Hidden history of Liverpool Blitz we walk over every day

For two years during the Second World War, German bombs tore through the streets of Liverpool in a relentless campaign that became known as the Liverpool Blitz. Nearly 4,000 people were killed on Merseyside, with Liverpool subsequently suffering more civilian deaths than any other UK city outside London.

The Blitz began on August 28, 1940 and continued for 17 months until January 1942. As the warning sirens rang out, people sought out safety in home-made bomb shelters, or packed into the large public air raid shelters that were dotted throughout the city.

A number of these public shelters still exist today, hidden under derelict properties or concealed in the basements of some of Liverpool's grandest buildings. Others were demolished or filled in after the war ended in 1945. Here is a list of bomb shelters which gave refuge to civilians during the infamous Blitz - and what became of them.

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Bidston Hill Air Raid Shelter

Bidston’s shelter was in the side of the hill, and contained 1,596 bunks, 793 seats, toilets, a canteen and a fire aid post in its extensive tunnels. Construction began in December 1941 and was largely completed within a year. A report in January 1943 advised that, due to the unreliable nature of the land, costs had increased, and it was noted that the labour available had been inferior to that used on the nearby Tranmere tunnels.

The spoil from the construction was tipped close to the entrance - which accounts for the rise in the ground on the grassy area near Hoylake Road today. After the war, the shelter was used for storage and fire brigade training. Attempts to find further use for the tunnels were made in the 1950s, but came to nothing, and it was eventually sealed.

Littlewoods Air Raid Shelter

A labyrinth of tunnels underneath the Littlewoods building, built before the Second World War, were used as a bunker for the protection of workers at the Littlewoods site during the Blitz. During the war, the Littlewoods building was requisitioned by the government and became the home of the postal censorship department, inspecting mail to prevent the risk of sensitive information crossing enemy lines. It was later used as a centre of manufacturing Halifax bomber parts.

The bunker is said to have 13 different entrances, but one particular section has previously caught the attention of explorers for the mysterious pictures painted on its walls. Researchers have suggested the portraits were painted from life, possibly to entertain the occupants of the bunker during the Blitz as they waited for the all clear. Other research has suggested the sketches may show co-workers from the factory.

After the war, the building was returned to Littlewoods Pools, which operated until its closure in November 1994. It stood derelict for years, until work to demolish and restore it finally began in December 2023.

Liverpool BT Deep Level Tunnels

The tunnels were originally built as deep air-raid shelters during the Second World War, and were later sold to BT for the purpose of carrying cables under Liverpool. The tunnels have three shafts including one lift shaft and connect to the BT HQ on Old Leeds Street.

New Brighton Palace Vaults

In 1932, a sprawling warren of vaults was rediscovered under the art-deco New Brighton Palace in Wallasey. Local legend says smugglers and wreckers once used the caverns to conceal their rotten goods; others say the tunnels are haunted. The area was soon put to good use, being used as a munitions factory during the war as well as an air raid shelter. The entrance, blocked by an iron gate, can still be seen in Virginia Road at the back of the Palace.

In the latter part of the 20th century, the underground site was used as a nightclub called "The Creep". It is now opened to the public only occasionally for historical tours and paranormal events.

The Royal Insurance Building Liverpool

The Royal Insurance Building, now the Aloft hotel on North John Street, was constructed between 1896 and 1903 as the head office of the Royal Insurance Company. It has two basement floors, the lowest of which was used as an air raid shelter. Secondary escape routes were provided by cutting diamond shaped holes between the basement rooms, and vertical escapes were installed in pre-existing vents.

The Grade II listed building ceased to be used by the Royal Insurance Company (now part of RSA Insurance Group) by the late 1980s. In 2013 its freehold was bought by Liverpool City Council and it was converted it into a hotel.

Tranmere Deep-Level Air-Raid Shelter

The Home Office gave Birkenhead the green light to build a deep tunnel air raid shelter under Holborn Hill in the 1940s, aiming to protect the workforce at Cammell Laird shipyard. Costing an estimated £129,000 and stretching to a length of 6500ft, it contained bunks and seats for more than 6,000 people as well as a canteen, medical wing, toilets and a library.

The shelters were used from late 1941, though they were not fully completed until the following year. It was eventually sealed in 1988 after a number of incidents in which local children became lost and had to be rescued. Access was briefly restored in 2008 during building work but they are once again sealed.

Western Approaches Headquarters

The Western Approaches in Exchange Flags, Liverpool City Centre, is one of Britain's most important surviving wartime structures, being central to the Allied Forces' victory. It was the headquarters of Combined Operations, where the Battle of the Atlantic was meticulously planned. The success of the massive operation turned the tides of the war, and helped lead British forces to victory.

Around 400 people worked at the Western Approaches under Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Max Horton. Four out of five were women from the Women's Royal Navy Service (known as the Wrens) or the Women's Auxiliary Airforce, who worked as switchboard operators and message decoders sending messages to submarines and warships.

The underground "citadel" spanned more than 100 rooms, reinforced by a 2.1m thick concrete roof, and doubled as an air raid shelter for staff when the Blitz hit. It now operates as a museum.