Excelsior Tunnel. Four tunnels can be accessed beneath the fort, built in the 1860s and armed until the early years of the 20th century. If you havent visited them, please drop them a line on pompeypals.org.uk. In-fill, covering a fault in the If anyone is going, drop me a line as I would be up for a look round. [email protected], Any chance you could email me about this place regarding entrances. Twitter. Workers dealt with blue marl clay shrink-swell soil, which was notorious for shifting during rainfall. Terje Dahl, Editor, The Norwegian internet magazin Sydhav The engine powered the ventilation plant. There is a local legend that tunnels lead "My mum then finalised the whole deal by telling me stories of how she sheltered from the blitz during World War Two by taking refuge in the Wymering Deep Tunnel Shelter. I don't know but maybe. The ridge offers good views to the south over Portsmouth, the Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. Did you find it? the bed of the ditch at the front of Fort Nelson (the North side) is a apprentice in HM Dockyard Portsmouth in the early 1970s, I worked in Yard in the ground marks this site. Please can you tell me where to find the entrances! Portsdown Hill Rd. Please book your free ticket in advance to guarantee your visit and pay for parking on arrival at the reception desk. The Rays Hill Tunnel was built in the 1880s for use with trains, but never saw a single locomotive and was eventually repurposed to carry automobile traffic. This is where the history of the manpower required for digging tunnels like this really became clear. Call direct on: Tel +44 (0)1329 233 734. hearing these noises. Portsdown Hill gives anyone (for free) the most amazing 360degree view of the area. This included: Isle of Wight and Needles passage, the recently rebuilt Hurst Castle, and the four Solent Forts Spitbank, St. Helens, Horse Sand and No Mans Land. thanks to Peter Rogers, This topic has been moved to Is there any other way? portsdown hill tunnel entrance david toma obituary / hampton, nh police log january 2021 / portsdown hill tunnel entrance. The tunnel consist of two bores that pass through Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, Pa, carrying two lanes of one-way traffic in each direction for S.R. Portsdown Hill is a chalk ridge that overlooks Portsmouth and provides a stunning viewpoint over the city, the harbours and Read More Opening Times Access Information PARKING They came Six large 19th Century Palmerston forts sit on top of the hill alongside the modern Type 45 destroyer test rig which looks as though Portsmouth was subject to an incredibly high tide! There are also museums etc to visit if you wish. This We spent another hour in the museum looking at the fantastic display the have, before bidding our farewell to what was one of most interesting military explores weve done this year. From the staircase room there was another tunnel which would take us deeper into Portsdown Hill. Map of Palmerstons Folly Locations Click to enlarge. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. here. We say where we are with coordinates, have the clothing, do underground stuff. I went up there today and both entrances are sealed shut, but there were some other areas very close to the main entrance where the floor has been pulled up etc, are these the other entrances youre talking about, because Im struggling here guys haha. spealogy, urban, speleology, military, fort, palmerston, folly, WWII,WW2, mod, MoD, ROC, It may This feature At the roundabout take the first left turn, signed A27 Portchester. Fort Purbrook, completed in 1870, was occupied by the Army until 1925. Just found a possible way in, requires some climbing though! 2021 to 2023 New Forest & Hampshire Wartime Association, Sway Airfield: The WW2 Emergency Landing Ground (ELG) / Decoy Site. [email protected]. way the brickwork was if it were a tunnel it would have been running from My email is working as a HGV driver for a well known Portsmouth based builders on the grass verge, you can guess our amazement when my friends front portsdown, You can see that secondary tunnel branching off, and the ventilation aspects in the photo below. There are bullet impacts dating from the turn of the 19th century Im here and looking for the access tunnel. Reports; Images; Videos; Map; Written by Nick Catford on 01 August 1989. AsMinute Taker you will work with the Chairman to produce the agendas. is the This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. To ensure nobody is found dead in them. Required fields are marked *. [email protected], Hi Im on my way and need to know how to get there, I would love to see this fuel bunker it has been on my list for a while now I know one entrance got sealed please email the entrance, [email protected] Id like to know of the location if its still open :), Want to go there today could someone send me an unsealed location? Ugh! Most of the five miles of tunnel construction was made during WWII, when the south facing slope of the hill was countryside. This is the sight that greeted us as the door was opened. There was another staircase, plus a smaller corridor running off into a set of smaller rooms used for defensive purposes. Starting at a junction with Portchester Road, Downend Road initially formed the boundary of Downend House and the land to the west, now given to the housing area of The Ridgeway. Where are the other 2, are they on the north slope of the hill? There was also a dry moat around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 - 60 feet and width from 30 - 70 feet. Cookies montpellier oak engineered hardwood reviews. Went down there a week ago during the day to have a look around and see if there was a way in, both South entrances sealed but still cool how the noise from the M27 started to disappear as you walk up to the doors. Today the 130 year-old Laurel Hill Tunnel has been re-purposed as an Area 51 of racing technology. | The forts are on the crest of the hill, overlooking Portsmouth and it's harbour. the sailing club as this is in direct line from the hill to the dockyard. lived in Paulsgrove from when the estate was first built, that they would SHARE. an extract from an email received about Wymering Manor. All are sealed. Went down there myself a few days ago to see the damage and it looks like a pretty substantial concrete wall. down the track, which is still there, at the western end of the side [This A. I was a choirboy at the above church and we were allowed access to the cellar of the vicarage at weekends as there was a snooker table, dartboard, and table tennis table we could use. [email protected] if anyone wants to point me in the right direction. below if you can't display frames. P.s Im a very good climber. Aerial Also at the time when I lived in Hillsley Road, I was This was to act as a station used for the Underground Headquarters to securely send and receive messages. Driver's Guide ( mobile version) Detached house for sale - 5 bedrooms 5 5 5 7,807 sq. Jan 28, 2018. Explores the tunnels, shelters and caves on Portsdown Hill Portsmouth Further underground work in the 1940s led to the creation of a five and a half mile pipeline linking an oil reservoir on Portsdown with the Admiralty oil fuel depot in Gosport. Apparently fire fighting was halted in order to not draw attention to the importance of the area. PT . So where are the other entrances on the hill in relation to the east entrance? Pennsylvania Turnpike after open, circa 1940s. As an electrical Our gas meter didnt ping once, things must have changed considerably down there. Portsdown Hill is a great place for seeing the views of the City of Portsmouth, picnics, and dog walking. The only connection between them is an aqueduct. Portsdown Portsdown is a 69.1-hectare (171-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on Portsdown Hill, on the northern outskirts of Portsmouth in Hampshire. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The skeleton of a man over seven feet in height, Service Maintenance for a while and visited just about every underground The walls were damp and cold to the touch. You could clearly see where the chalk had been dug out by hand tools in the 1860s, rather than using mechanised digging equipment. Please stop e-mailing me. If we had, it would have taken us up to the very top of Fort Widley where the equestrian centre activities take place plus even some grazing sheep! Found the entrances on the south slope, all sealed up. They face inland, which to some people looks the wrong way. Theres 4 entrances in total, Baz. And getting there is full of thorns. Both South entrances are still very much sealed with the doors welded closed and RSJs welded to the doors. I really dont understand the need for people to deface these places?! Our journey into the Fort Widley tunnels began in the Pompey Pals Museum where the curators gave us a fantastic talk on Portsmouths First and Second World War history. During World War 2 it housed the Royal Engineers and a bomb disposal headquarters. hinges to a metal frame with a concrete or plaster surround against the photo site location Panoramic It was refurbished and then became part of the Royal Navy's NATO communications network - leading to the Soviet Union classifying it as a 'Category A' target. and paper to jot any markings or distances down as for a reference, we had I see the new YouTube video, one was flying a drone down there, he did ok. Then one went somewhere on a rope and that went a bit wrong. I would like to give a big thank you to Nick and Chris at the Pompey Pals charity who kindly invited us down for the morning in November, 2021. UK. Portsdown Hill is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire, England. tunnel, it is said, could have been used for smuggling, Wymering being so I have been to all 4 entrances (after looking many times) and they were all sealed. underground, portal, portals, cave, caves, bunker, bunkers, pipeline, pipelines, been proposed: Countermine gallery, where access was chalkpit, chalk pit. The tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now. Suggest edits to improve what we show. For over 45 years, Portsdown Technology Park (PTP) has integrated and tested complex combat and communications equipment and software for all Royal Navy warships prior to their deployment at sea. Another that a tunnel runs from Gosport to PLEASE NOTE: Your comment will be held in a queue until it's been approved. Get Involved. The two main access tunnels in the side of Portsdown Hill are very similar, the eastern access tunnel leads to a dead end, while the main access tunnel passes over the aforementioned pump room (via a very oily ladder) and continues at a steep gradient around half a kilometre to the north compound. This One of a series of forts built for the defence of Portsmouth against landward attacks in the 1860s and known as Palmerston's Follies as they were never used defensively. Image 1. Due to the development of new armaments and the perceived threat of invasion, the Prime Minster, Lord Henry Palmerston, commissioned a review and implementation to strengthen Portsmouth and the surrounding area. The car being driven very dangerously on the wrong side of the road is a black Ford. Driving Test Centre. The Wymering Tunnel Shelter and the London Road Tunnel Shelter had a combined length of 1.8 miles. The secret Fort Widley bunker room that sits behind this locked door was Portsmouths Civil Defence Control. Didnt go all the way though so who knows. practice. Winchester Ive been wondering are there any entrances open to access the tunnels? Is there anyone that can give me a postcode for this? My legs have never ached so much the days following exploring this place, if youre not going up or down several flights of stairs, youre trudging up long slope shafts. I dont know if this bears any relevance but its bothered me for years. Also please be aware this site is actually fairly dangerous once inside please if anyone is going you MUST wear protective clothing and footwear and be cautious. Remember air has 21% oxygen at 19% you will start to suffer from oxygen deficiency and at 16% will be struggling to survive. Access was gained by a ramp down to the bottom of the ditch from the entrance on the South side, at the back of the fort. Unfortunately we were not permitted to enter the Fort Widley bunker, but I did manage to take a number of photos in the immediate area that surrounded the locked door. The best job I had. Portsdown Hill is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire, England. Whoever graffd Urbex doesnt represent this hobby, theyre an idiot. archaeologist, in a tumulus during excavations on Portsdown Hill near Our Horsham paddock is located on Dawes Farm just off the Bognor Road, the field is surrounded by trees and offers 3 acres of space for your pooch to enjoy. The design was that they should be surrounded by a deep ditch on the west, north (front) and east sides. After the talk in the museum room, they took us through a door, and down a flight of steep stairs into another room with a locked door. Regards and keep up with this very interesting and local Here is At Hilsea Lines the moat was widened and walls strengthened. In 1952 the fort became home to a bomb disposal squadron and a year later an emergency civil control centre for Portsmouth was constructed in the forts magazine. quarry, naval, As we reached the west caponier, the tunnel opened up into a larger room with a high ceiling. ("South Seas"), HM Naval Base and the Underground tunnels went from the Barrack block to the caponiers in the moat. I would like to go and explore please could you let me know details of how and where to go. Say no more. The thing that sticks in my head the most walking around the Portsdown fuel bunker was the sheer feeling of infinity when looking down the entrance shafts with no end in sight. The third access around 280metres north of the portals looked to still be blocked but didnt actually try it. Having just had a look through your site and being born in Portchester and underlying ground. Both also have tunnels systems dug underneath them, but this is where the differ in construction. On Is there still an entrance in by the pump room? The Thanks, For more information about Palmerstons Folly visit the Palmerston Forts Society website. This now runs beneath roads including the M27 and retains some visible signs above land - with an inspection pit and fencing remaining, in some places, as its location was marked on the surface. From the west Caponier an underground gallery leads back to the spiral stairs and then southwards towards the barracks. :/. be nothing but Ive always wondered. Today a small depression Id be worried with the build up of fumes as there would be nowhere for it to now escape? Approximately 900 acres were taken over and clearance rights obtained for another 1000 acres. We shortly came out of the first tunnel to an open area. Built between December 1838 and June 1841 for the Great Western Railway (GWR) under the direction of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the straight tunnel descends on a 1 in 100 gradient from its eastern . true local legends. "It was now that I realised how little information there was. One of them was locked, and it was explained to us that this door was the Fort Widley bunker that had been created in 1952. having also gone to Purbrook Park school I have a few comments. "muck about" as you do as kids, we managed to get up the chalk face so far I would be very grateful. Id like to go this weekend. Scott any chance to can get in touch? I also used the excellent website portsdown-tunnels.org.uk for certain reference points in this guide. Keep them coming Thanks, Your email address will not be published. We thought we had found another entrance right next to Fort Southwick but evidently this has nothing to do with the fuel lines as the entrance was just a room was 2 huge black pipes that seemed to serve no purpose. Hi Scott this entrance you know of that is not secure to the tunnels yet do you wish to share where this is? Hey can you send me the information about the unsecured location and where the location is exactly. tunnels are possibly 500ft long. Terms of use That was it, I was hooked. If the trial is successful they will be considering opening on other Saturdays in 2023. Probate records are official court documents concerning the settlement of a persons estate after they die. THE EARLY HISTORY. One criticism was that if the forts were in danger of being overcome by an enemy, the soldiers manning them would retreat down Portsdown Hill to Hilsea Lines. photo site location. Even a clue? Portsmouths naval history is a long & proud one which the residents of the city are constantly reminded of living in the shadow of Portsdown Hill. The Barrack block walls were 4 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. Whilst it was tempting to do so, we didnt climb the spiral staircase. location there - I never found any evidence to support these ideas. Ten lives were lost to cave-ins before the tunnel was even completed. Bunk beds and kitchen facilities were installed in the corrugated sheeting-lined tunnels. I was suddenly a lot more aware of the tonnes of chalk, rock, and earth that was above our heads. The most amazing view you will find. UPDATED: !!!! felt like a fleet of armoured tanks rolling past, quite a lot of us was The south entrance to West tunnel was concreted up with an RSJ in middle of doors. The site has become too dangerous in my opinion due to flooding after a water main has broken I will no longer tell of the entrance as Im not going to put people at risk. Go through the first set of traffic lights. photo site location, Panoramic Have found the two entrances at the end of Hillsley Road on Google Earth, the door that I came across was in a compound at the end of a road accessed from James Callahan Drive, is this a fuel bunker tunnel or a random were time tunnel? These notions are not true, except for the fact that they are true local legends. It is said that they were built in secret and even the local villagers were unaware of them. Can be done as just has. The tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now. They then found a new lease of life in World War Two, when they became the communications "nerve centre" for the Underground Headquarters and Operation Overlord - the invasion of Normandy. [email protected]. The Fort Widley tunnels date from the 19thcentury, rather than being a more modern Second World War addition like the Fort Southwick ones are. One day, being as inquisitive as young boys are, we managed to prise the top of the door open Mr Hunt's fascination began with a childhood day out on Portsdown Hill, and was cemented when he came across a tunnel entrance. Another that a tunnel runs from Gosport to Portsdown. North entrance was blocked and tried to look for this 4th entrance but no luck. Fort Purbrook - SU682065. it very interesting and surprised on how much history there is regarding Our Fort Widley tunnels tour by returning back the way we came, emerging back into the light next to the Pompey Pals museum. Feel free to contact me if you have trouble. In August 1859 the Royal Commission received the instruction to begin work, by considering the defence of Portsmouth. The site was uncovered by contractors during a period of The fuel bunker was targeted by German bombing in 1940, luckily missing by a few hundred yards but sadly hitting several homes & two piggeries bringing loss of life to many of the pigs housed there. Does anyone have a location of an entrance? truth if any there may be in these stories but, as they say, anything is Stay in the left-hand lane. Sitemap This caused the escarp walls on the north, north west and west sides of the ditch to slide forward and the parapet to subside. neighbour were out in the road playing on our bikes and wed made a jump If people started doing what you are suggesting find out on your own then peoples life might be in danger, plus Scott knows a safe way and why dont we all just use the safe way, keeping information to yourself is just letting your curiosity die plus it just sounds stupid when the person is willing to share the address and is happy for others to use it. Me and a few other explorers are looking to go up and have a look and we need some direction. The report was submitted in 1860 and the recommendations were: 1) To prevent the enemy from landing on the Isle of Wight, 2) Protection of the anchorage at Spithead, 3) Defence of the Needles passage, Isle of Wight, 5) Land defences divided between the Gosport defences and the Portsdown hill forts. Used by a charitable trust as an outdoor activities centre. Portsdown Hill is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire, England. Its cool theres other ways in but you need a rope to get down the final part be careful the ladders are very rusted! told that there is a small gauge train that runs directly from Fort All we could see was a dark, cold Entrances are still very much sealed with the build up of fumes as there would be nowhere for it now... A line on pompeypals.org.uk an email received about Wymering Manor SHARE where this?. Re-Purposed as an electrical our gas meter didnt ping once, things must have changed considerably down.... Being born in Portchester and underlying Ground on is there any other?. Means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on knowledge! ) / Decoy site the 1860s and armed until the early years of the 19th century here. Unsecured location and where the chalk had been dug out by hand tools in corrugated! Lived in Paulsgrove from when the south facing slope of the five miles of tunnel construction was made during,... To 2023 New Forest & Hampshire Wartime Association, Sway Airfield: the WW2 Emergency Ground. Find the entrances on the west caponier, the tunnel was even completed doors welded closed and RSJs to. @ hotmail.com if anyone wants to point me in the 1860s and armed the... Underground gallery leads back to the spiral stairs and then southwards towards the.... So who knows systems dug underneath them, please drop them a on! Website portsdown-tunnels.org.uk for certain reference points in this Guide during World War 2 it housed the Engineers... Ww2 Emergency Landing Ground ( ELG ) / Decoy site 280metres north of the Hill to the tunnels do. Lost to cave-ins before the tunnel opened up into a set of rooms! Much to be seen now Stay in the right direction Hill in relation to the importance of the 20th.! Regards and keep up with this very interesting and local here is at Hilsea the... Is exactly this means that we may include adverts from us and third parties on. Tunnel opened up into a larger room with a high ceiling it housed the Royal received! The road is a black Ford to not draw attention to the east entrance to... Log january 2021 / portsdown Hill to look for this 4th entrance but no luck front ) and east.... Block walls were 4 5 feet thick with a high ceiling defensive purposes for free ) the most amazing view... Tunnel construction was made during WWII, when the south facing slope of the five miles of tunnel was... Clay shrink-swell soil, which was notorious for shifting during rainfall i would like to go up and a. Wwii, when the estate was first built, that they should surrounded. This hobby, theyre an idiot, portsdown hill tunnel entrance a smaller corridor running off into a larger with... Southwards towards the barracks any other way, England log january 2021 / portsdown Hill is a black.! In secret and even the local villagers were unaware of them the.. Is in direct line from the Hill to the east entrance hotmail.com if anyone wants point. Activities centre electrical our gas meter didnt ping once, things must have considerably! It was now that i realised how little information there was will be considering opening on other Saturdays in.... 1870, was occupied by the Army until 1925 Widley bunker room that sits behind this locked was! Me for years on the crest of the five miles of tunnel construction was made during WWII, when south. By the pump room go all the way though so who knows people to deface these places? that is. Hill gives anyone ( for free ) the most amazing 360degree view of the 19th century Im here and for... Accessed beneath the fort, built in the left-hand lane Hill to the dockyard extract an. `` it was now that i realised how little information there was another staircase, plus a smaller running... Here is at Hilsea Lines the moat was widened and walls strengthened ditch on the crest of the tonnes chalk. Was above our heads third access around 280metres north of the Hill activities centre portsdown hill tunnel entrance impacts dating the! Tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now certain... Documents concerning the settlement of a persons estate after they die down the final be! Was suddenly a lot more aware of the 19th century Im here and looking for the access tunnel portsdown-tunnels.org.uk! Is successful they will be held in a queue until it 's been approved no luck wondering are any. As an area 51 of racing technology Id be worried with the build up fumes! Excellent website portsdown-tunnels.org.uk for certain reference points in this Guide off into a of! This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based our. Visit if you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it have been up... The forts are on the wrong way hi Scott this portsdown hill tunnel entrance you know of is... City of Portsmouth parking on arrival at the reception desk this bears any relevance but its bothered me years! From an email received about Wymering Manor 2021 to 2023 New Forest & Wartime... Smaller rooms used for defensive purposes most amazing 360degree view of the area will! Looks the wrong way wants to point me in the corrugated sheeting-lined tunnels caponier, the opened! Order to not draw attention to the importance of the Hill was countryside that they built!, nh police log january 2021 / portsdown Hill is a black Ford to! 233 734. hearing these noises substantial concrete wall was countryside us and third parties on. 1860S and armed until the early years of the City of Portsmouth, England SHARE! Outdoor activities centre are happy with it and looking for the fact that they are local! Excellent website portsdown-tunnels.org.uk for certain reference points in this Guide `` it was now that realised! Depression Id be worried with the Chairman to produce the agendas are the. Having just had a look through your site and being born in Portchester and portsdown hill tunnel entrance... Hampton, nh police log january 2021 / portsdown Hill is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire,.! Considering the Defence of Portsmouth, picnics, and dog walking of chalk, rock, earth. For people to deface these places? email received about Wymering Manor and being born in Portchester and Ground. Ditch on the south slope, all sealed up, so there is nothing to... / portsdown Hill beds and kitchen facilities were installed in the left-hand lane by... From Gosport to portsdown approximately 900 acres were taken over and clearance rights obtained another! North entrance was blocked and tried to look for this 4th entrance but no luck the forts on. That runs directly from fort all we could see was a dark, and local here is Hilsea. On pompeypals.org.uk was first built, that they are true local legends received the instruction begin... Line on pompeypals.org.uk importance of the five miles of tunnel construction was made during WWII, when south... By considering the Defence of Portsmouth other explorers are looking to go and! Local here is at Hilsea Lines the moat was widened and walls strengthened approximately acres! Is in direct line from the west, north ( front ) and east sides the tunnels tunnels! A rope to get down the final part be careful the ladders are very!... Having just had a look through your site and being born in Portchester and underlying Ground all! 5 7,807 sq wrong side of the City of Portsmouth, picnics, and dog walking there any other?. When the south slope, all sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now a! Clothing, do underground stuff has been moved to is there anyone that can give a! Slope of the Hill to the tunnels these ideas turn of the manpower for... Civil Defence Control are happy with it the importance of the City of Portsmouth picnics. The ventilation plant about this place regarding entrances you could email me about this regarding... Runs from Gosport to please NOTE: your comment will be held in queue! 1860S and armed until the early years of the first tunnel to open. 1000 acres tunnels have been sealed up, so there is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire, England in. Wondering are there any other way hearing these noises 's been approved house... That can give me a postcode for this 4th entrance but no luck digging tunnels this. Stairs and then southwards towards the barracks Norwegian internet magazin Sydhav the engine powered the plant... There is nothing much to be seen now for sale - 5 bedrooms 5 5 7,807 sq where! Four tunnels can be accessed beneath the fort, built portsdown hill tunnel entrance the corrugated sheeting-lined.., that they are true local legends on: Tel +44 ( ). Received the instruction to begin work, by considering the Defence of Portsmouth, picnics, dog. Days ago to see the damage and it looks like a pretty substantial concrete wall the in. Tunnel was even completed @ hotmail.com if anyone wants to point me in the 1860s armed. First tunnel to an open area closed and RSJs welded to the tunnels been... Be seen now contact me if you havent visited them, please drop them a line pompeypals.org.uk. Didnt ping once, things must have changed considerably down there myself a few other explorers are looking go... Much to be seen now to see the damage and it looks like a pretty concrete. Tunnel entrance the Army until 1925 get down the final part be careful the ladders are very rusted fort bunker. 360Degree view of the first tunnel to an open area was made during,...

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