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TUNNEL VISION Inside the UK’s largest purpose-built WW2 bomb shelter where thousands of Brits sought refuge from Nazi attacks

TUNNEL VISION Inside the UK’s largest purpose-built WW2 bomb shelter where thousands of Brits sought refuge from Nazi attacks
The chilling shots were taken by urban exploration group Abandoned Scotland who hope to draw attention to some of Scotland's forgotten landmarks

TAKE a step into the dark, rusty tunnels built in the side of a cliff in Port Glasgow, Scotland.

But as daunting as the tunnels look, they have a fascinating history.
The creepy passageways were once used as a World War II air raid shelter – and would have been a safe haven to those who needed refuge from the Nazi bombings.

The tunnels form a labyrinth like network and are thought to be one of the UK’s largest such shelters – with space for up to an impressive 1,000 people.

But what was once considered a zone of safety and security is now deserted and forgotten.

The chilling shots were taken by urban exploration group Abandoned Scotland who hope to draw attention to some of Scotland’s forgotten landmarks.

Other pictures depict the remains of the toilets as well as the generator that would have been used to power the shelter.

According to Abandoned Scotland , the shelter itself was built by the Birkmyre family in preparation for WW2.

The Birkmyre family reportedly owned the nearby Gourock ropeworks – which has now been developed into flats.
The clan contributed considerably to the Inverclyde area as owners of the ropeworks, and the shelter was reportedly built for both the employees and their families.

Inverclyde underwent two nights of rigorous bombing in 1941 – with May 6 and 7 referred to as the ‘Greenock Blitz’ .
Approximately 246 people died in Greenock during the two nights, while 626 were injured – 290 of them seriously.

A further 52 people were listed as ‘missing’ and presumed dead, with 74 killed in Port Glasgow, 30 of whom were in one shelter which was hit by a 250kg bomb.
©Abandoned Scotland/Exclusivepix Media

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Inside the UK’s largest purpose-built WW2 bomb shelter
TUNNEL VISION Inside the UK’s largest purpose-built WW2 bomb shelter where thousands of Brits sought refuge from Nazi attacks<br /> The chilling shots were taken by urban exploration group Abandoned Scotland who hope to draw attention to some of Scotland's forgotten landmarks<br /> <br /> TAKE a step into the dark, rusty tunnels built in the side of a cliff in Port Glasgow, Scotland.<br /> <br /> But as daunting as the tunnels look, they have a fascinating history.<br /> The creepy passageways were once used as a World War II air raid shelter – and would have been a safe haven to those who needed refuge from the Nazi bombings.<br /> <br /> The tunnels form a labyrinth like network and are thought to be one of the UK’s largest such shelters – with space for up to an impressive 1,000 people.<br /> <br /> But what was once considered a zone of safety and security is now deserted and forgotten.<br /> <br /> The chilling shots were taken by urban exploration group Abandoned Scotland who hope to draw attention to some of Scotland’s forgotten landmarks.<br /> <br /> Other pictures depict the remains of the toilets as well as the generator that would have been used to power the shelter.<br /> <br /> According to Abandoned Scotland , the shelter itself was built by the Birkmyre family in preparation for WW2.<br /> <br /> The Birkmyre family reportedly owned the nearby Gourock ropeworks – which has now been developed into flats.<br /> The clan contributed considerably to the Inverclyde area as owners of the ropeworks, and the shelter was reportedly built for both the employees and their families.<br /> <br /> Inverclyde underwent two nights of rigorous bombing in 1941 – with May 6 and 7 referred to as the ‘Greenock Blitz’ .<br /> Approximately 246 people died in Greenock during the two nights, while 626 were injured – 290 of them seriously.<br /> <br /> A further 52 people were listed as ‘missing’ and presumed dead, with 74 killed in Port Glasgow, 30 of whom were in one shelter which was hit by a 250kg bomb.<br /> ©Abandoned Scotland/Exclusivepix Media