The forgotten Tube station that had to close after complaints from posh neighbours

Down Street presumption was located successful Mayfair (Image: TfL)

There was erstwhile a London Underground presumption constructed close successful the mediate of Mayfair, 1 of London’s astir affluent areas. However, the residents who favoured alternate means of transport weren’t excessively blessed with it.

The connection for Down Street presumption came with beardown absorption from Mayfair’s locals, who weren’t pleased astir having a Tube presumption successful the country due to the fact that of worries that it would bring “undesirables” into their neighbourhood.

However, the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway continued with their plans to physique a presumption with a enactment that was akin to the existent Piccadilly line.

In the gathering proposals, the entranceway of the presumption was meant to beryllium connected the main road. However, due to the fact that of the opposition, they had to spot it connected a broadside road. 

The presumption opened March 15, 1907, and close from the infinitesimal it did, it saw hardly immoderate passengers.

With much convenient stations similar Hyde Park Corner adjacent by, it lone added to the debased footfall the presumption saw, and 25 years later, the presumption was officially closed.

Yet, aft its closure, the presumption inactive happened to beryllium useful. In 1939, it acted arsenic an underground bunker for the Railway Executive Committee, which was liable for maintaining railway operations passim the Second World War. 

The tunnels of the presumption were turned into offices, bathrooms, eating rooms and dormitories and according to Atlas Obscura, the corridors were large capable for a beverage trolley to get through.

Not lone that, but to get into the bunker, determination were 2 routes. The archetypal was to participate astatine thoroughfare level done the aged building. The different 1 was a tiny conception of the erstwhile level which remained successful use.

Mayfair is 1 of the astir affluent areas successful London (Image: Getty)

Trains connected the erstwhile enactment would walk done and if an enforcement near a reddish lamp, the adjacent bid would stop. They would past committee the bid with the operator with nary questions asked.

Winston Churchill himself on with different members of his authorities adjacent utilized the Down Street bunker earlier the Cabinet War rooms successful Westminster were completed.

Once the warfare was over, London Transport took implicit the bunker to usage it for engineering entree and arsenic an exigency exit. Now radical tin acquisition tours of the abandoned London Underground presumption offered by The London Transport Museum.