When walking around the city of bristol you will notice many historic landmarks. But, some of bristols most important historical areas are totally hidden. One of these areas is bristols largest air raid shelter that kept the people of bristol safe in World War One.
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00:00 [Sounds of a door opening and closing]
00:11 Oh, you might see Margaret, our friendly ghost.
00:14 She's very friendly but can be a bit moody.
00:19 Margaret!
00:21 It's only us!
00:25 When walking around the city of Bristol, you will notice many historic landmarks.
00:30 But, some of Bristol's most important historical areas are totally hidden.
00:35 One of these areas is Bristol's largest air raid shelter that kept the people of Bristol safe in World War I.
00:42 Let's find out more.
00:44 We are in the heart of the medieval Old Town in front of St Nicholas Market, the nation's number one covered market.
00:51 While St Nicholas Market is centred around the Corn Exchange,
00:56 the most historically important building in Bristol's trading past,
01:00 the triangular trade, blitz damage above the street,
01:04 the 1960s when some of the biggest bands in the world cut their teeth in the Exchange Hall.
01:10 We are in the heart of the medieval town of Bristol.
01:14 The Saxon origins can be found in Castle Park,
01:17 and then the Corn Exchange, this particular part of the city,
01:21 was the heart of the financial district during the city's heyday as the most important trading port in the country,
01:29 and the second wealthiest city.
01:31 So, we're in the Georgian financial district.
01:35 The shelter has lain almost untouched since the end of the Second World War,
01:40 when the devastating Bristol Blitz destroyed much of the Old City,
01:45 up to 175 traders, brewery workers from Welshback and council officers
01:50 would have taken cover inside the five-room shelter,
01:54 which was given a homely feel with a coat hooks and rails and signage.
01:59 We cover a thousand years of the city's past,
02:02 starting with the Saxon origins, passing through the triangular trades,
02:07 through the blitz, onto the 1960s rock and roll scene,
02:12 when some of the biggest bands in the world started their careers in the Exchange Hall.
02:17 We then head beneath the streets into what was the biggest public air raid shelter during World War II,
02:23 and finish by exploring other parts of the building which have been used on screen.
02:28 Now, the story of the air raid shelter is being brought back to life,
02:33 after an artist started a tour within and around the rooms in October.
02:38 Beneath the Corn Exchange, we find the biggest public air raid shelter in the city centre.
02:43 A complete time warp, hidden gem with ARP posters still in place,
02:49 original drawings left on the wall done during the raids.
02:53 Up until the beginning of this year, the shelters have not been open to the public.
02:58 Duncan McKellar has also added wartime memorabilia from places like Blaze Castle
03:03 to help tell the story.