Built between 1941 and 1942 to house up to 8,000 people, Clapham North is one of 10 such deep level shelters built in London. It was expected that the tunnels would later be used for part of a new proposed tube line. the tunnels consist of two tubes, 16 feet across and 12,000 feet long (2.3 miles).
In reality, the shelters were not initially used for their intended purpose, that of civilian safety. One was General Eisenhower's HQ, the rest billets for UK and US troops during the war. However, when the V2 rockets arrived, Clapham North and others were opened to civilians.
Since the war, uses for the shelters have varied. They have been used as troop and student accomodation, document storage, film sets and in the case of Chancery Lane, a 500 link telephone exchange
