Sunday, 13 March 2011

Clapham North Deep Level Shelter

A flying visit with MJS...

...We didn't have chance to see it all, but still glad I managed to see a good chunk of it. We bumped into a few other explorers whilst down there which wasn't really surprising!

There were eight deep level shelters built between 1941-1942 underneath existing London Underground stations.

Since the war, plans were drawn up to utilise the tunnels as an express rail route, but were soon dropped due to lack of funding.

London Underground have since took control of the shelters, all of which have been leased out except for Clapham.

30M Down the mainshaft via a spiral staircase are two 1400ft long tubes, with connecting tunnels and a now bricked up link to Clapham North Station.

The shelter was originally designed to house 8,000 people during the blitz of WW2.

Pillbox surface building - Contains lift machinery and double helix staircase 30M down the main shaft to 'Deep Level'

(Pic © Nick Catford - Subbrit) 

Shelter Diagram


Top Of Main Shaft/Spiral Staircase



Once down we entered the short cross-link tunnel, linking the 2 x 1400ft tunnels heading North & South.

The tunnel construction is unique, in that 2 bisecting circular tunnels had been mined to form the top and bottom level of the shelter thus providing more space.


Northbound Cross-link Entrance/Passageway


South Tunnel


Gents Toilets - You can still see the urinals on the walls


Flight Of Stairs - Leading to Clapham Station platforms


Ventilation pipes for Clapham Station


Bricked Up Access To Clapham Station


North Tunnel


Stairwell - Down to lower section of Deep Level Shelter


We were pushed for time so I headed back up leaving MJS to take a couple of pics down here whilst I stalled the others


It was great to finally see this place...

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