Once upon a time, a new London Underground station was built in the heart of Mayfair. However, it didn't go down too well with the locals who could afford more luxurious and comfortable modes of transport. The proposal for Down Street station was met with strong opposition from residents who were not thrilled about having a Tube station right on their doorstep.
They feared it would attract "undesirables" to their neighbourhood. Despite this, the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway pressed ahead with plans to build the station. The line, which largely mirrors today's Piccadilly line, had ambitions for the entrance to be on the main road - a goal they had for all their stations along the route.
But due to resistance, they had to settle for a building on a side street. When it opened its doors on March 15, 1907, it seemed like all the effort was in vain as the station saw low passenger numbers from the get-go. Its hidden location and proximity to more convenient stations like Hyde Park Corner and Dover Street didn't help matters.
By 1932, Down Street station was closed for service. But that wasn't the end of the story. The station proved to be quite handy after its closure.
In 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, it was transformed into an underground bunker for the Railway Executive Committee, a body responsible for maintaining railway operations during the war. The extensive tunnels of the former Down Street station were converted into offices, bathroom.
