Air Raid shelter in basement

[KMBoro]

I have been looking at buying an old 4 story Georgian house, however I have been scared off by discovering in the backroom of the basement there is an air raid shelter!
Basically the stone flags that were once on the basement floor have been removed and then laid in the dining room above and the basement ceiling reinforced with steel stanchions and beams.
However I really like the property and was wondering if:
1) I was right to be worried as the structural integrity of the building may have been compromised
2) If anyone has advice as to what I should do if I want to resubmit an offer (should I fork out on getting a structural engineer in....I was quoted near enough a grand from one to do the necessary analysis
3) Should I stop being so paranoid and maybe get the stone flags removed as a precaution?

Thanks in advance

 

[tony1851]

It's been like that for 70-odd years - why should it be a problem now?

 

[KMBoro]

Thanks Tony - that is what I originally thought, however after speaking to a structural engineer over the phone, he said that it could have caused untold problems with the integrity of the structure and that I should let him have a look at it....for a cool £1000!

 

[ree]

Keep the air raid shelter - no way will it be a structural danger. I would be proud to have it.

Back in the day i worked on an end terrace with an 8" x 8" post & beam reinforcement in the cellar and a massive concrete covered (still full) reservoir in the back yard - all from roughly 1940. Next door was a typical brick and concrete topped air raid shelter.
A plaque on the gable wall informed the neighbour's that this house was a designated ARP centre.

 

[tony1851]

Thanks Tony - that is what I originally thought, however after speaking to a structural engineer over the phone, he said that it could have caused untold problems with the integrity of the structure and that I should let him have a look at it....for a cool £1000!

He will say that, won't he!

Just keep things as they are.

 

[KMBoro]

Keep the air raid shelter - no way will it be a structural danger. I would be proud to have it.

Back in the day i worked on an end terrace with an 8" x 8" post & beam reinforcement in the cellar and a massive concrete covered (still full) reservoir in the back yard - all from roughly 1940. Next door was a typical brick and concrete topped air raid shelter.
A plaque on the gable wall informed the neighbour's that this house was a designated ARP centre.

Cheers Ree, I must admit, even though I worried about it, it was a very intreresting thing to see - 3 tiered bunk beds on each wall and secret doors running between 3 houses, directly into the pub on the end of the terrace! Could be handy if I lost my way home, two doors down from the pub

 

[footprints]

You could open up as a boutique hotel, serve 'em up dried eggs and spam for breakfast and make a fortune!

 

[JBR]

With a bit of upgrading - air filtration and fresh water supply, for example - you could be ready for when WW3 kicks off.

(Turkey shot down a Russian fighter; Turkey is a NATO member.)