What is a Morrison shelter?

Answer 1

Air raid shelters were built specifically to serve as protection against enemy air raids. However, pre-existing edifices designed for other functions, such as underground stations (tube or subway stations), tunnels, or cellars in houses, basements in larger establishments, and railway arches, were also utilised. These structures, being below ground or almost so, and being especially strengthened to support the weight of the buildings above them, were therefore particularly suitable to safeguard people during air raids. A commonly used home made shelter was known as the Anderson shelter which would be built with beds, in the garden to protect from air raids.

Answer 2

Morrison Shelters were made of metal and were prefabricated to be assembled by the home owner. They were assembled inside the house. There were Anderson Shelters which were built outside the house. You can read in detail about both types of shelters on the related link below.

Answer 3

Morrison shelters were issued to householders during World War 2 who didn't have a garden and therefore couldn't use an Anderson shelter. The Morrison shelter was effectively a steel cage which was assembled inside a family's home to give them protection against falling masonry during an air raid but couldn't withstand a direct hit.

Answer 4

People who had a back garden or yard, were issued with Anderson shelters to help protect them from the effects of bombing in World War 2. People who didn't have access to an Anderson shelter were issued with a Morrison shelter which they assembled within their home and it served the same purpose. It was basically a metal cage.

Answer 5

The Morrison Shelter was an indoor alternative to the Anderson Shelter.

The Anderson Shelter was built outside and consisted of a steel or iron roof, walls and door protecting a small dug-out room which contained beds and a stove. During an air raid, the occupants of the house would run into the shelter and sleep there overnight to avoid being bombed.

The Morrison Shelter was similar, but was indoors rather than outdoors. It consisted of a table-like structure with a cage underneath it. During an air raid, the occupants of the house would lock themselves in the cage. The Morrison Shelter was good for the elderly or sick who couldn't run into the garden in time to an Anderson Shelter, or for those who didn't have gardens. The cages were designed to withstand rubble and debris falling as a result of the house collapsing due to being bombed. However, they were not strong enough to withstand a direct hit. And because the cages were not air-tight, dust from debris easily choked the occupants.

Answer 6

In 1938 Sir John Anderson was placed in charge of Air Raid Precautions (ARP) by Neville Chamberlain. Almost immediately engineer William Patterson came up with the ideas of what became the Anderson (bomb) shelter. These were fine if you had the outside space needed to erect them. People needed something they could use indoors to protect them if there was an air raid.

In 1941 Ellen Wilkinson took over the role of ARP and was responsible for the introduction of the Morrison shelter (named after Herbert Morrison, Home Secretary) in March of that year.

Answer 7

In a home environment, the Morrison Shelter was an indoor cage. It was designed to protect the occupants from falling masonry. During an air-raid, people could either get inside the Morrison Shelter (cage), or go outdoors into the Anderson Shelter in their backyard or garden. Though both gave some protection, especially from shrapnel coming from a nearby exploding bomb, neither could withstand a direct hit!

Answer 8

a pet shelter from morrisons Lol to the above: It was an air raid shelter (home made) in WW2. The alternative design was an Anderson shelter.

Answer 9

A Morrison shelter is made of wood and threaded wire.

Answer 10

corigated iron.