B/W print; shelterers at Wood Green station during Second World War, Sport & General, 1940

People sheltering from an air raid on a platform at Wood Green Underground station. Every night, up to 60,000 shelterers took refuge in the Underground. It was one of few refuges for people who lived in high-density housing. One advantage it had over the shelters at ground level was that the bombs could not be heard this deep underground, so some people managed to snatch a few hours' sleep. These shelters were often damp and unhygienic, though after the first few months of bombing the authorities improved conditions by installing bunks, wash rooms and toilets, and providing medical care.