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Description: | A group of people shelter in Bethnal Green Underground station during the Second World War. This station was newly built for the eastern extension of the Central line. By the time war broke out, however, it had not yet opened for traffic. Two women in uniform are standing between the bunks in the background.
This photograph was taken after the authorities accepted that people were going to shelter in the Underground tunnels, and started making provision for them. The Underground built 7,600 three-tier bunks to accommodate 22,800 people. The total length of bunks installed, if they were placed end to end, would be 8½ miles.
These basic facilities became available from spring 1941. Tickets were issued for each bunk to alleviate the scramble for the best places. A feeling of community developed as people returned nightly to the same bunk and got to know those around them. | Format: | image/jpeg | Publisher: | London Transport Museum | Rights holder: | Transport for London | Subjects: | London at War | Temporal: | Spring 1941 - Mar 1945 | Source: | London Transport Museum | Identifier: | http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/rser... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | image/jpeg | Go to resource |
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