In 1939, at the start of the second world war, Basingstoke was a town of about 20,000 people. To prepare, all councils had to make preparations for war and bombardment. They had to set up Air Raid Precautions committees; appoint air raid wardens; build bomb shelters; and provide and store equipment for bombing or gas attack. They built barriers and obstacles to hinder invasions. But how many of these constructions survive in the town today? Tank blocks can still be seen in the old cemetery at South View, the remains of a tank ‘island’ around the railway station. Loop-holes are visible in the bridge parapets at Bunnian Place and Chapel Hill, again protecting the railway. Shelters survive at Brinkletts, used post-war by Civil Defence.