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Going Underground
Ten deep level shelters were designed for London during World War II. Eight of these were eventually built, four north of the river (Belsize Park, Camden Town, Goodge Street, Chancery Lane,) and four south (Stockwell, Clapham South, Clapham Common and Clapham North.) St Paul's missed out as it was considered too close to the Cathedral foundations, as did The Oval, where the water table rises considerably.
Troops were initially housed below ground, hidden away from Hitler. It was not until the Blitz started that the deep level shelters were opened up to the public during air raids. Clapham North first became active for civilians on July 13th, 1944. Eight thousand people could take shelter at each location, a figure slightly short of the original plan to house 9,600. The initial cost per head was £15. The reduction in capacity led to the final figure being around £35.
Once the War was over, London was left with an unused deep level underground network. Squatters and the homeless used the shelters until May 1945, when apart from the Stockwell station, all of the bunk beds were taken above ground. The plan was to use the tunnels as a fast track train service running from North to South, hence the equal split of locations on either side of the river. This never materialised due to a lack of funding.
Chancery Lane was converted into a 500-line trunk telephone exchange in the 1950's; Goodge Street continued use as an army transit centre until 1951; Camden Town last saw any action during some filming for Blake's 7. With the Cold War and nuclear fall-out fears still looming at late as the 1980's, the shelters remained a possible place for refuge.
'You may put your hand in some rat excrement,' explained our helpful guide from Tube Lines. 'If you hear my little gadget beeping, don't worry - it either means a lack of oxygen or poisonous gas.'
Past the reception area and I nervously made my way down the spiral staircase, not quite sure of what lay below. Halfway down and I could hear and feel the vibrations from the Northern Line. At least the trains were running on time.
Round and round until eventually we reached the foot of the first tunnel. It's hard for a seasoned Londoner to get excited about an underground tunnel lit up as far as the eye can see. I half expected to be asked to move along the platform, and then be warned to 'mind the gap.'
But a dark, empty tunnel that is steeped in history has a magical appeal. London Underground thought the same a few years ago and floated the idea of letting out the Clapham North shelter. An estate agent was even hired with a To Let sign puzzling SW4 locals on top of the ventilation shaft along Clapham Road.
Nothing came of the idea, as the dampness, which prevents data storage, would also affect any commercial enterprise. Which is a shame, as the space would make for either the perfect underground nightclub, or perhaps even a tourist attraction south of the river. With the nearby Imperial War Museum along Kennington Road, Clapham could become a satellite site for all the visiting school kids.
With most of War-ridden London now re-built, the capital's deep level shelters are the last remaining link to a past where the life of Londoner's would be unrecognisable now; appalling sanitary conditions, overcrowding and rations, then in the morning you had to return up above, not knowing if your house was still standing. It is such suffering that makes modern Londoners so strong and resilient.
And so what is to become of London's lost underground network? Piles of boxes for the seven shelters that can store them seem the long-term solution. Clapham North is a misfit and remains intriguing. The structure of the tunnel is still maintained with annual engineering inspections taking place. London Fire Brigade also inspect for safety, although there is an agreement that there's no point in fighting a fire down there. There's nothing to burn, the structure will withstand the heat and any fire will eventually burn itself out.
This article has been edited by Tube Lines.
A version of this article was first published in Time Out, London.
technorati: clapham north deep level shelter
| Tuesday 11 March, 2008 |
Ten deep level shelters were designed for London during World War II. Eight of these were eventually built, four north of the river (Belsize Park, Camden Town, Goodge Street, Chancery Lane,) and four south (Stockwell, Clapham South, Clapham Common and Clapham North.) St Paul's missed out as it was considered too close to the Cathedral foundations, as did The Oval, where the water table rises considerably.
Troops were initially housed below ground, hidden away from Hitler. It was not until the Blitz started that the deep level shelters were opened up to the public during air raids. Clapham North first became active for civilians on July 13th, 1944. Eight thousand people could take shelter at each location, a figure slightly short of the original plan to house 9,600. The initial cost per head was £15. The reduction in capacity led to the final figure being around £35.
Once the War was over, London was left with an unused deep level underground network. Squatters and the homeless used the shelters until May 1945, when apart from the Stockwell station, all of the bunk beds were taken above ground. The plan was to use the tunnels as a fast track train service running from North to South, hence the equal split of locations on either side of the river. This never materialised due to a lack of funding.
Chancery Lane was converted into a 500-line trunk telephone exchange in the 1950's; Goodge Street continued use as an army transit centre until 1951; Camden Town last saw any action during some filming for Blake's 7. With the Cold War and nuclear fall-out fears still looming at late as the 1980's, the shelters remained a possible place for refuge.
'You may put your hand in some rat excrement,' explained our helpful guide from Tube Lines. 'If you hear my little gadget beeping, don't worry - it either means a lack of oxygen or poisonous gas.'
Past the reception area and I nervously made my way down the spiral staircase, not quite sure of what lay below. Halfway down and I could hear and feel the vibrations from the Northern Line. At least the trains were running on time.
Round and round until eventually we reached the foot of the first tunnel. It's hard for a seasoned Londoner to get excited about an underground tunnel lit up as far as the eye can see. I half expected to be asked to move along the platform, and then be warned to 'mind the gap.'
But a dark, empty tunnel that is steeped in history has a magical appeal. London Underground thought the same a few years ago and floated the idea of letting out the Clapham North shelter. An estate agent was even hired with a To Let sign puzzling SW4 locals on top of the ventilation shaft along Clapham Road.
Nothing came of the idea, as the dampness, which prevents data storage, would also affect any commercial enterprise. Which is a shame, as the space would make for either the perfect underground nightclub, or perhaps even a tourist attraction south of the river. With the nearby Imperial War Museum along Kennington Road, Clapham could become a satellite site for all the visiting school kids.
With most of War-ridden London now re-built, the capital's deep level shelters are the last remaining link to a past where the life of Londoner's would be unrecognisable now; appalling sanitary conditions, overcrowding and rations, then in the morning you had to return up above, not knowing if your house was still standing. It is such suffering that makes modern Londoners so strong and resilient.
And so what is to become of London's lost underground network? Piles of boxes for the seven shelters that can store them seem the long-term solution. Clapham North is a misfit and remains intriguing. The structure of the tunnel is still maintained with annual engineering inspections taking place. London Fire Brigade also inspect for safety, although there is an agreement that there's no point in fighting a fire down there. There's nothing to burn, the structure will withstand the heat and any fire will eventually burn itself out.
This article has been edited by Tube Lines.
A version of this article was first published in Time Out, London.
technorati: clapham north deep level shelter
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