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. In 1953 the Civil Defence leased part of the fort for county emergency planning and civil defence standby headquarters. Our guide explained to use how the tunnels also had Cold War history during those decades and the fort was also taken over by Portsmouth Council in the 1970s. The Victorian era troops would have needed a source of warmth. Stay in the left-hand lane. The third access around 280metres north of the portals looked to still be blocked but didnt actually try it. Terms of use Thanks. I mean theres only two that can be humanly opened. There are 9 tanks as I recall 7 are 700 feet long with 2 shorter ones. The slopes are home to impressive shows of wildlife that can be explored through miles of paths. merchant, and there was a delivery that was for the builders at the fuel The tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now. thanks to David Moore of the Palmerston This stained glass window, known as the D Day Window, is in Christ Church, Widley the Garrison Church for the Portsdown Forts when the Army were in occupation. On the Gosport side of the harbour, Fort Blockhouse (now HMS Dolphin) was updated. The walls had loopholes for rifle fire. all over the face of the caponier shown in the background of the photo If you are old enough you will recall there were water shortages occurring in the summer. could turn around, and this is when I first ever knew about the bunkers, I There was one very poignant carving though, and you can see that below. 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. Portsdown Hill gives anyone (for free) the most amazing 360degree view of the area. told that there is a small gauge train that runs directly from Fort 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. My email is Fort c1860 by Captain William Crossman of the Royal Engineers. Instead, he created this fascinating website which chronicles the Portsdown Tunnels in extensive detail. Opening Times. Apparently fire fighting was halted in order to not draw attention to the importance of the area. Fort Widley was built in the 1860s and is one of five Victorian forts that overlook Portsmouth harbour. This had windows that looked into the moat, offering a fantastic firing position should any enemy encroach into this area. 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? He said: "I accidentally stumbled across a tunnel entrance which I managed to identify 40 years later as a NATO Commcen. Each fort was designed as a self sufficient unit and connecting tunnels would itself, it was that big, I could turn my 23 tonne HGV2 rigid round inside, 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. Ive looked online and everyone is saying its all sealed up? tanker lorries using it on several occasions when I was young. But that doesnt mean Fort Widley wasnt used during WW2. In-fill, covering a fault in the Sitemap Went today and all four entrances are sealed. 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. A snip here, and a bit there but never any full accounts. The Excelsior mine sett at one time embraced much of the Kit Hill area, just over a mile N. E. of Callington in Cornwall, but the name later came to be more closely associated with the Excelsior Tunnel, sometimes known as Kit Hill Tunnel. 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. The other one is supposed to run from Fort Purbrook to Purbrook "Relic of a Giant Race. Most of the five miles of tunnel construction was made during WWII, when the south facing slope of the hill was countryside. If Portsmouth was attacked from the north, none of the existing fortifications would protect the dockyard and harbour against bombardment from Portsdown Hill. Interested in this property? I surveyed these tunnels back in the 1980s when the MOD wanted to give them to Thames Water to store waters in. The War Department purchased the land along Portsdown Hill from the Lord of the Manor, Mr T Thistlewayte. 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. As we descended further into the tunnels we started to feel the temperature drop and get colder. Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance has been called to assist on scene along side the ground ambulances. I explored the hill as much as I could as I grew up and readily soaked up all the tales and legends. The most amazing view you will find. Two shelters, which together could hold around 5,000 people, were built. The tunnels beneath Fort Widley do have an atmosphere to them. Its cool theres other ways in but you need a rope to get down the final part be careful the ladders are very rusted! Interesting. Fort Southwick UGHQ low level access road]. Roundabout ahead, roundabout left 1 st exit. Much of the underground network is now closed to the public, but continues to attract interest - with oil pipelines, bomb shelters and even a radio station having been created beneath the surface. Workers dealt with blue marl clay shrink-swell soil, which was notorious for shifting during rainfall. Interest in the tunnels has been sparked for years, with the site also having a role to play during World War Two. I have no idea how much How would I go about getting in here please? On Bunk beds and kitchen facilities were installed in the corrugated sheeting-lined tunnels. This is typical when you do a subterranean explore, so was not at all unexpected. Went here recently, can confirm that the two southern entrances are still tightly secured with huge metal doors with metal wire crates filled with small rocks to block access to the doors. Say no more. Scott, its nice of you to share the location but please bear in mind that generally the type of person asking these kind of details is what Id call an armchair explorer. Four men were killed and the locomotive was trapped inside the tunnel. The bunkers were designed to provide a bombproof Royal Navy fuel oil reservoir to serve the fleet at the Portsmouth Naval Base. Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations to explore Portsdown hi. Get Involved. RF E5TNY5 - Entrance to Fort Nelson, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK; part of the Royal Armouries. ("South Seas"), HM Naval Base and the Around twenty years ago when I lived in Carmarthen Ave, Drayton me and a Built in 1872 they are part of the five forts along the top Portsdown Hill to defend the town from a Napoleonic attack. Thanks, Anyone wishing to know entrance Ill share not a problem but not publicly. Maryeverley6@gmail.com. Yeah, after I posted this I realised my error and think I have found it. The Wymering Tunnel Shelter and the London Road Tunnel Shelter had a combined length of 1.8 miles. Palmerston Forts. underlying ground. After spending a few minutes recording the carvings in the chalk tunnel walls, we continued downwards, following a sign that told us we were heading towards the west caponier. The secret Fort Widley bunker room that sits behind this locked door was Portsmouths Civil Defence Control. Nearest MRT: Kranji. 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. putting graffiti everywhere as it is either chalk and flint everywhere 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. Improve this listing All photos (52) Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more. The highest point of the hill lies within Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level. PT . The forts remained the property of the War Department until 1920 when the Admiralty took over some of them. This is one of a series of forts on the coast of Britain built to protect Britain from invasion by France in the 1860s. hump in the centre of the picture was used as a firing step. Some people may disagree with these statements and I Work to prepare the site started - and finished - in 1942 and provided the Armed Forces with a bombproof HQ to oversee its plans. On October 2, 1925, while the tunnel was undergoing repairs, a locomotive pulling 10 flat cars entered the tunnel heading west. Fort Wallington, completed in 1865, was built on blue slipper clay. By - May 24, 2022. Martin Long - April 2013. Fort Widley was constructed between the years 1860 and 1868 and is identical in structure and layout to Fort Southwick. in the ground marks this site. the hill. Roundabout ahead 2 nd exit. I dont know if this bears any relevance but its bothered me for years. SO23 8TH, Affiliated to the Family History Federation. The Barrack block walls were 4 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. If I was a believer in ghosts, this is where I would imagine they might want to appear! / south and looks like a tunnel entrance. down the track, which is still there, at the western end of the side [This The old sergeants mess is reported to be a very intimidating area to visit now. Can you please email, please of the location. Fort Purbrook, completed in 1870, was occupied by the Army until 1925. Fort Purbrook - SU682065. Looking vertically up the stair case, you could see daylight coming in. Tenure: Not available. Twitter. Im here and looking for the access tunnel. Is there still an entrance in by the pump room? the sailing club as this is in direct line from the hill to the dockyard. an extract from an email received about Wymering Manor. Mandai T15 Trail. The roof was now lower, with the tunnels now becoming white-washed bricks walls, with various cabling and ventilation pipes running along them. This Within about 5mins of reading this article, the comments & searching Google Ive found what I think is at least three of the entrances! Besides five new batteries constructed along the sea front, there were six new forts built Gomer, Grange, Rowner, Brockhurst, Elson and Fareham. 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. Whoever graffd Urbex doesnt represent this hobby, theyre an idiot. Perhaps the best-known setup is that which exists beneath Fort Southwick, one of several forts built on Portsdown Hill to defend the overland approach to Portsmouth's naval base. Also, improvements to the fabric of the Square Tower, Kings Bastion, Point Battery, Southsea Castle, Lumps Fort and Fort Cumberland were undertaken. * Calls to this number will be recorded for quality, compliance and training purposes. Call +44 23 9229 0571 * or Request Details. Decommissioned in the 1990s, Portsdown fuel bunker is still in great condition, although the pump room (the deepest part of the bunker) is quickly becoming an oil-filled swimming pool. Squirrel Hill Tunnel construction began in 1946 and opened to traffic on June 5, 1953. Suppose it doesnt make its way up the tunnel anyway, can smell it though from be outside! The site was wound down at the end of the decade before becoming another communication focal point during the Suez Crisis. It is these underground chambers that most of the paranormal activity is said to have been experienced. It also makes photography somewhat difficult, not wanting to get our kit covered in oil and the blackness soaking up the torchlight I got a really awful set of photos from down there! 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. Also visited here recently, wasn't expecting much as heard these weren't accessible anymore, but gave it a go nonetheless. Real shame I didnt go in when I was peering down the tunnel only couple of weeks ago! 2021 to 2023 New Forest & Hampshire Wartime Association, Sway Airfield: The WW2 Emergency Landing Ground (ELG) / Decoy Site. Hi Scott this entrance you know of that is not secure to the tunnels yet do you wish to share where this is? Do you know anything about this? Hi, I would like to know how to find the entrance unsealed These training scenarios have even include preparation for events such as earthquakes. Entrance to the tunnel system was via two inclined staircases from the surface. - This has been demolished and back filled. It is in fact a firing step used for rifle There My first ever visit to the fuel bunker that entrance was open, while its interesting its a bit of a let down in comparison to the rest of the site. The Navy used it for radar in 1947, and a Navigational School until 1968. I thoroughly recommend a visit; Ive put their website link at the bottom of the page, please do support them. Did a New Forest Coven of Witches Help Stop the German Invasion? 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. From the staircase room there was another tunnel which would take us deeper into Portsdown Hill. Like a mole people community? close to the sea, and much more accessible in older times. 3 RD left, left. One of my neighbours was told by their grandparents who had Read More How These Local Fields of Green Played a Huge Role in WW2Continue. this. We also saw another locked door behind which we were told Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service have conducted training in the past. Whilst it was tempting to do so, we didnt climb the spiral staircase. Top ways to experience nearby attractions Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: Ultimate Explorer Ticket 145 Tunnel 51 was the subject of multiple patents. There is a local legend that tunnels lead With the fort buildings and extensive tunnels cut into the chalk they allow an unprecedented amount of space to investigate. is an aerial photograph east of Fort Purbrook taken in 1969 when The caponier room was much warmer than the chalk tunnel we had emerged from. some variation at the entrance and exit. One of Lord Palmerston's follies built to protect Portsmouth from a French Invasion from the landward side. If anyone is going, drop me a line as I would be up for a look round. With It still has the same quality and security as our other paddocks and is fully enclosed with 6ft high fences, these include an extra layer of fine fencing around the bottom so no smaller dogs can escape underneath. Dirtbiker1@hotmail.com. . tunnels are possibly 500ft long. Where did you get that map? For safety reasons you didnt want too much traffic past an area where gunpowder etc was stored. The North entrance that people have mentioned is no longer there. There is a local legend that tunnels lead from HM Naval base Portsmouth to the Victorian forts on Portsdown and even to the Sea Forts in the Solent. Access to abandoned locations changes daily! I live local and would really like to see it. Did you only try the 2 fronts or did you try one of the other 2? READ MORE: The tiny Hampshire village of Micheldever that was built around a train station. This was to act as a station used for the Underground Headquarters to securely send and receive messages. Police are currently at the scene of a serious collision on the B2177 Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth. DTC. The paddock is completely secure, fully enclosed with 6ft high fences, 2 layers of weald mesh (better for smaller dogs) and secure gates to stop your pooch running back to the car. This had windows that looked into the moat, offering a fantastic firing position should any enemy encroach into area... Experience portsdown hill tunnel entrance attractions Portsmouth Historic dockyard: Ultimate Explorer Ticket 145 tunnel 51 was subject... Bears any relevance but its bothered me for years I thoroughly recommend a visit ; put. Affiliated to the Family History Federation was wound down at the bottom of the area in line! Police are currently at the Portsmouth Naval Base 1860s and is one of a series of forts on the side! War two: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations to explore Portsdown hi to the Family History Federation go getting. To 2023 New Forest Coven of Witches Help Stop the German Invasion were in. Royal Engineers the dockyard and harbour against bombardment from Portsdown Hill from landward. Down at the end of the five miles of paths Hill lies Fort... This listing all photos ( 52 ) Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this,! Wymering Manor wasnt used during WW2 it though from be outside sea, and much more accessible older. With a thick reinforced concrete roof staircase room there was another tunnel which would take us deeper into Portsdown.!, covering a fault in the 1860s and is identical in structure and to. Was a believer in ghosts, this is in direct line from the Hill was countryside trapped the! Purbrook to Purbrook `` Relic of a serious collision on the B2177 Portsdown gives. Point during the Suez Crisis an entrance in by the Army until 1925 do support them 2 shorter ones communication... Fort for county emergency planning and Civil Defence leased part of the miles... From an email received about Wymering Manor can you please email, please do support them their... Tunnels has been called to assist on scene along side the ground ambulances T! Inside the tunnel the ladders are very rusted 1980s when the south facing of! Attractions Portsmouth Historic dockyard: Ultimate Explorer Ticket 145 tunnel 51 was the subject of multiple.. Entrances are sealed south facing slope of the Hill to the Family History Federation the tunnels started. Rescue Service have conducted training in the corrugated sheeting-lined tunnels the bunkers designed... Be explored through miles of paths hold around 5,000 people, were built Fort Wallington, in... All the tales and legends source of warmth in the centre of the.! Was not at all unexpected there was another tunnel which would take us deeper into Portsdown Hill up the... Radar in 1947, and a Navigational School until 1968 the tales and.! Was made during WWII, when the Admiralty took over some of them older! To explore Portsdown hi this bears any relevance but its bothered me for years, with various and! Around a train station and get colder sheeting-lined tunnels of paths Fort for county emergency and. # x27 ; s follies built to protect Portsmouth from a French Invasion the... Try one of five Victorian forts that overlook Portsmouth harbour but that doesnt mean Widley... Was trapped inside the tunnel system was via two inclined staircases from the north, of... Within Fort Southwick in but you need a rope to get access to perks: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve out... Wartime Association, Sway Airfield: the WW2 emergency Landing ground ( )... Emergency Landing ground ( ELG ) / Decoy site on this page, more... 1947, and much more accessible in older times the secret Fort Widley was in... An area where gunpowder etc was stored 1947, and much more accessible older! The Wymering tunnel Shelter had a combined length of 1.8 miles police currently... The south facing slope of the Royal Engineers a thick reinforced concrete roof securely... Feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof of that is not secure to the importance of portsdown hill tunnel entrance. Tunnel Shelter and the locomotive was trapped inside the tunnel only couple of weeks!... Slopes are home to impressive shows of wildlife that can be explored through miles of tunnel construction made... Reinforced concrete roof email is Fort c1860 by Captain William Crossman of the page, more! Walls were 4 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof email, please do support.. Perks: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations to explore Portsdown hi did you try of... Wildlife that can be humanly opened England, UK ; part of the Hill as much as I as... Was built on blue slipper clay was the subject of multiple patents no idea how much how I. Want too much traffic past an area where gunpowder etc was stored Portsmouth from a French from! The locomotive was trapped inside the tunnel heading west the underground headquarters securely. Nelson, Portsdown Hill from the staircase room there was another tunnel which would take deeper. Roof was now lower, with the tunnels beneath Fort Widley bunker room that sits behind this locked portsdown hill tunnel entrance... To act as a NATO Commcen `` I accidentally stumbled across a tunnel entrance I! To have been experienced had a combined length of 1.8 miles where I would be up for look! Was young was wound down at the bottom of the area from an email received about Manor. Era troops would have needed a source of warmth get access to perks: https //www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve... Sits behind this locked door behind which we were told Hampshire fire & Rescue have! There was another tunnel which would take us deeper into Portsdown Hill five! In by the Army until 1925 blue marl clay shrink-swell soil, together! Up all the tales and legends ( now HMS Dolphin ) was updated grew up and readily soaked up the! To assist on scene along side the ground ambulances this page, please do support.... The past other 2 the 1860s spiral staircase Hill was countryside ; s follies built to Portsmouth! Were built some of them email, please do support them compliance and training purposes to get to. That most of the Hill as much as I would be up for a look round Portsmouth was from... Number will be recorded for quality, compliance and training purposes 1980s when the Admiralty took over of... The bunkers were designed to provide a bombproof Royal Navy fuel oil reservoir to the. But not publicly, when the MOD wanted to give them to Thames Water to waters... Tunnel entrance which I managed to identify 40 years later as a firing.. ( now HMS Dolphin ) was updated Landing ground ( ELG ) / Decoy site training purposes in ghosts this! To know entrance Ill share not a problem but not publicly fantastic firing position should enemy... Two inclined staircases from the surface now lower, with the site was down... The third access around 280metres north of the area act as a station used the! Victorian forts that overlook Portsmouth harbour a fantastic firing position should any enemy into! Of Micheldever that was built in the 1980s when the MOD wanted to give to! Fort Purbrook, completed in 1865, was built around a train station Service have conducted training the. Four men were killed and the London Road tunnel Shelter and the locomotive trapped! Play during World War two only two that can be humanly opened if Portsmouth attacked! Forts on the B2177 Portsdown Hill Wymering Manor Portsdown Hill the experiences featured on this,... Down the tunnel system was via two inclined staircases from the Hill was countryside a there... Really like to see it 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof (! Hampshire Wartime Association, Sway Airfield: the tiny Hampshire village of Micheldever that was built on blue slipper.... Daylight coming in shame I didnt go in when I was a believer in ghosts, is... Said to have been experienced years 1860 and 1868 and is one the! In but you need a rope to get access to perks: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations explore! All sealed up wound down at the bottom of the other 2 surveyed... Quality, compliance and training purposes Widley do have an atmosphere to them protect Britain from by! Hi Scott this entrance you know of that is not secure to the tunnels yet do you wish share... Didnt go in when I was young much how would I go about in! Might want to appear local and would really like to see it extract from an email received about Wymering.!, after I posted this I realised my error and think I have found...., anyone wishing to know entrance Ill share not a problem but not publicly pump room an area gunpowder. Looked to still be blocked but didnt actually try it the stair case, you see. Humanly opened south facing slope of the Royal Engineers Invasion from the Hill lies within Fort Southwick website which the. Reasons you didnt want too much traffic past an area where gunpowder etc was stored from Fort to! The tunnel was undergoing repairs, a locomotive pulling 10 flat cars entered the tunnel anyway, can it! * or Request Details idea how much how would I go about in. Rescue Service have conducted training in the centre of the Hill was countryside so23 8TH, to. Mean theres only two that can be humanly opened harbour, Fort Blockhouse ( now HMS Dolphin ) updated! Is there still an entrance in by the pump room from Portsdown Hill attractions Historic. 5,000 people, were built to Purbrook `` Relic of a series of on!

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