The Abbey Circus World War 2 Air-Raid Shelter project is led by Chris Reynolds, Professor of Contemporary European History and Memory Studies at Nottingham Trent University. It has brought together a range of local partners and stakeholders including Rushcliffe Borough Council and Jason King with the objective of opening and developing an abandoned Air-Raid Shelter in the heart of West Bridgford so that it can become the centrepiece of a bespoke study day for local school children.
The project was made possible with the support of Nottingham Trent University and Rushcliffe Borough Council who provided funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and matched funding to help develop the site and preserve the rich history it holds. A detailed assessment of the structure and its viability, including a structural engineer’s report was carried out to ensure the shelter was suitable for development and visits. Part of that report included the following 3d flythrough.
Jason King has played an important role in the development of this project as well providing a key component of the study day experience via his wonderful collection of artefacts that are brought into schools for pupils to experience. Jason also takes the children back to the wartime era with his role-play activity that sees the pupils trained as air wardens on the shelter site.
The bespoke, wrap around content of the project was developed and delivered by Illustration students at the School of Art and Design at Nottingham Trent University. These students were led by Senior Lecturer Ellie Wild who led the team of Amy Jones, Aish B., Ayiana Rowe, Dove Agheda, Eeman À Lawal, Finn Keeling, Halley Singh, Isaac Meardon, Kit Habben, Kitty Ballard, Natasha Cowie, Rachael Crompton, and Sebastian Dearden in the delivery of our vibrant and exciting content.
Finally, the crucial, early stages of the project development were only possible with the support of St Edmund Campion Primary and Lady Bay Primary schools whose pupils helped design the research questions for the project as well as assisting the careful curation of our content and delivery. These two schools now join a range of other local schools who now enjoy and support the project. These currently include West Bridgford Junior School, Rosecliffe Spencer Academy, Jesse Gray Primary, and Abbey Road Primary. If you want your school to be included, please get in touch.