More than mice: the secret marvels beneath the London Underground
Have you ever stopped to consider that the London tube, the holy grail of public transport, is so much more than just your vehicle to work? This fascinating, intricate web of underground trains doesn’t just carry the entire population of London at rush hour but is also part of an incredible history.
It is the oldest underground system in the world that has inspired every other country’s underground system. In my humble opinion, despite the excruciating summer heat and winter chill on the Central and the piercing screeches on the Jubilee line that forces you to converse in sign language, it is the most efficient system of transportation I’ve ever been on. The New York Subway or the Paris Métro has nothing on the Transport For London (TFL).
But back to the main point, the London Underground has a rich history and some hidden gems and has come in handy in critical situations. For example, during World War II, it became an essential form of shelter for Londoners during The Blitz bombings of 1940. It started when crowds began to gather outside Liverpool Street station, demanding to be let in to take shelter. However, this was initially prohibited under government law. Nevertheless, the Londoners found a solution: if they bought a ticket and refused to leave the station, no one could stop them.
News spread fast, and by October, 124,000 people were sheltering in tubes across London, with 2,750 at King’s Cross alone! An underground network of pharmacies and refreshment providers had rapidly developed for those taking refuge. It was as if the city had just moved to the basement.
What about the hidden gems? What could possibly lie under the tracks other than a rat kingdom, home to the entire population of rodents of England’s capital? Well, just like Pompeii, not all treasures are easy to find.
Throughout the centuries, historical marvels such as caves and Roman ruins have been discovered while digging underground. One of the coolest examples we know of is ‘Paddock’, which is the codename for a backup secret war room bunker built during World War II, should Whitehall no longer be viable. It was constructed in total secrecy in 1939 in Dollis Hill and contains 40 rooms to house all branches of the military and primary government assets.
If you’re into gory stuff, then you will be pleased to learn about the Fleet Street Ossuary and Charnel House, which are located within the crypts of St Brides Church near St Paul’s. This came to light when skulls and bones from a medieval charnel house were discovered during excavations in the 1950s.
If you’re a speleologist or cave enthusiast, you won’t need to travel all the way to Mexico because, in Painshill Park, in Southwest London, there’s a spectacular grotto surrounded by bubbling water and stalactites covered in crystals.
It should be noted that the cave was man-made by aristocrat Charles Hamilton in 1760. He spent thousands of pounds to build the cave that’s encrusted with crystals including calcite, gypsum, and quartz. Now it is free to visit for anyone who goes to the park.
So next time you’re feeling claustrophobic on the London Underground, sitting on a seat that hasn’t been washed for decades, and spare a few seconds to think about what lies beneath your feet and the rolling wheels.
