Deep-level shelters

With London suffering major air raids during the Second World War, the London Underground became a natural source of shelter. During the intensive bombing of the Blitz between September 1940 and May 1941, deep-level Tube stations sheltered thousands every night. 

With more air raids anticipated and London Transport adept at tunnelling deep underneath London, a clear idea presented itself. The British government commissioned London Transport to build deep-level shelters with the sole intention of protecting civilians. In doing so, London Transport made another major contribution to saving lives in wartime. 

Here we explore this story through a series of photographs and objects in the Museum’s collection. 

The government originally commissioned London Transport to build ten deep-level shelters. Two of these shelters, in Oval and St Paul’s, were abandoned during construction, leaving the eight shown in this blueprint. Shelters were completed at Belsize Park, Camden Town, Chancery Lane, Goodge Street, Stockwell, Clapham North, Clapham Common and Clapham South, each able to accommodate 8,000 people. 

The tunnels for the deep-level shelters were dug by hand at a depth of 30 metres and were just over 400 metres in length. Construction began immediately in the wake of the Blitz, but by the time they had been completed in 1942, the frequency of German air raids on London had diminished. 

Each deep-level shelter had an upper and lower floor, divided into sub-shelters. To help shelterers navigate, each sub-shelter was given the name of a historic senior British naval commander. But with air raids no longer a significant danger in 1942 and 1943, many of the deep-level shelters were used for military storage and staff accommodation. 

Shortly after the Allied D-Day landings in northern France on 6 June 1944, Germany began a new air offensive on London using V1 flying bombs and later V2 rockets. By early July these had inflicted serious casualties, leading to renewed evacuation and the opening of five of the deep-level shelters to the public, with a total capacity of 40,000. This began with the shelter at Stockwell, quickly followed by Clapham North, Camden Town, Clapham South and Belsize Park. Tickets like this one were issued to ensure fairness, reduce queuing and guarantee a reserved bunk bed.  

As they were purpose built, the deep-level shelters had better facilities than the more improvised Tube station shelters. Each deep-level shelter had eight canteens serving sausage rolls, meat pies and cakes, as well as hot drinks – relative luxuries at a time of strict rationing.

The deep-level shelters were run by a team of Air Raid Precautions (ARP) staff, including a superintendent, incident clerk and numerous wardens. Each deep-level shelter also had two medical bays run by medical staff. While still in the confined circumstances of underground, all facilities were more spacious than those in repurposed Tube stations. 

Another important aspect that made conditions more bearable were the eight lavatory blocks in each deep-level shelter, four for men and four for women. This was a far cry from the start of the Blitz when most shelterers at Tube station shelters had to make do with a bucket before toilet facilities improved. 

With space for around 8,000 people, each deep-level shelter was not a place for privacy. Instead, shelterers often attempted to lighten the mood with entertainment ranging from impromptu parties and singalongs to knitting or a game of draughts. 

Perhaps the most important facility of the deep-level shelters was its three-tiered bunk beds, laid out in vast tunnel-like chambers. The bunks were hard and basic and shelterers had to provide their own bedding, but with a permit to return this could be left in the shelter.  

After an overnight stay, shelterers had to leave to go about their day, finding their way back through the long tunnels and up the many stairs to the surface. This sign was salvaged from Clapham Common deep-level shelter, with markings on the sign showing the presence of people in the shelter over succeeding decades. After the Second World War, some of the shelters were used as temporary accommodation for some of the first migrants from Jamaica aboard the HMT Empire Windrush in 1948 and for visitors to the Festival of Britain in 1951. 

All of these items are on display in our Hidden London exhibition at the Museum