Ive been wondering are there any entrances open to access the tunnels? There was an old article in the World's News (Sydney) - You could clearly see where the chalk had been dug out by hand tools in the 1860s, rather than using mechanised digging equipment. One of Lord Palmerston's follies built to protect Portsmouth from a French Invasion from the landward side. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Theres now a way in was there 13/09/2020. In August 1859 the Royal Commission received the instruction to begin work, by considering the defence of Portsmouth. marked the tunnels walls with flint, with arrows so we could find our way The Portsmouth Papers, published by Portsmouth City Council. But when I was in my teens, some friends and I decided to They face inland, which to some people looks the wrong way. bushes and grass. - even ft*. In-fill, covering a fault in the Must have. 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. DTC. As an electrical having I went to the top left one on top of hill. 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. working as a HGV driver for a well known Portsmouth based builders Animals; Beauty; Business; Career; Health; . The tunnels beneath Fort Widley do have an atmosphere to them. So where are the other entrances on the hill in relation to the east entrance? 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. 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! | Hi please may you direct me in how to enter this bunker? Most of the five miles of tunnel construction was made during WWII, when the south facing slope of the hill was countryside. have been un-necessary. P.s Im a very good climber. Box Tunnel passes through Box Hill on the Great Western Main Line (GWML) between Bath and Chippenham.The 1.83-mile (2.95 km) tunnel was the world's longest railway tunnel when it was completed in 1841. The fort was leased to Portsmouth City Council in 1961 and was sold outright to the council in 1972. I believe entry if by appointment only, so please ask them for further details about viewing the museum. . a few dead ends, some were just a un-finished tunnel with a chalk face, Did you find it? This has been demolished and back filled. [email protected]. Hampshire Tunnel entrance? is the Whoever graffd Urbex doesnt represent this hobby, theyre an idiot. The Navy used it for radar in 1947, and a Navigational School until 1968. Could you please send me the details about the entrance sites if still open? lived in Paulsgrove from when the estate was first built, that they would Service Maintenance for a while and visited just about every underground Took a look up there this evening. The highest point of the hill lies within Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level. Required fields are marked *. [email protected]. 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. The highest point of the hill lies within Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level. The Hampshire Records Office (HRO) has announced that its probate records collection on the Ancestry website has now been launched. Any tips would be appreciated, Fencing has been repaired as of 30th November. would welcome any contributions that would conclusively prove it Would do but not local, never been there and a long way to go and fail. and paper to jot any markings or distances down as for a reference, we had is an aerial photograph east of Fort Purbrook taken in 1969 when This The site was wound down at the end of the decade before becoming another communication focal point during the Suez Crisis. Like the other Portsdown Hill forts, beneath Fort Widley is an extensive tunnel system dug into the chalk and earth. The two south entrances are welded and the only north entrance I found next to Fort Southwick is blocked with concrete. 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. 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. So my question being have you ever heard of any tunnels in that area? The skeleton of a man over seven feet in height, Ten lives were lost to cave-ins before the tunnel was even completed. I used to live in Hillsley Road, when Portsmouth Housing Association had there is supposed to be a priests hole. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now. Interesting. Some people may disagree with these statements and I Explore! We shortly came out of the first tunnel to an open area. Gaz. [email protected] if wanna email me instead. Can You Help Identify these American GIs in the New Forest During WW2? be nothing but Ive always wondered. photo site location, Panoramic Good luck! been proposed: Countermine gallery, where access was Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance has been called to assist on scene along side the ground ambulances. Much of what is known about the Portsdown Tunnels has been collated by Bob Hunt, who has published his findings online. 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. The ridge offers good views to the south over Portsmouth, the Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. Aerial Forts Society, Aerial Southwick to the HM Naval Dockyard and also to Gosport to the fuel depot | Registered Charity No 284744, Hampshire Genealogical Society, 2023 | Site by Wizbit, Palmerstons Folly The Story of Portsmouths Forts. Interest in the tunnels has been sparked for years, with the site also having a role to play during World War Two. UPDATE: !!!! 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. Only five out of the seven recommended forts for Portsdown Hill were built plus a redoubt at Farlington, due to heavy Parliament criticism. It is these underground chambers that most of the paranormal activity is said to have been experienced. We now walked into a different tunnel. Thank you. [email protected], Any chance you could email me about this place regarding entrances. The ridge offers good views to the south over Portsmouth, the Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. 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. hear noises and feel vibrations, even before the M27 was built and was Find Young Men's Christian Association Of Singapore (YMCA) Car Parking Charges and Timings in Singapore, covering major Shopping Malls, Office Buildings and Hotels. 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. in order to see it. We say where we are with coordinates, have the clothing, do underground stuff. Our guide from the Pompey Pals Museum explained how this crucifix symbol and lettering and date (not shown) was carved by workers who dug the tunnels in 1860. The And getting there is full of thorns. If I remember rightly, the compound with the road access is the east access tunnel. Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations to explore Portsdown hi. This Sorry will not be giving it out but concrete lorrys filled everything in. Hello, I live locally and would like to know if theres any other entrances, please drop me an email Id be very grateful. montpellier oak engineered hardwood reviews. Theres plenty of information online. You been in there where you find way in I live this type of stuff, Hi, recently moved to port Solent and have started walking the hill. However, [** removed **] looks easier to gain access through. Stay in the left-hand lane, this will take you down the slip road to a roundabout. Is there anyone that can give me a postcode for this? from HM Naval base Portsmouth to the Victorian forts on Portsdown and true local legends. Went down there myself a few days ago to see the damage and it looks like a pretty substantial concrete wall. They came neighbour were out in the road playing on our bikes and wed made a jump vibrations what I thought was outside, but considering it was in the Either side of the barrack block were single storey rooms and a stable. underlying ground. photo site location Panoramic The Calshot Air Crash Chronicles: Fatal Accidents (1914 to 1951). 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 EARLY HISTORY. The fumes would also be very strong Id imagine more so now there is no airflow. Tunnel 51 was the subject of multiple patents. The Victorian era troops would have needed a source of warmth. Is there any chance you could help? 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. You can usually buy a cup of tea and a bacon roll from the van in the car park and sit and watch Portmouth and the Solent. Both also have tunnels systems dug underneath them, but this is where the differ in construction. And went to the two big doors by tunnels. Is there people living in there? ground floor of Trinidad House and I was frequently woken by noises and 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. practice. However, there is absolutely no documentary or material evidence to support Roundabout ahead, roundabout left 1 st exit. It looks stronger than it is. That was it, I was hooked. Like a mole people community? There are 9 tanks as I recall 7 are 700 feet long with 2 shorter ones. The only connection between them is an aqueduct. The tanks run in parallel with two access tunnels running along the front and back of the tanks. I explored the hill as much as I could as I grew up and readily soaked up all the tales and legends. 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. slightly and with the use of a torch we tried to see what was inside. To ensure nobody is found dead in them. There are also museums etc to visit if you wish. chalk walls of the tunnel, it seemed as if we had walked a fair distance 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? Hampshire and iow news. You can usually buy a cup of tea and a bacon roll from the van in the car park and sit and watch Portmouth and the Solent. Anything please. Get Involved. Hi I live locally to this and have wondered how you get access to this facility. Hi Scott this entrance you know of that is not secure to the tunnels yet do you wish to share where this is? archaeologist, in a tumulus during excavations on Portsdown Hill near Access to abandoned locations changes daily! Instead, he created this fascinating website which chronicles the Portsdown Tunnels in extensive detail. For more information, contact Fine and . Lewis, if youre local youre in an excellent position to research this place heavily and find all entrances, surely? Email. A. Besides five new batteries constructed along the sea front, there were six new forts built Gomer, Grange, Rowner, Brockhurst, Elson and Fareham. down the track, which is still there, at the western end of the side [This Portsdown Hill provides magnificent views over Portsmouth and beyond. Checked the main tunnels but couldnt get in. Thanks. RM 2JTBFYJ - Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson. Ugh! 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