready and could house up to 100 people in two rooms surrounded by blast-proof doors. Throughout the Bristol Blitz, people waited many hours, sometimes more than 12 hours, for the bell to ring and come out and see what the damage was.

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The bomb shelter remained untouched after the war and largely forgotten, and today is used as a museum as well as a reminder of the war as we approach the 80th anniversary of D-Day (on June 6). The museum contains historical items including ration kits, gas masks and old posters, and even an old page of the Bristol Evening Post after the first night of the Bristol Blitz.

The Walking tour of St. Nicholas square and air raid shelter it costs £10 for adults and £5 for children and runs from Thursday to Saturday.

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