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Original Text (Annotation: EPW036250 / 400835)
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The London Fruit Exchange (1929) of Spitalfields Market. During World War Two, the Exchange's basement became an air raid shelter and was London's largest underground public shelter, taking up to 14,000 people a night. This "township under the ground" became famous throughout the world and was written about in books, in the national and international press and was photographed by Bert Hardy of Picture Post. It was visited by Wendell Willkie, on a fact finding mission for President Roosevelt, also by Mrs Churchill and many others. It became known as 'Mickey's Shelter' after its legendary local organiser, Mickey Davis. In 1963 the wool brokers were moved into the building and it became the London Fruit and Wool Exchange, with the offices and auction rooms being used for the sales of wool and fruit. The City Corporation, who had acquired control of Spitalfields Market in Tower Hamlets in 1920, moved out the wholesale fruit trade in 1991. Spitalfields Market was then redeveloped in 2003, with most of its buildings demolished for offices - leaving just the 1929 Exchange and 'Old Spitalfields Market' (1889). Now the Exchange is proposed to be demolished and Maria Miller, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is looking at an application from the organisation 'SAVE Britain's Heritage' to list Spitalfields' London Fruit and Wool Exchange and with it 'Mickey's Shelter'. '