Secrets of Underground London

London's streets are modern, bustling, and often overcrowded to the point of gridlock. However, few residents or tourists are aware of the history of another, quite different world beneath their feet. Filmmaker Gareth Sacala's PBS-aired documentary explores the hidden world of Roman ruins, plague pits, caves, and even rivers that are now completely submerged and covered over by modern development. Needless to say, underground London has been the scene of murder and ghostly apparitions, but it also became the nexus for the building of London's intricate 19th-century subway system or "tube." In the early days of the tube, a dinner party was hosted underground to demonstrate the safety of its construction (although working on it was a miserable, often deadly enterprise). During WWII, the tube provided shelter for thousands of city residents during the Blitz, with the British displaying their ingenuity and dignity—in spite of sanitation challenges—in catering to mass dining needs and meeting sleeping demands with hammocks over the subway tracks. Winston Churchill actually maintained two underground bunkers during the war, but few knew of the "hotline" to the White House, which was hidden inside a fake bathroom. In recent years, the British Museum and British Library have both made moves to expand underground in order to house their ever expanding collections. Offering a unique look beneath the city, where art, history, and commerce intersect, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)