The Clapham South deep level shelter can fit 8,000 people (Picture: London Transport Museum)
As a Russian dictator tries to spark fear into the hearts of Brits, the question of protecting ourselves weighs heavier as the threat of all-out war continues.
Vladimir Putin has made no bones about attacking the West if he feels provoked enough, including sending a 600mph missile to the UK’s doorstep in less than two hours.
Although much of this is down to fear mongering and rising tensions, the Russian premier’s threats have sent chills down the spines of those in the capital.
And as one of Europe’s leading cities and home to 13% of the entire UK population, London would almost certainly be one of the first on Putin’s ‘hit list’.
But this is not the first time the UK has faced a threat from overseas. The country rallied together as Nazi bombs flew overhead in the 1940s and hid in the countless shelters distributed around London overnight.
The Clapham South shelter is one such place which can offer more than a reasonable amount of shelter – being 130 ft deep and having space for around 8,000 people.
But only eight deep level shelters remain, with others located in Belsize Park, Goodge Street and Stockwell.
It will be no small task getting the shelters up and running again. With many being repurposed into archival storage or top-secret telephone exchanges.
With no idea if anymore will be built, here is how the remaining shelters must be adapted if Putin makes good on his threats.
Can they still survive modern bombs?
Scots Guards Enter The 130ft Deep Shelter At Clapham South (Picture: ANL/REX/Shutterstock)
Despite dust collecting in the ill-frequently used structures, it will not be impossible getting them ready.
Clapham South still has many of the bunk bed frames up and will be one of the most sought after place to stay if war planes begin flying overhead.
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Nick Cooper, author of London Underground at War, said Clapham South station will ‘undoubtedly be the safest place to be’.
He told Metro: ‘Unless someone was trying to directly hit one, it is unlikely to do catastrophic damage.
‘But even bigger bombs will struggle to penetrate the ground enough to reach people in the shelter.’
People without access to street or garden shelters were the first ones offered tickets to stay overnight, which would be similar if used again today.
The shelter is ‘undoubtedly one of the safest places to be’ (Picture: London Transport Museum)
Will they be sanitary?
The toilets will be in need of a major upgrade from the chemical buckets used in the 1940s.
Nick said: ‘The conditions of the toilets in the 1940s will not live up to what we see at Glastonbury festival.
‘They were smelly and needed to be emptied manually by some poor worker into a “collection dump” which was then whizzed upwards towards the sewer level above.’
‘As long as the pipes still work, I can’t imagine it is too hard of a job.’
Showers will also need to be built, otherwise the eventual stench which will arise from thousands of people bunking together will become upsetting.
‘This kind of thing does impact people’s morale,’ Nick said.
‘We have a higher standard of hygiene compared to the World War II era, with most of the adult population showering everyday.
‘But imagine being told to sleep next to someone who stinks.’
The toilets will be in need of a major upgrade from the chemical buckets used in the 1940s (Picture: London Transport Museum)
Will there be anything to eat?
When the shelters were used during the war, the only things offered the menu was largely limited to tea and sandwiches.
But thanks to the invention of the microwave, shelterers may be able to look forward to a hot meal akin to what is served in Wetherspoons.
Nick said: ‘You can electricity in the shelters, which opens up so many more options for us.
‘Back then, things were cooked with coal gas, which would have been lethal to use in an air tight shelter.’
The food served in the shelter was largely considered overpriced, with tea costing nearly double what they could get above ground.
And to no surprise, we should expect nothing less for us.
Nick said: ‘It was always the idea there will be some profit made, I’m sure it will be similar for us.’
Only eight deep level shelters remain (Picture; London Transport Museum)
An entrance to Clapham South deep level shelter seen from street level (Picture: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
Can you get medical aid in the shelters?
The deep level shelters offered basic levels of medical care while people were down there.
A huge concern was making sure people who were contagious with any diseases like the Spanish Flu were isolated to not place thousands of others at risk.
Even equipment like saline drips were available to those if needed, and we can expect to see more advanced care.
Nick said: ‘They should be able to replicate a doctor’s surgery, and even add things like an X-ray suite, de-fibrillators and IV drips.
‘People are at risk of injuries, you can break a bone from falling down the stairs, and these problems should be solvable.’
Bunk beds at the shelter (Picture: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
Will we be able to use the internet down there?
Wifi can easily be installed in the deep shelter, but the disruption this causes may not be worth it.
Nick said: ‘People will need to be able to sleep, and if there is someone there playing music or watcuhing a film out loud, this can disrupt it.’
But using the internet may be the only way shelters can reach loved ones in a different shelter.
‘There will definitely need to be some form of wifi, but it will probably be heavily restricted,’ Nick said.
‘It may be like what they use on trains, where it is there for basic messaging and social media, but no videos or downloadable content.’
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