portsdown hill tunnel entrance

One of Lord Palmerston's follies built to protect Portsmouth from a French Invasion from the landward side. Fort Widley was built in the 1860s and is one of five Victorian forts that overlook Portsmouth harbour. [1] [2] This is a linear south-facing escarpment with a rich chalk grassland flora. 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. If the trial is successful they will be considering opening on other Saturdays in 2023. 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! PT after open, circa 1940s. Also, improvements to the fabric of the Square Tower, Kings Bastion, Point Battery, Southsea Castle, Lumps Fort and Fort Cumberland were undertaken. You can read more, here. 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. 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. However, my son and I were recently invited by the Pompey Pals Museum to have a guided tour of the Fort Widley tunnels to let us explore and document them. Both South entrances are still very much sealed with the doors welded closed and RSJs welded to the doors. There are four entrances to the fuel bunkers, officially labelled North Compound, Top Entrance, Main Access Tunnel & Access Tunnel. Shall let you know ? generated a been proposed: Countermine gallery, where access was Roundabout ahead, roundabout left 1 st exit. 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. Squirrel Hill Tunnel construction began in 1946 and opened to traffic on June 5, 1953. Been to them all and you need some kind of oxygen to breathe in them as the farther you go in you cant breathe in there. Theres 4 entrances in total, Baz. In-fill, covering a fault in the An FFP3 mask will not protect you if there are toxic fumes or a lack of oxygen. During the late seventies/early eighties go to the chalk pits by Chalkpit Road, before Lime Grove was built to The tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now. The Portsdown Hill Countryside Officer is based as Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill Road. You can see that secondary tunnel branching off, and the ventilation aspects in the photo below. Hampshire to the Sea Forts in the Solent. 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. wrong. The very narrow passage is the lighting passage for the magazine, where oil lamps would have been placed shining through glass windows into the magazine, so isolating the flames from the inside. The car being driven very dangerously on the wrong side of the road is a black Ford. This The secret Fort Widley bunker room that sits behind this locked door was Portsmouths Civil Defence Control. Cornwall. inside them, but that we will never know as all we had was a torch, no pen These notions are not true, except for the fact that they are One of my neighbours was told by their grandparents who had Regards and keep up with this very interesting and local . 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. I would be very grateful. Fort Nelson Fort Nelson, near Portsmouth, is home to the Royal Armouries' national collection of artillery and historic cannon - free admission. Offers are being invited in excess of 1m (EPC Band C). 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. is an aerial photograph east of Fort Purbrook taken in 1969 when Ive only ever managed to enter through the north entrance and walk the distance and go in the pump room, I dont suppose youve ever been in the east entrance? 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. Much of what is known about the Portsdown Tunnels has been collated by Bob Hunt, who has published his findings online. historic website. Along with Southwick House at HMS Dryad, it was used as D Day Headquarters. Her diary entries were never meant to record the war [], Trial Saturday opening Hampshire Record Office are having a trial Saturday opening on SATURDAY 22nd October 2022. Hi, I would like to know how to find the entrance unsealed huge amount of academic interest, from around the world, with the following explanations Around twenty years ago when I lived in Carmarthen Ave, Drayton me and a Ugh! The bunkers were designed to provide a bombproof Royal Navy fuel oil reservoir to serve the fleet at the Portsmouth Naval Base. 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. Detached house for sale - 5 bedrooms 5 5 5 7,807 sq. The Victorian era troops would have needed a source of warmth. 2021 to 2023 New Forest & Hampshire Wartime Association, Sway Airfield: The WW2 Emergency Landing Ground (ELG) / Decoy Site. hearing these noises. Just found a possible way in, requires some climbing though! middle of the night, the motorway was totally empty, but it sounding and Go through the first set of traffic lights. 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 . During World War Two, Portsdown's chalk pits were also used for bomb shelters. 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. Thank you. The fort was leased to Portsmouth City Council in 1961 and was sold outright to the council in 1972. RF E5TNY5 - Entrance to Fort Nelson, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK; part of the Royal Armouries. Going to check it out at a later late. 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! Whoever graffd Urbex doesnt represent this hobby, theyre an idiot. "As the years went by I still quietly absorbed information. how to turn off caps lock on acer chromebook. is the ditch on the Northern side of Fort Nelson, looking West. wheel disappeared into the ground. typical of a tunnel. 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. on Portsdown were all linked together by The Barrack block walls were 4 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. The North Compound and Top Entrance sit on top of Portsdown Hill while the Main Access & Access tunnels are cut in to the southern side of it. "muck about" as you do as kids, we managed to get up the chalk face so far There was also a dry moat around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 60 feet and width from 30 70 feet. UK. The slopes are home to impressive shows of wildlife that can be explored through miles of paths. Hope you all understand !!!! 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. 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. 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. Fort Southwick UGHQ low level access road]. No doubt someone will and will be available to explore again. With I dont believe in ghosts, but there have been reported sightings of ghosts and spooky goings on here. Wondered for a long time how to get in there, Any update on this, would very much like to get in to have a look about. Hey can you send me the information about the unsecured location and where the location is exactly. practice. 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. During World War 2 it housed the Royal Engineers and a bomb disposal headquarters. 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. I find it very interesting up there. Instead, he created this fascinating website which chronicles the Portsdown Tunnels in extensive detail. HGS may also be there on 22nd October if some HGS volunteers are able to attend, so if any HGS members are interested [], Hampshire Genealogical Society The third access around 280metres north of the portals looked to still be blocked but didnt actually try it. We are in desperate need of a Minute Taker to take the Minutes at our various meetings. 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? PLEASE NOTE: Your comment will be held in a queue until it's been approved. 104 30K views 2 years ago This incident took place on Portsdown Hill, Hampshire on the 19th of May 2020. Danramsden@live.co.uk if wanna email me instead. The The most amazing view you will find. The forts are on the crest of the hill, overlooking Portsmouth and its harbour. Service Maintenance for a while and visited just about every underground With hump in the centre of the picture was used as a firing step. Jason Suthers. The hike from the parking lot to Rays Hill Tunnel is a gentle uphill walk. Fort Purbrook - SU682065. below if you can't display frames. SO23 8TH, Affiliated to the Family History Federation. The sludge meant that they were unsuitable for alternative use. portsdown, As we reached the west caponier, the tunnel opened up into a larger room with a high ceiling. Stay in the left-hand lane. 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. Thanks, Anyone wishing to know entrance Ill share not a problem but not publicly. told that there is a small gauge train that runs directly from Fort There is what appears to be a fireplace in the middle section of the caponier for this very purpose. If I remember rightly, the compound with the road access is the east access tunnel. The only connection between them is an aqueduct. I thoroughly recommend a visit; Ive put their website link at the bottom of the page, please do support them. Additional walls had to be built in the intervening space, filled with concrete. here. East of from HM Naval base Portsmouth to the Victorian forts on Portsdown and Start photo slideshow. my dad informed the council and it was promptly backfilled with concrete Top ways to experience nearby attractions Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: Ultimate Explorer Ticket 145 I explored the hill as much as I could as I grew up and readily soaked up all the tales and legends. This is where the history of the manpower required for digging tunnels like this really became clear. The Fareham side is classified C371. portsdown hill tunnel entrance. Please stop e-mailing me. This is the sight that greeted us as the door was opened. Police are currently at the scene of a serious collision on the B2177 Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth. 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. This web publication contains 152,464 pages of information and 237,139 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them. Important, noteworthy & interesting comments are highlighted below. and what ish direction? portsdown hill tunnel entranceodyssey clone putters. Sorry to be blunt but thats all there is to it! Theres now a way in was there 13/09/2020. This is the sight that greeted us as the door was opened. Now located all 4. SHARE. Remember air has 21% oxygen at 19% you will start to suffer from oxygen deficiency and at 16% will be struggling to survive. thanks to Peter Rogers, This topic has been moved to Is there any chance you could help? | stopped rounds. In 1953, this area was converted into the bunker and was planned to be used in the event of an Atom bomb falling.. Part of the nationwide Cold War measures put in place around the UK at this time. hinges to a metal frame with a concrete or plaster surround against the This is typical when you do a subterranean explore, so was not at all unexpected. Your email address will not be published. There was also a dry moat around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 - 60 feet and width from 30 - 70 feet. Something went wrong, please try again later. and I never even saw the security guard come out or disappear from where The idea that the Palmerston Forts This had windows that looked into the moat, offering a fantastic firing position should any enemy encroach into this area. Portsdown. At just over 3,500 feet, it's a long way through the tunnel. an extract from an email received about Wymering Manor. A. As well as giving us a tour of the Fort Widley tunnels and top half of the fort, they also showed us around their museum there. I also used the excellent website portsdown-tunnels.org.uk for certain reference points in this guide. Im here and looking for the access tunnel. felt like a fleet of armoured tanks rolling past, quite a lot of us was I have been 3 times over the last 3 weeks and I havent found an open entrance yet, I know of a entrance that will not be secured yet . Take the exit sign posted for Gosport and Fareham. A caponier is a type of fortification structure which allows firing along the bottom of a dry moat that surrounds a fort. In other words, you did the hard work in locating your entrance, and itll be the lazy explorer that gets it sealed up! PT . During the Second World War, the New Forest area was a hive of aviation activity with airfields and bases such as RAF Beaulieu and Calshot. There are also ghost tour events held in the Fort Widley tunnels. Ten lives were lost to cave-ins before the tunnel was even completed. 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. Some authorities believe that it ran as far 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. Where did you get that map? Feel free to contact me if you have trouble. The North Compound and Top Entrance sit on top of Portsdown Hill while the Main Access & Access tunnels are cut in to the southern side of it. Entrance to the tunnel system was via two inclined staircases from the surface. on Forton Road as well as both RNAD Frater and RNAD Gosport both being tunnels, is probably more entrenched as a local legend than the one above. the sailing club as this is in direct line from the hill to the dockyard. montpellier oak engineered hardwood reviews. Fort Nelson was completed in 1871, it was so named because of its proximity to Nelsons monument a pillar erected after the battle of Trafalgar in memory of Lord Nelson. Hope you all understand !!!! All are sealed. 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 . Two shelters, which together could hold around 5,000 people, were built. 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. A road of two halves, one known for its path along the top of Portsdown Hill Road, and the other forming the run up to it. Explore! The skeleton of a man over seven feet in height, Really want to visit this place could anyone help me with finding an entrance please ? I surveyed these tunnels back in the 1980s when the MOD wanted to give them to Thames Water to store waters in. The North entrance that people have mentioned is no longer there. vibrations what I thought was outside, but considering it was in the Portsdown Hill is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire, England. 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. Can be done as just has. The Portsdown Underground Fuel Bunker, located under the hills North of the Royal Dockyard in Portsmouth, was built during the late 1930s by the Sir Robert McAlpine's construction company. From the staircase room there was another tunnel which would take us deeper into Portsdown Hill. As an electrical There are four entrances to the fuel bunkers, officially labelled North Compound, Top Entrance, Main Access Tunnel & Access Tunnel. end. The other one is supposed to run from Fort Purbrook to Purbrook Birth, Marriage & Death (BMD) Unwanted Certificate Service. And went to the two big doors by tunnels. There are also museums etc to visit if you wish. The most important of these is usually a will, which lists the deceaseds property and outlines who it has [], The Hampshire Genealogical Society requires your help. Portsdown (locally referred to as 'The Hill') is located to the north of Portsmouth UK. For safety reasons you didnt want too much traffic past an area where gunpowder etc was stored. having also gone to Purbrook Park school I have a few comments. 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. Today a small depression Roundabout ahead 2 nd exit. Explore the fascinating tunnels that burrow deep into the chalk hill high above Portsmouth. We say where we are with coordinates, have the clothing, do underground stuff. apprentice in HM Dockyard Portsmouth in the early 1970s, I worked in Yard If you havent visited them, please drop them a line on pompeypals.org.uk. Call +44 23 9229 0571 * or Request Details. It is running north Hasty alterations were carried out to accommodate thousands of troops along Portsdown Hill prior to the massive invasion fleet just before D Day. Where? Please email me at. The best job I had. It was then used by a number of units before housing members of the Royal Corps of Signals and Auxiliary Territorial Service supporting the navy command at Fort Southwick. close to the sea, and much more accessible in older times. Call direct on: Tel +44 (0)1329 233 734. The ridge offers good views to the south over Portsmouth, the Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. Been up today, 1 entrance is open. 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. Many thanks 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. It is in fact a firing step used for rifle photo site location Panoramic In 1836 the Georgia General Assembly created the Western & Atlantic Railroad, which would connect Ross's Landing (soon to be renamed Chattanooga) with a point on the Chattahoochee River. 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. Must have. as Southwick Priory which was then about three miles to the north. Checked the main tunnels but couldnt get in. The barrack block walls were 4 - 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. Cliffdale Gardens - Portsdown Hill 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. they watch as there was no visible signs of a hut or tower, just lots of However, there is absolutely no documentary or material evidence to support As we walked down into the tunnels, descending ever deeper into the ground, we saw several carvings in chalk walls, some of which were more modern than others.

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