We warmly invite parents and carers of children at both Downs Infant School and Downs Junior School to come and see the original air raid shelter under the DJS playground.

Join members of the Take Shelter team to hear more about the project and to see the shelter for yourself. During the morning you will see the range of activities that all of our school pupils enjoy when they visit.

Please arrive at Downs Junior School via the gate on Ditchling Road at 9.20am. The tours will start promptly at 9.30am.

Access into the shelter is via metal steps so please wear sensible shoes.

Please note that tickets are limited to 2 per family.

If you have any queries about your visit please contact: TakeShelter@downsjun.brighton-hove.sch.uk

Background to the Take Shelter project

During the Second World War every school would have had its own air raid shelter. Today the only shelter open to the public is at Downs Junior School. The shelter could accommodate up to 300 people and outside of school hours was used as a public shelter for the local community.

The shelter has rediscovered in the 1980s but it was not until 2014 that the restoration of this unique piece of Brighton's wartime history began. A team of dedicated volunteers have lovingly restored and enhanced with Second World War displays, photographs, films and sound clips.

Today the shelter is open for school groups and this academic year we will have hosted more than 1500 school pupils from across Brighton & Hove and beyond. We also for two packed weekends during the May Festival and for the Heritage Open Days weekend in September.

For further information about Take Shelter please see: www.takeshelter.org.uk