大象传媒

Message 1 - The Morrison Shelter

Posted on: 22 August 2005 by Peter - WW2 Site Helper

Dear Samuru

You speculated whether a Morrison shelter was made of cast iron. No, it wasn't for safety reasons - cast iron is brittle and would easily shatter like a thick sheet of toffee does - under impact. The shelters had a stout steel frame.

The design was approved by the Home Office in January 1941 and the first supplies began to be issued by the end of March. They were welded in the style of a table but with wire mesh sides and a heavy steel plate 1/8in thick for the top with high-tensile steel legs. They were 6ft 6ins long by 4ft wide standing 2ft 9ins off the ground - the prototypes were taller, but it was decided to make it usable as a table during the day. A Morrison two-tier shelter was later made available, following demand for more room. This had the same measurements in length and width but measured 4ft 3ins high. Both models were designed to withstand the debris from the collapse of two floors.

Householders were instructed to erect the shelter in their cellars, or if they didn't have a cellar, on the ground floor of their house. Famlies with an anual income under 拢350 a year - about 拢11,400 in current values - were eligible for a free shelter, otherwise they were available for purchase for 拢7 12s. 6d (about 拢 245 in 2005 values).

Regards,
Peter Ghiringhelli