How were the Tube Shelters in WWII Set Up?
Using original material from the Corporate Archives collection we bring you some insights into providing shelter to people...
A 1924 Government directive had ruled out the use of stations as shelters in the event of air raids but Londoners had other ideas. As shelterer Les Gaskin explains, many bought tickets for the tube and then simply refused to leave.
A mass of shelterers asleep in a Tube station passageway (1944)TfL Corporate Archives
Les Gaskin, Bounds Green shelterer as a child
"We used to go down there to find somewhere to sleep....you had to buy a ticket...to get down there...they didn't want people on the Underground initially but if you bought a ticket that was it!"
Graph showing number of people sheltering in the Tube between Autumn 1940 and April 1941 (1940-1941)TfL Corporate Archives
Once the decision was made to formally admit shelterers they came in their thousands. On 21st September 1940 around 120,000 people were seeking refuge in London's underground stations. By October this had risen to 124,000, with 2,750 sheltering at King's Cross alone
By Hans WildLIFE Photo Collection
Technically, it was the responsibility of each local authority to provide for the shelterers, in particular sanitary and cleaning arrangements, provision of first aid and medical posts, installation of bunks, prevention of disease, and appointment of marshals
Yet by November 1940 it became clear to the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) that if thousands of people were to be entering their premises, staying overnight, and needing to be got out before tube services resumed in the morning, these responsibilities must be theirs
Card allowing a named person to enter Russell Square for sheltering (1943)TfL Corporate Archives
Admittance to stations became more controlled. On 30th November 1940, Westminster City Council became the first local authority to introduce the issuing of shelter reservation tickets. Persons in "verminous condition" were refused entry or removed so as to limit infections
Reverse of shelter card for Russell Square, showing conditions of issue (1943)TfL Corporate Archives
Safety below ground was a major concern for the LPTB and shelterers were constantly requested to comply with 'conditions of use'
Leaflet given to Shelterers in Tube Stations highlighting Safety Issues (1941) by London Passenger Transport BoardTfL Corporate Archives
Concern over the well-being of the shelterers and the need to prevent the spread of infection led to the establishment of medical and first aid posts. The first of these opened at South Kensington station on 20 December 1940.
Medical First Aid Post at Notting Hill Gate Station
A woman in nurse's uniform sorts out medicines on a table and shelves, next to a glass fronted cabinet containing medical equipment. In total, 86 posts were established at a cost of £12,590 including equipment - over £583,000 in today's money
Drawing of a Medical Aid Post (1941)TfL Corporate Archives
Plan of lockable partitioned area to be sited at the end of a platform, with facilities including: consulting space, tables, cupboards, 2 3-tier bunk beds, lavatory, and isolation space
Acting as agents of and in unison with local authorities, the London Passenger Transport Board embarked on a truly remarkable nightly transformation of many of its stations.
London Transport catering staff ready to sell refreshments to Tube shelterers (1944)TfL Corporate Archives
Catering staff ready to serve refreshments
On 29th October 1940, the first refreshments service opened at Hyde Park station. By 11 November, 40-50 gallons of liquid were being sold nightly
Investigation into the Discolouration of Tea sold to Tube Station Shelterers (1941-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Discussion of the discolouration of tea experiment
Not all refreshments were up to the shelterers' standards! The report explains that a chemical reaction between tea leaves and the copper of the tea urns was causing a discolouration of tea and the shelterers' complained. The solution was to add a small portion of citric acid
A shelterers' platform canteen at Christmas (1944-12-22) by Topical PressLondon Transport Museum
By 7th December 1940, 124 platform canteen points had been opened at 71 stations, serving approximately 112,000 people
"Tube Refreshments Special" train (December 1940)London Transport Museum
Yet it was still felt that more could be done and very quickly refreshment trains started making trips up and down the lines
The last refreshment was served on 3rd May 1945 - over the course of 4.5 years 545,454 gallons of tea were served to thirsty Londoners beneath ground!
Underground map marked with the location of the Underground station shelters and deep level shelters (from the Transport for London Corporate Archives) (circa 1942)London Transport Museum
During the course of the war, an estimated 63,000,000 people took shelter in London's tube stations.
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
This story has been enhanced using images from the London Transport Museum and the LIFE Photo Collection. All enquiries regarding this material should be made directly to those institutions.
