During World War II about 600,000 steel stretchers were manufactured for use in the Blitz. They were used by ARP (Air Raid Precaution) wardens after bombing raids.
After the war many of these stretchers were re-purposed as railings and used in lots of estates in South London. Most people pass them by without a second glace. They are a secret and silent memorial to a tragic past. They also prove that recycling isn’t a new phenomenon!
The stretchers were made from steel so that they could be easily washed down after use and used again when necessary. They had a wire mesh within the frame and two indents either side so that they were raised slightly off the ground if they had to be set down while an injured person was being transported. Most were painted green when used as stretchers, but are black in their recycled life as railings.
Many are in poor condition now (and many have been replaced). In recent years a campaign has begun (led by the Stretcher Railing Society) to raise awareness of these stretcher railings in the hope that they will be protected and treasured as an important part of London history.
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