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© Transport for London
Collection of London Transport Museum
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Metropolitan Railway women cleaners work at Hammersmith depot during the First World War.

Unknown photographer, 1915-1918

Location: Hammersmith, Hammersmith and Fulham W6

Image no: WW1-7

Inventory no: 2002/9493

20th Century London caption: These two Metropolitan Railway women cleaners are at the Hammersmith depot during the First World War. Women were recruited to replace the men who had been called up to fight. The Underground group was the first company to employ women from March 1915, when a temporary policy of 'women substitutes' was passed. These women undertook jobs traditionally held by male employees for the first time. Women worked not only as cleaners but also as conductors, clerks and rolling stock and station maintenance staff.

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