Patron: Sir Tommy Steele O.B.E.
Keeping History Alive in London's Secret Riverside Villages
Wed, Nov 26
|Norwegian Church
Southwark Deep Shelter, from tube line to nuclear Armageddon
A talk by Chris Constable, Southwark Borough Archaeologist
Time & Location
Nov 26, 2025, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Norwegian Church , 12 Albion St, London SE16 7LN, UK
About the event
Join us during this month of remembrance to discover the secrets of the Southwark Deep Shelter. Utilising disused tube tunnels under Borough High Street, this was possibly the largest civilian air raid shelter constructed during WW2.
The talk examines the development, planning and use of the shelter during the war, proposals for its post-war use as a nuclear shelter, and its fate. The rediscovery of the shelter has been somewhat of a surprise that an enterprise of this scale had been forgotten, and its rediscovery as archaeology on two sites and the survival of fabric within a prominent Southwark listed building adds to its interest.
Chris Constable is an experienced Borough Archaeologist, with Southwark Council since May 2020 following a robust career in various senior roles including Principal Consultant at Wood and Amec Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited. Previous positions include Senior Archaeology Officer at Southwark Council and West Yorkshire…