Courtesy of Wikipedia London deep-level shelter Chenies Street, London, WC1.– Author – Philafrenzy
One of London’s secret locations that unfortunately turns out to be not what it says on the tin, but fascinating all the same.
During the Second World War, the government built several deep level shelters under existing tube lines to protect the population from bombing. They were built to accommodate up to 8000 people in deep tunnels but unfortunately were not completed till after after the blitz and saw only limited use.
These cylindrical concrete blockhouses near Goodge Street Tube Station were built to protect the entrance and stairs to the shelter and if you look closely, you can spot the ventilation shaft on top of the adjoining brick building.
Chenies Street gained a reputation as being where General Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, planned the D-Day Invasion but sadly, this turns out not to be the case.
It was however, used in the lead up to D-Day as a signal installation by the US Army Signal Corp, one of several hidden in Central London. Despite not being his HQ, the blockhouse became known as The Eisenhower Centre and is today used as a storage facility and by a children’s play group.