Through the Blitz and beyond, the part the Underground played in World War Two was a complex one. Nowhere was this more true than the role it played in sheltering the civilian populace from aerial attack.
The part platforms at places like Aldwych played, and the tragedy at Bethnal Green (both topics that will feature on LR at a later date) are now relatively well known. What is perhaps less well known, however, is the role played by the Deep Level Shelters – the remains of which can still be seen at street level.
Built from 1940 onwards but rarely accessible until the 1944 V1 and V2 rocket raids, the London Deep Level Shelters were each designed to accommodate up to 8000 people. Each shelter was built adjacent to Underground stations on the Northern and Central Lines. Each consisted of two tunnels running parallel to, but lower than, the station tunnels, in order to facilitate possible future Tube integration.
Eight shelters in total were built, with two more, at Oval and St Paul’s, abandoned early on – the former due to water egress (although its works shaft is now a ventilation shaft for the station) and the latter due to fears of destabilising the Cathedral.
Three shelters have particularly interesting – and very different – stories. The shelter at Goodge Street formed the headquarters for General Eisenhower during the run up to D Day, and the shelter at Clapham South provided initial accommodation for the Jamaican immigrants of the Empire Windrush in 1948. Meanwhile Chancery Lane, having had it’s public entrance demolished, was converted to the Kingsway secret telephone exchange after the war.
Each shelter had two entrances and they all following a similar design (although the south entrance to Clapham North had no blockhouse). These were set apart from the Underground station building itself, and the shelter could be accessed either through these or via connecting passageways at platform level.
Whilst the tunnels themselves are unfortunately not generally accessible to the public anymore, all the entrances (with the exception of that to Chancery Line) remain intact.
Somehow, these blockhouse entrances manage to perform the trick of being extremely obvious and yet almost invisible to the unseeing eye, standing quietly proud and forgotten as thousands of people walk by them every day.
You can jump quickly to a particular shelter by using the links below.
- Belsize Park
- Camden Town
- Chancery Lane
- Clapham Common
- Clapham North
- Clapham South
- Goodge Street
- Stockwell
Belsize Park
Belsize Park (North Entrance)
Belsize Park (South Entrance)
Belsize Park (South Entrance) from the other side
Camden Town
Camden Town (North Entrance)
Lifting equipment at Camden Town (North Entrance)
Camden Town (South Entrance)
Lifting equipment at Camden Town (South Entrance)
Chancery Lane
A goods entrance to Chancery Lane (possibly added during conversion to the Kingsway Bunker)
Clapham Common
Clapham Common (South Entrance)
Clapham Common (South Entrance)
Clapham Common (North Entrance)
Clapham North
Clapham North (North Entrance)
Clapham North (North Entrance)
Clapham North (South Entrance)
Clapham South
Clapham South (North Entrance)
Clapham South (North Entrance)
Clapham South (South Entrance)
Goodge Street
Goodge Street (East Entrance)
Goodge Street (East Entrance) during repainting
Goodge Street (East Entrance) lifting equipment
Goodge Street (West Entrance)
Goodge Street (West Entrance)
Stockwell
Stockwell (North Entrance) is now a war memorial
Stockwell (North Entrance) door close up
Stockwell (South Entrance)
Stockwell (South Entrance)
The Not Stopping Here series highlights disused or unusual transport-related engineering and architecture in London that is still visible to the public, if you know where to look. Suggestions for items to feature are welcome and can be sent to [email protected].
In 1954, when ‘A’ Company of The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry were posted to Bermuda, we were billeted for several days and nights in Goodge Street Tunnels, before flying out by BOAC Stratocruiser from Heathrow Airport. That, then only consisted of a few buildings and a runway!
Although there is a small lift from ground level to the tunnels at Goodge Street, only officers were allowed to use this – the rest of us had to walk up and down the many stairs carrying all of our kit! We were fed from the kitchens that were down there and I can remember how difficult it was to sleep at first, owing to the noise of the trains passing through the tunnels overhead. We were allowed out on leave in London during the evenings and I saw several shows, including ‘ Flanders & Swann’ in ‘At The Drop of a Hat’ and also those at ‘The Windmill’ whilst I was there.
A fascinating account – thank you.
Highly privileged to fly a Stratocruiser. But I bet you’re glad HMG was paying! According to Wikipedia, BOAC’s tourist class fare to New York in 1955 was $290 one way, not far off what one would pay today. (You can get a round trip fare for about £500) But $290 was worth a lot more in 1955!
You probably know already, but of the 10 planned shelters, 8 were built and now 7 of these have passed pack into TFL control (LTM managed), the MoD passed them to TFL because of the cost of maintaining them. LTM has now started to develop them into tourist attractions, through the LTM “Hidden London” scheme. I went on a tour of the Clapham South Deep Level shelter and we entered via the “Drum” – what was the Clapham South Deep level shelter Southern entrance. Our guide explained that LTM are seeking funds to turn the Clapham South Deep Level shelter Northern entrance into a café, museum, etc, and will be the future entry point.
Mike
Some photos of Clapham South Deep Level Shelter I took on one of the Hidden London tours: http://imgur.com/a/H7emW
One of the entrances to Clapham South has been turned into a block of flats with the ‘drum’ retained – I think because it is listed.
https://www.ipsusltd.com/ww2drum/info.pdf
http://www.ww2drum.com/
[I’ve corrected the second link. LBM]
Readers wishing to study the shelters in depth should dig into London’s Secret Tubes (Emerson and Beard, Capital Transport 2004) which has a wealth of information on these and related topics.
@SECRETLONDON – I think because it is listed.
or because it is a deep reinforced concrete bomb shelter – not economic to remove.
Ans=42
No [Snipped erroneous sighting. LBM]
AFAIK all the existing “drums” are on the route of the Northern Line.
Try this old “Londonist” article for good starting line ….