Winston Churchill's tube station bunker could reopen to the public
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Version 0 of 1. A disused London tube station that Sir Winston Churchill used as a bunker during the second world war could be opened to the public again, more than 80 years after the last passengers disembarked there. Down Street station in Mayfair was closed to the public in May 1932 because of low passenger numbers. The station was later used by the prime minister and his war cabinet after wood-decked meeting rooms and underground living accommodation were created for up to 40 people. Transport for London (TfL) is now inviting businesses to submit ideas to transform the forgotten station into a viable business as part of its plans to generate £3.4bn in non-fare revenue to reinvest in the transport network. Graeme Craig, TfL’s director of commercial development, said: “This is a fantastic building. It is in the heart of Mayfair, it’s got great heritage, it’s been an important station. But it has not been used for 80 years. The challenge we have is, in a complex difficult space what uses can we bring to this station? How can we bring it back to life? “It’s not straightforward – we have spent months trying to work through whether it can be used at all. We are now confident that it can be.” Down Street station opened on the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway in March 1907, but was used by few passengers owing to its proximity to stations at Hyde Park Corner and Dover Street (now Green Park), and the reluctance of Mayfair’s residents to use public transport. The station later played a role in the war when it was used as the protected underground headquarters for Churchill’s railway executive committee, and the war cabinet until the Cabinet War Rooms became available. It is believed the location close to Westminster made it popular with Churchill. A disused bathtub in the living quarters still bears the inscription WC. TfL is seeking to lease out part of the station to businesses who have the ability to use the space to “create something exceptional and establish the next chapter in the station’s history”. Craig said: “The combination of space, history and location, makes this a unique opportunity. We are looking for a partner with the imagination to see the potential here and the capability to deliver it. “Adjoining parts of the station are still required for running the tube, but we will work with interested parties to ensure the commercial and operational activities can happily co-exist.” It is hoped the station could be renovated in the next two years. Other disused tube stations have been used for theatrical events, filming and retail hubs. |