Sandy Lane, Cottam, Preston.

Regular contributor, John Davies, found these buildings in Cottam, Preston. He contacted us wondering what they were. And they confused us for a while - as they were in a field in the middle of nowhere. But our friend, Euan, realised they were modified WW2 buildings. And thanks to more of John's photos, we worked their story out.

The buildings were being used as agricultural stores and had therefore been modified,

John had a long chat with Canon Adrian Towers at St Andrews church in Cottam. He confirmed that they were originally built as air raid shelters for the school. Whilst Canon Towers has only been at the church about ten years, there was an old gentleman who lived in the school house and passed away a few years ago in his ninetees, he told the canon they were air raid shelters originally but then used for agriculture for many years.

It's the church who has sold the land as part of a majorl re-development of Cottam.

The school was only very small and we wonder if these two air raid shelters were built as a result of the influx of refugees swelling the numbers in the school.