DEEPEST IN WORLD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20907, 6 October 1942, Page 5

DEEPEST IN WORLD

LONDON’S NEW SHELTERS } . SYDNEY. Sept. 14. The deepest and most modern air r raid shelters in the world—four north of the Thames and four-south of it, and all within Greater London—are nearing' completion, reports a London correspondent of the Sydney'Morning Herald. At least seven of . the shelters will be ready before the winter,"but they will' be held in reserve and will be open to the public only when the Home Secretary,* Mr. Herbert Morrison,'is of the opiriion, that emergency air-raid shelter accommodation is required. With depths below the surface ranging- from 68ft. I to 124f.t., each shelter will accommodate about 8000 people, Will be mechanically ventilated. and' wiir contain bunks ranged in tiers, canteens, wash basins, sick bays and a recreation bay. The decision .to construct deep shelters was taken during the heavy blitz " in' ' the autumn of 1940. A shelter which has just been completed—its construction was started in January. 1941—comprises two parallel connected tunnels, each 1200 ft. long and 16Jft. in diameter, , and lined with reinforced concrete. This is the normal London tube railway method of construction, except that the tubes are only 12ft. in diameter. The shelters, which are from 20ft. to 3Qft. under the level of the .tubes, are conveniently situated with a view to their incorporation in the new express transport network' after the war.