Continuing my journey into urbex in 2025, after exploring north weald redoubt, my next weekend explore was Coulsdon deep as it seemed easily accessible.
History
Coulsdon Deep Shelter, also known as Brighton Road Deep Shelter, was built during World War II to protect residents from air raids. Completed in 1941, it was designed for 720 people but was originally planned for 1,500, with capacity reduced due the workers hitting unstable chalk and being unable to continue. The shelter consists of three parallel tunnels, linked by perpendicular passages. Some of the excavated dirt was used to reinforce the shelter with an earth bank for blast protection.
After the war, the shelter was repurposed by Cox, Hargreaves, and Thomson Ltd. for precision optical manufacturing, but damp conditions led to corrosion issues, forcing them to vacate in the 1970s. It was later used for storage by a local garage, but similar problems led to its abandonment. It was sealed off by the council in the 1980s.
In the forest above the shelter there are some round stone airvents, this one near the main entrance is blocked up with debris.
When entering through the main entrance there is an area directly ahead with a pile of soil and scrap and the roof itself looks particularly unstable, bulging inwards, can't say how long it will last but perhaps that is part of the motivation of explorers to dig out the second exit which I will talk about later.
Latrines:
Here are the stone walls of throw of latrines, the chemical toilets where probably removed when the shelter was reporposeuas a lens factory as the area how contains some machinery parts, motors, scrap metal and.alarg pile of metal shavings although these items are more likely from the garage which came after.
Some old equipment left behind infringe of one of the chalky rockfaces of unfinished tunnel. I have seen conflicting reports of these machines being for polishing glass lenses for the telescope manufacterer or being some hind of tire fitting machine. Peronsaly I haven't seen anything like them so I can't say either way.
This is the inside view of the hole leading to a short stretch of passageway which ends at a dug out access emerging in a valley further into the Forrest.
Metal blast door near primary entrance.
Carved out storage space opposite latrines.
Makeshift dehumidifier unit build from an old fridge used during the shelters time as a factory/garage as the damp environment was causing accelerated rusting of equipement.
Some explorers have placed reflective rings at the 4 way intersections which help remind you which way you came and where you have been. The place was much larger than the impression I got from the
reports which was a pleasant surprise.,
Heavily corroded fluorescent light, surprisingly not smashed considering the evident amount of traffic down there.
Burned homework.
History
Coulsdon Deep Shelter, also known as Brighton Road Deep Shelter, was built during World War II to protect residents from air raids. Completed in 1941, it was designed for 720 people but was originally planned for 1,500, with capacity reduced due the workers hitting unstable chalk and being unable to continue. The shelter consists of three parallel tunnels, linked by perpendicular passages. Some of the excavated dirt was used to reinforce the shelter with an earth bank for blast protection.
After the war, the shelter was repurposed by Cox, Hargreaves, and Thomson Ltd. for precision optical manufacturing, but damp conditions led to corrosion issues, forcing them to vacate in the 1970s. It was later used for storage by a local garage, but similar problems led to its abandonment. It was sealed off by the council in the 1980s.
In the forest above the shelter there are some round stone airvents, this one near the main entrance is blocked up with debris.
When entering through the main entrance there is an area directly ahead with a pile of soil and scrap and the roof itself looks particularly unstable, bulging inwards, can't say how long it will last but perhaps that is part of the motivation of explorers to dig out the second exit which I will talk about later.
Latrines:
Here are the stone walls of throw of latrines, the chemical toilets where probably removed when the shelter was reporposeuas a lens factory as the area how contains some machinery parts, motors, scrap metal and.alarg pile of metal shavings although these items are more likely from the garage which came after.
Some old equipment left behind infringe of one of the chalky rockfaces of unfinished tunnel. I have seen conflicting reports of these machines being for polishing glass lenses for the telescope manufacterer or being some hind of tire fitting machine. Peronsaly I haven't seen anything like them so I can't say either way.
This is the inside view of the hole leading to a short stretch of passageway which ends at a dug out access emerging in a valley further into the Forrest.
Metal blast door near primary entrance.
Carved out storage space opposite latrines.
Makeshift dehumidifier unit build from an old fridge used during the shelters time as a factory/garage as the damp environment was causing accelerated rusting of equipement.
Some explorers have placed reflective rings at the 4 way intersections which help remind you which way you came and where you have been. The place was much larger than the impression I got from the
reports which was a pleasant surprise.,
Heavily corroded fluorescent light, surprisingly not smashed considering the evident amount of traffic down there.
Burned homework.
