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Explorer Finds Untouched Coal Sketches In Secret World War Two Bunker

Explorer Finds Untouched Coal Sketches In Secret World War Two Bunker

The location is being kept a secret in fear of vandalism

Rachael Grealish

Rachael Grealish

An urban explorer has revealed amazing footage of portraits sketched onto the wall of a secret wartime bunker, which he believes date back to World War II.

Caters

After hearing whispers of the drawings, Chris Halliwell decided he needed to see them for himself and went on a three-day expedition to find the entrance to the shelter.

Though he was well-versed in the subject, Chris was taken aback by the mile-long haunting tunnel with walls plastered with coal drawings, depicting soldiers and women with glamorous 1940s pin curls.

The dad of three believes the drawings were created by workers from a nearby coal plant that took shelter during the bombings.

A discovery like this is truly a dream for an urban explorer - however, even with the amazing find, Chris doesn't want to share its location because he fears the portraits would be vandalised and ruined.

Chris from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, said: "I had heard about the portraits and done loads of research online but I never expected there to be so many.

Caters

"There were a lot of portraits of women and a few men - one that had a pipe in his mouth and another with a rifle on his back. It was amazing.

"They're portraits from people who were down there during the bombings. From the quality of them it looks like they could be drawn from life.

"Most of them were drawn in black coal and back in the day there was a coal plant nearby so the portraits are possibly by the workers who took shelter in the bunker.

"It might have been a way for the people to keep themselves occupied during the tedious wait for the 'all clear'.

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"This is the dream really to make a discovery like this, this is probably the best find I've made.

"I thought I knew what to expect and I'd seen a few photos but once I got down there it was a whole different story.

"I'm determined to keep the location secret. If more people find out about it, the portraits will end up getting rubbed off the walls or vandalised.

"I want to protect it, it's a piece of history."

Chris, who runs an urban explorer group called CJ URBEX, documented his investigation of the air raid shelter with images and video.

Caters

As well as the portraits, there were also old gas lamps, barrels used as chemical toilets and kettles, all 'rotting away' in the forgotten bunker.

After watching videos posted by other urban explorers two years ago, Chris was inspired to try out the hobby - and it quickly became a passion.

The dad, who also has a love for photography and videography, enjoys the thrill of making new discoveries and 'wowing' people with his pictures and footage.

Chris said: "Urban exploring isn't something I've been doing for a long time but it is a real passion of mine.

"After watching a few videos from other people I thought, 'This is awesome,' and had to give it a try. It's all gone from there really.

"I do abandoned buildings as well but I really love bunkers.

Caters

"When you get down there you do have to stop and have a bit of a breather and give yourself a moment to take in your surroundings because you're in complete darkness.

"When I got down into the last bunker, it was really dark, dank and moist so you do need to take a minute.

"There were so many findings down there, it was brilliant. I had about a mile of tunnels to walk through and there was so much to see. But the great treasure really was the portraits.

"We found some cigarette lighter writing on the ceiling which indicates the dates 1942 and 1943.

"The bunker may have begun as a Munich crisis trench during a few tense weeks in September 1938."

Featured Image Credit: Caters

Topics: World News, UK News, WWII, Interesting