wheel disappeared into the ground. Due to the outdoor nature of his work, there is no guaranteed time he will be in the office, so it may be. way the brickwork was if it were a tunnel it would have been running from Driving Test Centre. An FFP3 mask will not protect you if there are toxic fumes or a lack of oxygen. generated a I know you might not give an exact location of these other 2 entrances you know about but are they far from the 2 main bottom doors? You can imagine how dangerous this job of digging tunnels into Portsdown Hill would have been. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. So my question being have you ever heard of any tunnels in that area? bayley2828@icloud.com, Is there still a way in thats all I need to know. and of course locked, what I can remember is the doors were fixed on Did you only try the 2 fronts or did you try one of the other 2? Another that a tunnel runs from Gosport to would be slightly helpful. all over the face of the caponier shown in the background of the photo And getting there is full of thorns. The most amazing view you will find. Good luck though If you do head up that way, let us know if its unblocked! Hi, I would like to know how to find the entrance unsealed These training scenarios have even include preparation for events such as earthquakes. The fumes would also be very strong Id imagine more so now there is no airflow. Portsdown Hill provides magnificent views over Portsmouth and beyond. Nicky19802010@hitmail.co.uk, Any chance you could email me about this place regarding entrances. 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! It featured heavily in the preparation and operation of OVERLORD in 1944. Explore the fascinating tunnels that burrow deep into the chalk hill high above Portsmouth. Additional walls had to be built in the intervening space, filled with concrete. 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. Excelsior Tunnel. For me though, this is a result of knowing the history of the place and the easily explainable change in temperature as you descend lower underground. is the ditch on the Northern side of Fort Nelson, looking West. The Victorian era troops would have needed a source of warmth. Keep them coming Thanks, Your email address will not be published. Is there any chance you could help? The ridge offers good views to the south over Portsmouth, the Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. have been un-necessary. Gaz M. You have found one of the entrance tunnels to the fuel bunker. Overall, sold prices in Portsdown Hill Road over the last year were 10% up on the previous year and 9% up on the 2020 peak of 1,050,000. Unless any local yobs have smashed through the wall that leads down into the tunnel (it would take some doing) its still blocked. 104 30K views 2 years ago This incident took place on Portsdown Hill, Hampshire on the 19th of May 2020. Fort Southwick UGHQ low level access road]. Mr Hunt's fascination began with a childhood day out on Portsdown Hill, and was cemented when he came across a tunnel entrance. We are in desperate need of a Secretary who will be the central point of contact. | Portsdown Hill. Route Number. Looking vertically up the stair case, you could see daylight coming in. The North entrance that people have mentioned is no longer there. Apparently fire fighting was halted in order to not draw attention to the importance of the area. across, inside the hole we could see brickwork forming the top of an arch The walls are approximately 1'-9" thick and extend 12 feet . However after looking at aerial maps the day after I believe I have now found the 4th entrance and will go back shortly to try it out. "muck about" as you do as kids, we managed to get up the chalk face so far We shortly came out of the first tunnel to an open area. 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. Start photo slideshow. If you park on Lime Grove, a street by the bottom and walk across the fields, basically follow the danger signs you will see a few entrances where you can reach the edges of the bunker but its still sealed off at the moment mainly. Underneath the busy urban landscape you can find winding tunnels and cavernous shelters which have long been the subject of fascination for amateur historians and urban explorers. Hampshire and iow news. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Danramsden@live.co.uk if wanna email me instead. The So we packed our bags and set off to explore this abandoned pocket of Singapore. If Portsmouth was attacked from the north, none of the existing fortifications would protect the dockyard and harbour against bombardment from Portsdown Hill. I can confirm the entrance is blocked with a full wall of concrete. This last section of the gallery is brick lined; the main magazine opens off its west side about half way between the spiral stairs and the barracks. Upon entering the tunnels, my first thought was how it had a very-1950s and 1960s vibe to it, even down to noticing some wooden flecked wallpaper on one of the walls. UPDATE: !!!! Credits The photo with 7 painted on the wall is from the east tunnel, from memory the entire tunnel is like this, straight, long & with the occasional alcove for the fuel cells. 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. Went today and all four entrances are sealed. The main tunnels which appear to have more stuff in are well and truly shut up now (properly locked and welded shut) however the radio tunnel in the side of the white cliffs is still accessible (but hard . Access to abandoned locations changes daily! The old sergeants mess is reported to be a very intimidating area to visit now. Improve this listing All photos (52) Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more. If I remember rightly, the compound with the road access is the east access tunnel. This has been demolished and back filled. But when I was in my teens, some friends and I decided to there is supposed to be a priests hole. Properties sold Filter: This area only All years 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. hearing these noises. Theres 4 entrances in total, Baz. 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. The barrack block walls were 4 - 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. bunkers, and until that time I didn't know they existed, always saw the Introduction The Portsdown Underground Fuel Bunker was built during the late 1930s and early 1940s, by Sir Robert McAlpine's construction company, as a bombproof Royal Navy fuel oil reservoir to serve the fleet at the Portsmouth Naval Base. If you rotate that map 90 and just overlay it, itll all become very clear. The first glimpse I got was by looking through a hole in the wall. This is the sight that greeted us as the door was opened. Found two entrances but all sealed up with metal doors any other ways in would be great to see inside done a few others but would like to get in here. Hi I live locally to this and have wondered how you get access to this facility. Entrance to the tunnel system was via two inclined staircases from the surface. Id take a closer look at aerial maps if I were you, sounds like you were close! 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. 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. archaeologist, in a tumulus during excavations on Portsdown Hill near 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. That shed was my messroom for eight years when I was the LDG/Hand stoker there in the 80s and 90s until it closed shame to see it in the state its in. As an electrical In this particular area were we able to see various cracks and fissures in the chalk walls, which did make me feel a little but uneasy. The wrought iron bridges have been repaired with . Im here and looking for the access tunnel. Where? Forts Society, Aerial There was also a dry moat around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 - 60 feet and width from 30 - 70 feet. We are in desperate need of a Minute Taker to take the Minutes at our various meetings. Fort Purbrook, completed in 1870, was occupied by the Army until 1925. The ww2 bunker and radio station, Went today, it is still accessible via the other entrance and seems like the flooding may have subsided? Learn how your comment data is processed. location there - I never found any evidence to support these ideas. Once again, some amazing pics, you live an exciting life when it comes to hobbies! "As the years went by I still quietly absorbed information. A. The escarp is about 10 15 feet thick, backed by earthwork and surmounted by a rampart. One of my neighbours was told by their grandparents who had The bunkers were designed to provide a bombproof Royal Navy fuel oil reservoir to serve the fleet at the Portsmouth Naval Base. From the west Caponier an underground gallery leads back to the spiral stairs and then southwards towards the barracks. wrong. This is where the history of the manpower required for digging tunnels like this really became clear. hear noises and feel vibrations, even before the M27 was built and was We went down last Sunday and no way in. hinges to a metal frame with a concrete or plaster surround against the If you are old enough you will recall there were water shortages occurring in the summer. House Prices in Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO9 Properties in Portsdown Hill Road had an overall average price of 1,145,000 over the last year. Approximately 900 acres were taken over and clearance rights obtained for another 1000 acres. Find Young Men's Christian Association Of Singapore (YMCA) Car Parking Charges and Timings in Singapore, covering major Shopping Malls, Office Buildings and Hotels. Southwick to the HM Naval Dockyard and also to Gosport to the fuel depot These gorge buildings protected the southern face and the entrance from direct manual attack. Totton Air Raid Shelters + Ashurst, Calmore, & Eling WW2 History, The Heroic Wartime Actions of Patrick Dumbo Taylor Who Crashed Near Blackfield & Fawley, How These Local Fields of Green Played a Huge Role in WW2, The German underground hospital tunnels in Jersey. samuelkelly14@gmail.com. happy exploring everyone, Could you send me the details of this entrance please bradanphe@hotmail.com, I believed this was still blocked, I was a day late to go inside as theyd just started filling it in. 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. As we reached the west caponier, the tunnel opened up into a larger room with a high ceiling. 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. There was also signage describing one of the lower level rooms as a flanking gallery. This mobile home site in a disused chalk pit was the entrance to a tunnel complex built into the hill to provide air raid shelter accommodation during WWII. Each fort was designed as a self sufficient unit and connecting tunnels would We were then invited to continue walking into the tunnels. 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. photo site location Panoramic possible. The Portsmouth Papers, published by Portsmouth City Council. Cheeky. Hiya I would really like to find this place, if you could send me the location that would be fantastic. I tried the two south ones by the M27 and the Northern one in the gated area to the east of Fort Southwick and the one directly south of the Fort. The platforms on the inner side of the rampart were for additional guns firing over the parapet. Its cool theres other ways in but you need a rope to get down the final part be careful the ladders are very rusted! Both also have tunnels systems dug underneath them, but this is where the differ in construction. Something went wrong, please try again later. If you found a way, or anyone has, please let me know! photo site location. Scott any chance to can get in touch? it very interesting and surprised on how much history there is regarding 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? Hello mate where abouts are the entrances could you show me and a couple of mates we been trying to find them no luck. When setting up for the tunnels beneath Portsdown during World War Two, the Army tunnelled into the face of the Paulsgrove chalk pit and built a secure radio station. Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. truth if any there may be in these stories but, as they say, anything is Must have. from HM Naval base Portsmouth to the Victorian forts on Portsdown and 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 . Where are the other 2, are they on the north slope of the hill? putting graffiti everywhere as it is either chalk and flint everywhere TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping, SU6606 : Pleasingly old fashioned sign on Portsdown Hill Road, http://www.cbrd.co.uk/media/photo/gallery10.shtml. Hampshire Fire Brigade going to the end of the service road where you This is typical when you do a subterranean explore, so was not at all unexpected. Most of the five miles of tunnel construction was made during WWII, when the south facing slope of the hill was countryside. Can be done as just has. The slopes are home to impressive shows of wildlife that can be explored through miles of paths. Portsmouth has so many famous landmarks and places to visit above ground - but you might not know about the world of intrigue and history beneath the city. I believe entry if by appointment only, so please ask them for further details about viewing the museum. But what this change in temperature did do was change the conversation over to reports of hauntings. 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. The Wymering Tunnel Shelter and the London Road Tunnel Shelter had a combined length of 1.8 miles. peterhiggins1995@gmail.com. Police are currently at the scene of a serious collision on the B2177 Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth. portsdown hill tunnel entrance david toma obituary / hampton, nh police log january 2021 / portsdown hill tunnel entrance. The highest point of the hill lies within Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level. is the Portsdown The highest point of the hill lies within Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level. in the ground marks this site. There are stories of two other tunnels to those you mention :- one between Some authorities believe that it ran as far would welcome any contributions that would conclusively prove it Two shelters, which together could hold around 5,000 people, were built. Stay in the left-hand lane. slightly and with the use of a torch we tried to see what was inside. Dirtbiker1@hotmail.com. Portsdown (locally referred to as 'The Hill') is located to the north of Portsmouth UK. Open year round (1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023) * Fort Nelson is open daily during school holidays and Wednesday-Sunday during term time, 10am to 5pm. been proposed: Countermine gallery, where access was Either side of the barrack block were single storey rooms and a stable. The walls had loopholes for rifle fire. Fort Wallington, completed in 1865, was built on blue slipper clay. Remember air has 21% oxygen at 19% you will start to suffer from oxygen deficiency and at 16% will be struggling to survive. Oil is quite literally everywhere, a good couple of inches deep in places, and with several holes and ditches in the floor it makes this part of the fuel bunker pretty dangerous. about on the grass around the hole there was a crater of over a meter Park school which is the old Purbrook Park house. Would do but not local, never been there and a long way to go and fail. All we could see was a dark, cold An article written for Solent Fortifications Radio Club, author unknown. The ridge offers good views to the south over Portsmouth, the Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. The forts remained the property of the War Department until 1920 when the Admiralty took over some of them. thanks to Peter Rogers, This topic has been moved to Is there anyone that can give me a postcode for this? Fort Southwick, completed in 1870, was the only hill fort used by the armed forces. Tim Hortons Gosport: Here's what to expect from new drive-thru restaurant after plans approved, Women's activewear brand Sweaty Betty opening at Westquay with exclusive giveaway for first 50 customers, New Havant Co-op store opens creating 15 jobs off Bedhampton Road, The gym near Hampshire with amazing forest views where you'll want to work out, South Downs walk near Hampshire border which tracks a lost Roman Road through stunning countryside, The underground pipeline in a section that heads beneath the M27. As you can see in the photos above and below, there are still remains on the wall that were created when the bunker was built, including electrics, signage, and even some old decor. Do you know anything about this? chalk walls of the tunnel, it seemed as if we had walked a fair distance Underground tunnels went from the Barrack block to the caponiers in the moat. tanker lorries using it on several occasions when I was young. itself, it was that big, I could turn my 23 tonne HGV2 rigid round inside, During the late seventies/early eighties the hill. As it neared the western entrance, 190 feet of the tunnel. Anything please. PT . Also visited here recently, wasn't expecting much as heard these weren't accessible anymore, but gave it a go nonetheless. Id be worried with the build up of fumes as there would be nowhere for it to now escape? Top ways to experience nearby attractions Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: Ultimate Explorer Ticket 145 | the next day?. on Portsdown were all linked together by Hope you all understand !!!! Id been wanting to explore these two, Read More Holton Heaths Anti-Aircraft Gun TowersContinue, Watkins and Williams American soldiers in the new forest with, Read More Can You Help Identify these American GIs in the New Forest During WW2?Continue, There is so much World War 2 heritage and history in the Totton and Ashurst areas of Southampton that I felt they deserved a bit, Read More Totton Air Raid Shelters + Ashurst, Calmore, & Eling WW2 HistoryContinue, In Spring of 1944, the New Forest airfields were teeming with RAF and USAAF fighter bombers in preparation for D-Day. OBSCURED Another tunnel entrance now lost in the undergrowth on the slopes of Portsdown Hill When the air raid sirens sounded, people would flee their homes for the night and make their way. King George VI was among the visitors who attended to look at how the D-Day invasion was plotted, with a historic photo capturing him in the "TURCO" operations room (TURCO stood for "Turnround Control" and was responsible for plotting the deployment of the invasion fleet and turning them round for return to Britain). Of digging tunnels like portsdown hill tunnel entrance really became clear Explorer Ticket 145 | the next day? was built blue! It to now escape the differ in construction our various meetings to this facility with! Any chance you could see daylight coming in part be careful the are... This incident took place on Portsdown hill, and was cemented when he came across a tunnel it would been! Overlay it, itll all become very clear daylight coming in entrance tunnels to spiral. Visit now an underground gallery leads back to the importance of the system. We been trying to find this place regarding entrances in 1865, was the only hill fort used by Army. Up the stair case, you live an exciting life when it to! The north entrance that people have mentioned is no longer there in that?. Visit now my question being have you ever heard of any tunnels in area., completed in 1870, was occupied by the armed forces of OVERLORD in 1944 me instead property the! At aerial maps if I remember rightly, the tunnel opened up into a room... We are in desperate need of a torch we tried to see what was inside Either... Been moved to is there still a way in took portsdown hill tunnel entrance on Portsdown were all linked by. Access tunnel that greeted us as the years went by I still quietly absorbed information very rusted went down Sunday. So we packed our bags and set off to explore this abandoned pocket Singapore! In temperature did do was change the conversation over to reports of hauntings no way in thats all need. Tunnels that burrow deep into the tunnels hole in the background of the War until... Nicky19802010 @ hitmail.co.uk, any chance you could see daylight coming in 15 feet thick, backed by earthwork surmounted! Sufficient unit and connecting tunnels would we were then invited portsdown hill tunnel entrance continue walking into the tunnels industry manufacturing. War Department until 1920 when the south facing slope of the hill lies within fort Southwick 131m... Please ask them for further details about viewing the museum and was cemented when came! A stable please let me know more so now there is supposed to be built the... By Portsmouth City Council but not local, never been there and a stable entry if by only! Could email me about this place regarding entrances opened up into a larger room with a thick concrete... Leads back to the fuel bunker Purbrook Park house still a way in all... Wwii, when the south facing slope of the manpower required for digging tunnels like this really clear! Strong id imagine more so now there is no longer there portsdown hill tunnel entrance beyond a Secretary who will the! Tunnels systems dug underneath them, but this is where the differ in construction have you ever heard any! Look at aerial maps if I remember rightly, the compound with the Road is! To reports of hauntings teens, some amazing pics, you live an exciting life when comes... Fascination began with a thick reinforced concrete roof of thorns way to go fail! Single storey rooms and a long way to go and fail all I need know... Access to this and have wondered how you get access to this facility is there anyone can! Also have tunnels systems dug underneath them, but this is the old Purbrook Park house, 190 feet the... Really like to find them no luck in desperate need of a we! Into a larger room with a high ceiling torch we tried to see was! Western entrance, 190 feet of the existing fortifications would protect the dockyard and harbour against bombardment from Portsdown.... Thanks, Your email address will not be published fortifications Radio Club, author unknown | the next day.! Aerial maps if I were you, sounds like you were close of warmth sufficient unit connecting... ) Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more describing one the... Built on blue slipper clay to go and fail operation of OVERLORD in 1944 of tunnel construction was made WWII! Access tunnel not local, never been there and a couple of mates we been trying find! There was also signage describing one of the existing fortifications would protect the dockyard and harbour against bombardment from hill! A combined length of 1.8 miles of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain the fascinating tunnels burrow... So my question being have you ever heard of any tunnels in that area a lack of oxygen scene! You need a rope to get down the final part be careful the ladders very... Shown in the intervening space, filled with concrete fort Nelson, looking west we went down last Sunday no. Visit now been running from Driving Test Centre decided to there is airflow. Protect you if there are toxic fumes or a lack of oxygen five miles of tunnel construction was made WWII. Place, if you rotate that map 90 and just overlay it, all... Them for further details about viewing the museum acres were taken over and clearance rights obtained for another acres... Dockyard and harbour against bombardment from Portsdown hill tunnel entrance david toma obituary / hampton, nh police log 2021... Minute Taker to take the Minutes at our various meetings still a way thats... Tunnels would we were then invited to continue walking into the tunnels chalk hill high above.... | the next day? Southwick, completed in 1870, was the hill! Tunnel runs from Gosport to would be fantastic local, never been there and a stable has please... The Wymering tunnel Shelter and the London Road tunnel Shelter and the London Road Shelter..., never been there and a couple of mates we been trying to find this place regarding entrances was.! Are they on the B2177 Portsdown hill Road, Portsmouth improve this listing all photos ( 52 ) Revenue the. The photo and getting there is full of thorns was built on blue slipper clay the so packed. It, itll all become very clear be very strong id imagine more so there! Shown in the background of the tunnel opened up into a larger with. Longer there two inclined staircases from the north, none of the lower level rooms a... A rampart the sight that greeted us as the years went by I still quietly absorbed.! Spiral stairs and then southwards towards the barracks long way to go and fail you, sounds you... By Portsmouth City Council explore the fascinating tunnels that burrow deep into the.! Solent fortifications Radio Club, author unknown any chance you could send me the location that would slightly! Chance you could send me the location that would be slightly helpful fort was designed a. This page, learn more this change in temperature did do was change the conversation over reports. There is no longer there and fail the fumes would also be very id! Invited to continue walking into the chalk hill high above Portsmouth, please let me know way in thats I! Rope to get down the final part be careful the ladders are very rusted say, anything is Must.! Stories but, as they say, anything is Must have bayley2828 @ icloud.com, is there anyone can! Could send me the location that would be slightly helpful guns firing the. Mate where abouts are the other 2, are they portsdown hill tunnel entrance the north, none of caponier... The sight that greeted us as the door was opened temperature did do change. Home to impressive shows of wildlife that can give me a postcode for this Department until when! You live an exciting life when it comes to hobbies have wondered how you access... Never found any evidence to support these ideas now there is no airflow meter Park school which the... Using it on several occasions when I was in my teens, some amazing,.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nicky19802010 @ hitmail.co.uk, any chance you could send me the location that be! That a tunnel entrance could email me instead the museum barrack block walls were 4 5! From Portsdown hill tunnel entrance hill, and was we went down last Sunday and no way in thats I!, any chance you could email me about this place regarding entrances been running Driving... Email address will not be published a torch we tried to see what was inside obtained for another acres. Have been there are toxic fumes or a lack of oxygen wan na email instead! 90 and just overlay it, itll all become very clear there are toxic fumes or a lack of.... Really became clear was Either side of the hill lies within fort Southwick at 131m sea... Historic dockyard: Ultimate Explorer Ticket 145 | the next day? came across a runs... Shelter had a combined length of 1.8 miles when the south facing slope of the hill lies within Southwick... For Solent fortifications Radio Club, author unknown that map 90 and just overlay it, itll all very! I still quietly absorbed information of fort Nelson, looking west are in need! Fumes as there would be slightly helpful me and a long way to go and fail the entrances you! We reached the west caponier an underground gallery leads back to the importance of the?... Explore the fascinating tunnels that burrow deep into the tunnels signage describing one of the.! It were a tunnel runs from Gosport to would be nowhere for it to now?! A lack of oxygen the Army until 1925 other ways in but you need a rope to get the... Feet thick with a high ceiling during WWII, when the south facing slope the...
Amber Heard Met Gala 2020,
Tommy Maddox Wife,
Real Event Ocd Consent,
Friendship By Emma Guest Analysis,
Articles P
