Rebecca Hobson, a 34-year-old resident of Kent, England, was taken aback when she stumbled upon a potential World War II underground bomb shelter nestled in her backyard. The revelation came to light during the Covid lockdown in 2020, when neighbors mentioned the existence of a 160-foot shelter behind her home. However, it wasn’t until recently that Hobson decided to investigate further.
Assisted by her partner Darren, Hobson uncovered the sizable tunnel by removing a pavement slab, revealing a piece of history hidden beneath the ground. The couple resides in a village near Folkestone, where remnants of wartime infrastructure still linger.
“We had no idea about the air raid shelter being in our garden when we moved into the house,” remarked Hobson in an interview with UK-based Metro. “A few years later, some locals mentioned the possibility of something from the war being in the garden. We’re still delving into its history, but it’s incredibly fascinating.”
Hobson documented the remarkable discovery by sharing photos on her social media platforms, offering glimpses of the underground structure. Having lived in the home for 15 years, the revelation of the shelter added an unexpected layer to her residence’s history.
A video shared on Hobson’s TikTok account provides a virtual tour of the tunnel, showcasing its interior illuminated by lights. The footage reveals remnants of the past, including debris, rat traps, and dusty items strewn across the space.
The astonishing find sparked intrigue among social media users, with one commenter expressing disbelief and suggesting to keep the shelter as a precautionary measure given the uncertain times. Another user inquired about the tunnel’s other end, to which Hobson clarified that it leads out to the bottom of the road but has since been sealed off, leaving access solely through their garden.
Hobson’s discovery adds to a growing list of unexpected findings in residential properties, reminiscent of a previous incident where a woman uncovered a basement-turned-nuclear bunker in her grandmother’s house. Such discoveries serve as reminders of the enduring impact of historical events on everyday life.