Photograph details

© Transport for London
Collection of London Transport Museum
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The disused British Museum Underground station, Central line. Interior view of workmen building a wall of breeze blocks along the edge of the platform at during the Second World War, to increase accommodation for air raid shelterers. A Liverpool Street-bound train passes the old platform.

Photographed by Topical Press, 19 Jun 1941

Location: High Holborn, WC1

Image no: U33201

Inventory no: 1999/10291

20th Century London caption: Workmen build a wall of breezeblocks along the edge of the platform at the disused British Museum Underground station on 19 June 1941. This station was on the Central line. The workmen are increasing accommodation for air-raid shelterers. A Liverpool Street-bound train passes the old platform. When the war started, the authorities banned the use of the Underground for sheltering, however people refused to listen, buying tickets and staying underground after the Tubes had stopped running. There was not enough space for everyone who needed it to stay in an over ground public shelter. Eventually London Transport started to provide more space and facilities for these people.

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