I am always on the lookout to find you some of London's best kept secrets, and I know that at first glance this might not appear to be one of them. But, stay with me on this ...Back in the 1970's the Welcome Trust had buildings on both sides of Euston Road. Being good employers they very aware of the challenges for their staff of trying to cross that crowded race track on foot. So they built a tunnel under the road for staff to dash back and forth in total safety. Nowdays they don't have buildings on both sides of the road, and the tunnel is no longer in use, with a strong door locking each side about half way.
Although you can't get into the tunnel, you can see part of the exterior of it if you go onto the platform at Euston Square underground. Look carefully and you will see a a section across the roof of the tunnel above the tube tracks. This is the floor of the tunnel.
14 comments:
We had a building like this when I worked for Anglo American in Johannesburg City Centre
Ooo, interesting!! I love finding out random stuff like this!
A bit of 'hidden history'.
What a shame it's not being used - nice squat!!!
What a gorgeous photograph. I love the perspective! I live that you found this tunnel. It is gorgeous.
That is a good find.
This reminds «Louis» of his visit to the underground offices of Churchill's cabinet built so the government could function during the bombing raids in WWII.
You are so good at finding these little secret places. Your story made me think about a time I was working in downtwon Phoenix. The company I worked for had their local headquarters in a tall high-rise building and the offices overflowed into other buildings. I worked in a building across the street. I was quickly shown a tunnel like this that I could used to travel back and forth between the buildings. Now the building I used to work in is condominiums so I'm sure that tunnel has been sealed up.
We've got a tunnel like that between the two buildings where I work!
Great find. Very interesting Mo.
If your appetite has been whetted, here's an account of one of London's other sealed-up tunnels, fascinating if you think you know the Embankment area: http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2011/10/26/the-northern-line-tunnel-that-was-bombed-and-flooded-in-1940-and-is-still-sealed-shut/
Interesting and smart.
I got a feel of "Art Deco" style by looking at it, but I might be wrong.
"Fresh Eyes On London" has been included in this weeks Sites To See. I hope this helps to attract many new visitors here.
http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2011/11/sites-to-see.html
Look around for tours of the Kingsway Tunnel. I know it isn't much of a secret, but there are (supposedly) a number secrets in there most people don't know about.
I always enjoyed stumbling on a new - to me - subway in unexpected places. or just an unexpectedly attractive or interesting one, like Elephant & Castle.
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