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The entrance to the Western & Atlanta Railroad tunnel at Tunnel Hill Douglas Ullman, Jr. But when I was in my teens, some friends and I decided to As it neared the western entrance, 190 feet of the tunnel. 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. Theres plenty of information online. Improve this listing All photos (52) Top ways to experience nearby attractions Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: Ultimate Explorer Ticket 149 Attractions & Museums from $46.64 per adult | Interest in the tunnels has been sparked for years, with the site also having a role to play during World War Two. All we could see was a dark, cold It may 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. 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. They want a postcode, a coordinate, a pin on a map. hump in the centre of the picture was used as a firing step. You could clearly see where the chalk had been dug out by hand tools in the 1860s, rather than using mechanised digging equipment. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. I have no idea how much underlying ground. / south and looks like a tunnel entrance. They came The other point I would mention is that there was vehicular access from 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? There are four entrances to the fuel bunkers, officially labelled North Compound, Top Entrance, Main Access Tunnel & Access Tunnel. Can be done as just has. In other words, you did the hard work in locating your entrance, and itll be the lazy explorer that gets it sealed up! Go through the first set of traffic lights. Cornwall. Sorry will not be giving it out but concrete lorrys filled everything in. If I remember rightly, the compound with the road access is the east access 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. Please stop e-mailing me. At Hilsea Lines the moat was widened and walls strengthened. Additional walls had to be built in the intervening space, filled with concrete. 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. Feel free to contact me if you have trouble. 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. 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. This is the sight that greeted us as the door was opened. 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. Image 1. onto which the small gauge train runs on at Portchester Castle, near to The sludge meant that they were unsuitable for alternative use. Maryeverley6@gmail.com. Here is This The coastal locations of the, Read More The Heroic Wartime Actions of Patrick Dumbo Taylor Who Crashed Near Blackfield & FawleyContinue. merchant, and there was a delivery that was for the builders at the fuel a few dead ends, some were just a un-finished tunnel with a chalk face, Facebook. The best job I had. but sadly now thats not the case anymore for any of the four. 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. Going to check it out at a later late. What is the arrowed feature cut into the hill? down the track, which is still there, at the western end of the side [This Hello mate where abouts are the entrances could you show me and a couple of mates we been trying to find them no luck. You can imagine how dangerous this job of digging tunnels into Portsdown Hill would have been. Mate, I live in Nottingham and Ive never even been to Portsmouth. The forts are on the crest of the hill, overlooking Portsmouth and it's harbour. 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. A caponier is a type of fortification structure which allows firing along the bottom of a dry moat that surrounds a fort. The tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now. Sorry to be blunt but thats all there is to it! Keep them coming Thanks, Your email address will not be published. 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. Paid a visit last night with the missus. There are also museums etc to visit if you wish. Many thanks 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. Important, noteworthy & interesting comments are highlighted below. Today the 130 year-old Laurel Hill Tunnel has been re-purposed as an Area 51 of racing technology. Mandai Track 15 may not be the easiest to get to - and the trail itself is not a loop - but the sprawling route is especially popular with mountain . Opening Times. 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! 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. Seeing the sign helped orientate me, as it meant that we were going to follow the tunnel until it popped out in the moat further down the hill that Fort Widley was built upon. as Southwick Priory which was then about three miles to the north. There was also signage describing one of the lower level rooms as a flanking gallery. And even if people cant be bothered to search for that, a good old fashioned walk on Portsdown Hill will uncover this mystery in no time at all. itself, it was that big, I could turn my 23 tonne HGV2 rigid round inside, However, there is absolutely no documentary or material evidence to support Regards and keep up with this very interesting and local upon the legend, still persisting, of giants who lived in the locality." Hasty alterations were carried out to accommodate thousands of troops along Portsdown Hill prior to the massive invasion fleet just before D Day. quarry, naval, 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. The Portsmouth Papers, published by Portsmouth City Council. is an aerial photograph east of Fort Purbrook taken in 1969 when Besides five new batteries constructed along the sea front, there were six new forts built Gomer, Grange, Rowner, Brockhurst, Elson and Fareham. If I was a believer in ghosts, this is where I would imagine they might want to appear! Please note Fort Nelson ramparts are closed until further notice. north to south and the hole appeared about two thirds up the road. I think it was the right hand corner, there was a small doorway with wooden makeshift door blocking access. centre. even Gaz M. You have found one of the entrance tunnels to the fuel bunker. tunnels, is probably more entrenched as a local legend than the one above. having Raising awareness of WW2 history in the New Forest and Hampshire area through community and learning. have been un-necessary. 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. Palmerston Forts. Call +44 23 9229 0571 * or Request Details. SHARE. The forts are on the crest of the hill, overlooking Portsmouth and its harbour. Portsdown Hill is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire, England. Both South entrances are still very much sealed with the doors welded closed and RSJs welded to the doors. wheel disappeared into the ground. The walls had loopholes for rifle fire. my dad informed the council and it was promptly backfilled with concrete Cheeky. Portsdown Hill provides magnificent views over Portsmouth and beyond. The Checked the main tunnels but couldnt get in. Anything please. Ugh! Hi, I would like to know how to find the entrance unsealed Thank you. Police are currently at the scene of a serious collision on the B2177 Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth. Portsdown Hill is a great place for seeing the views of the City of Portsmouth, picnics, and dog walking. The cross was carved as a memorial to one of their colleagues who was killed during a roof collapse. 1 of 24. Gray New - June 2009. The tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now. Pm me I will send you location. It is in fact a firing step used for rifle Four tunnels can be accessed beneath the fort, built in the 1860s and armed until the early years of the 20th century. 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. The walls had loopholes for rifle fire. peterhiggins1995@gmail.com. | Do you know anything about this? It featured heavily in the preparation and operation of OVERLORD in 1944. Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations to explore Portsdown hi. 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. This was the entrance to the Fort Widley tunnels. Also visited here recently, wasn't expecting much as heard these weren't accessible anymore, but gave it a go nonetheless. Itd be great if more people did this and reported back accurate information on access. this. The tunnels beneath Fort Widley do have an atmosphere to them. There are stories of two other tunnels to those you mention :- one between Easiest directions: Take junction 11 off the M27. Your email address will not be published. Been looking on aerials as Im planning another trip and seen 3 places on the surface Valve compound and 2 others for possibly the 4th entrance wondering if Im close or can get a hint. With huge amount of academic interest, from around the world, with the following explanations 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. Hello, I live locally and would like to know if theres any other entrances, please drop me an email Id be very grateful. 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. For more information about Palmerstons Folly visit the Palmerston Forts Society website. Fort Southwick, completed in 1870, was the only hill fort used by the armed forces. ground floor of Trinidad House and I was frequently woken by noises and A snip here, and a bit there but never any full accounts. Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. from HM Naval base Portsmouth to the Victorian forts on Portsdown and way the brickwork was if it were a tunnel it would have been running from But that doesnt mean Fort Widley wasnt used during WW2. Forts Society, Aerial There is a vent shaft in Browning Avenue, Portchester but this has a metal fence in front of it and would only be accessible if you had something to cut through concrete and rebar. bushes and grass. My email is The barrack block walls were 4 - 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. 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. Portsdown Portsmouth. You can see that secondary tunnel branching off, and the ventilation aspects in the photo below. All Portsdown Forts played a role during the Second World War. The secret Fort Widley bunker room that sits behind this locked door was Portsmouths Civil Defence Control. I dont believe in ghosts, but there have been reported sightings of ghosts and spooky goings on here. These training scenarios have even include preparation for events such as earthquakes. Access to abandoned locations changes daily! James Callaghan Drive. Winchester 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. 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