Shepherd Street W1

16 November 1940

By Sarah Allen

At around 1.30am on 16 November 1940 Shepherd Market in Mayfair W1 was hit by a high explosive bomb. The initial ARP report - received at 2.31am - indicated a unknown number of casualties. Several ARP wardens were reported already at the incident scene.

Subsequent reports of the actual damage were contradictory, variously identifying Curzon Street, Carrington Street and Shepherd Street, all of which ran close together. At 2.40am fire was reported. The AFS was reported to be en route. Further damage was noted at 3.16am, with a serious leakage of water reported in houses on Hertford Street, a small distance from the bomb site. At 4.01am Shepherd Street was reported completely blocked by debris, which was on fire. The fire was quickly brought under control: the message confirmed the incident closed at 3.45am after a request had been made for rope, trestle tables and lamps.

Almost immediately, more information on the damage to Carrington Street was filed. It was reported that a motor works on this street had sustained a direct hit and had been completely demolished. No more messages were received until the afternoon of the following day. In these later reports, ropes, trestle tables and lamps were again requested. Additionally, damage to the local water main and flooding at 44 Shepherd Street were noted. The final Air Raid Damage Report revealed that the bomb, fire and flooding combined had completely destroyed a total of five houses with several others damaged. Many surrounding roofs were also damaged and Shepherd Street was reported to be blocked by debris “from end to end.”

This incident illustrates that serious damage in the Blitz was inflicted not only by direct bomb hits, but also from subsequent coal gas main fires, ruptured water mains and Fire Service water hose use flooding.