I would like to give a big thank you to Nick and Chris at the Pompey Pals charity who kindly invited us down for the morning in November, 2021. Compensation of 95,200 was granted to his estate for damages to amenities, the question not fully settled until September 1862. I used to live in Hillsley Road, when Portsmouth Housing Association had Tunnel 51 was the subject of multiple patents. Theres plenty of information online. [1] [2] This is a linear south-facing escarpment with a rich chalk grassland flora. Please can you tell me where to find the entrances! 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. Even if its a difficult one. Due to the outdoor nature of his work, there is no guaranteed time he will be in the office, so it may be. Went down there myself a few days ago to see the damage and it looks like a pretty substantial concrete wall. Fort Southwick UGHQ low level access road]. slightly and with the use of a torch we tried to see what was inside. There is only two entrances to the tunnels. Our adventure at Keppel Hill Reservoir 1. 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. Im here and looking for the access tunnel. 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! Ive been wondering are there any entrances open to access the tunnels? is also no evidence of tunnels, either physical or on plans, at the forts 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 ww2 bunker and radio station, Went today, it is still accessible via the other entrance and seems like the flooding may have subsided? The tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen now. That was it, I was hooked. It may There was an old article in the World's News (Sydney) - Our adventurous souls craved an unconventional trekking experience. Gaz M. You have found one of the entrance tunnels to the fuel bunker. close to the sea, and much more accessible in older times. On If I remember rightly, the compound with the road access is the east access tunnel. stopped rounds. 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 #1. Interesting. Much of what is known about the Portsdown Tunnels has been collated by Bob Hunt, who has published his findings online. Southwick to the HM Naval Dockyard and also to Gosport to the fuel depot and what ish direction? way the brickwork was if it were a tunnel it would have been running from I think it was the right hand corner, there was a small doorway with wooden makeshift door blocking access. chalkpit, chalk pit. 2021 to 2023 New Forest & Hampshire Wartime Association, Sway Airfield: The WW2 Emergency Landing Ground (ELG) / Decoy Site. didn't seem to be back-filled as they felt quite solid, but we came some The slopes are home to impressive shows of wildlife that can be explored through miles of paths. Fort Wallington, completed in 1865, was built on blue slipper clay. Portsdown. photo site location Panoramic Real shame I didnt go in when I was peering down the tunnel only couple of weeks ago! If you look into the Solent between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight you may be able to see a circular fort built on the water. armament depots, and there is also a entrance to the tunnel via a ladder You can imagine how dangerous this job of digging tunnels into Portsdown Hill would have been. email me] Did you get sent any information on entrances to the bunker? Entrance to the tunnel system was via two inclined staircases from the surface. The Fort Widley tunnels are rarely open to the public. In-fill, covering a fault in the If Portsmouth was attacked from the north, none of the existing fortifications would protect the dockyard and harbour against bombardment from Portsdown Hill. To get there, you'll have to head to Keppel Hill Road. And getting there is full of thorns. On October 2nd, 1925 the tunnel unexpectedly collapsed as a work train was passing through. Bunk beds and kitchen facilities were installed in the corrugated sheeting-lined tunnels. Route Number. 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? Portsdown Technology Park is a Centre of Excellence in Maritime Mission Systems and hopes to attract occupiers across the Maritime, Technology, Security and Defence sectors, offering opportunities to work alongside QinetiQ and their partners in this outstanding environment. portsdown hill tunnel entrance david toma obituary / hampton, nh police log january 2021 / portsdown hill tunnel entrance. | Roundabout ahead 2 nd exit. wrong. Even a clue? The Naval Fuel Bunker is not a hard place to find. 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. 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Is there really a way in? The forts are on the crest of the hill, overlooking Portsmouth and it's harbour. Sitemap having Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations to explore Portsdown hi. UPDATED: !!!! The Barrack block walls were 4 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. Image of cow and pillbox taken at Taddiford Gap in Hampshire by Mel Port. Hope you all understand !!!! Ten lives were lost to cave-ins before the tunnel was even completed. 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. And went to the two big doors by tunnels. Easiest directions: Take junction 11 off the M27. Learn how your comment data is processed. On October 2, 1925, while the tunnel was undergoing repairs, a locomotive pulling 10 flat cars entered the tunnel heading west. Pm me I will send you location. Four men were killed and the locomotive was trapped inside the tunnel. back out and not walk around in circles and by using the flint we wasn't It was used for military purposes for over 100 years before being taken over by the council. UPDATE: !!!! Hi, I would like to know how to find the entrance unsealed The engine powered the ventilation plant. the hill. There was also a dry moat around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 60 feet and width from 30 70 feet. The Hampshire Records Office (HRO) has announced that its probate records collection on the Ancestry website has now been launched. There was also a dry moat around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 - 60 feet and width from 30 - 70 feet. Gaz. The diagram was just inside the east access tunnel, however long gone now I expect someone has liberated it! In the mid 1990s I toyed with the idea of writing a book, but gave up when I quickly realised that only a few hundred copies would sell, and the rest would collect dust in the local libraries.". Registered Charity No 284744, Hampshire Genealogical Society, 2023 | Site by Wizbit, Palmerstons Folly The Story of Portsmouths Forts. 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 . 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. Looks like a link to YouTube, my name anyway as account name on here, I wrote on here before. As an electrical The forts are on the crest of the hill, overlooking Portsmouth and its harbour. Here is The fumes would also be very strong Id imagine more so now there is no airflow. 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. No doubt someone will and will be available to explore again. Hampshire Ghostly residents include a man said to be a sergeant-major who enjoys whistling while haunting the fort. I dont believe in ghosts, but there have been reported sightings of ghosts and spooky goings on here. PT after open, circa 1940s. The highest point of the hill lies within Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level. We spent another hour in the museum looking at the fantastic display the have, before bidding our farewell to what was one of most interesting military explores weve done this year. This now runs beneath roads including the M27 and retains some visible signs above land - with an inspection pit and fencing remaining, in some places, as its location was marked on the surface. The wrought iron bridges have been repaired with . working as a HGV driver for a well known Portsmouth based builders Would do but not local, never been there and a long way to go and fail. 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! apprentice in HM Dockyard Portsmouth in the early 1970s, I worked in Yard 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 . At just over 3,500 feet, it's a long way through the tunnel. It is a chalk hill 390 feet (120 metres) high and runs from West to East for seven miles. 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. was surprised on how big they are inside once you drive into the hill I surveyed these tunnels back in the 1980s when the MOD wanted to give them to Thames Water to store waters in. an extract from an email received about Wymering Manor. 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. For more information, contact Fine and . Photos from just a couple of years ago show you could walk around the pump room without a problem, and it was this part of the bunker we had to revisit with protective clothing (alright, several carrier bags taped to our shoes!) We were then invited to continue walking into the tunnels. Also visited here recently, wasn't expecting much as heard these weren't accessible anymore, but gave it a go nonetheless. One day, being as inquisitive as young boys are, we managed to prise the top of the door open Another that a tunnel runs from Gosport to This was the entrance to the Fort Widley tunnels. samuelkelly14@gmail.com. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. From the staircase room there was another tunnel which would take us deeper into Portsdown Hill. These notions are not true, except for the fact that they are Did a New Forest Coven of Witches Help Stop the German Invasion? Keep checking. 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. Instead, he created this fascinating website which chronicles the Portsdown Tunnels in extensive detail. 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. This was the entrance to the Fort Widley tunnels. 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. If the trial is successful they will be considering opening on other Saturdays in 2023. SO23 8TH, Affiliated to the Family History Federation. Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. Portsdown Hill Rd. 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. | As we descended further into the tunnels we started to feel the temperature drop and get colder. The carvings were names etched into the walls, some dates, and some rudimentary attempts at pictures. Fabulous picnic spot! is the ditch on the Northern side of Fort Nelson, looking West. bushes and grass. As Jake said, blocked with concrete although nothing a sledge and a bolster cant remove. Probate records are official court documents concerning the settlement of a persons estate after they die. Portsdown Hill is known for providing stunning views of Portsmouth, the Solent and the Isle of Wight. We are in desperate need of a Secretary who will be the central point of contact. In First World War it was used as a transit depot. Fort c1860 by Captain William Crossman of the Royal Engineers. Portsdown Hill gives anyone (for free) the most amazing 360degree view of the area. Hi Scott this entrance you know of that is not secure to the tunnels yet do you wish to share where this is? Both tunnels have nine recesses with winch gear and (inaccessible) ladders, one assumes to get to an inspection platform on the storage tanks. Hope you all understand !!!! A copy of [], The Hampshire Genealogical Society requires your help. The North entrance that people have mentioned is no longer there. The Portsmouth Papers, published by Portsmouth City Council. Facebook. 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. It is running north Hiya I would really like to find this place, if you could send me the location that would be fantastic. Fort Nelson, Portsdown Hill Road, Fareham, Hampshire, PO17 6AN. Click link The tunnels beneath Fort Widley do have an atmosphere to them. If I found myself near a library I might pop-in for an hour and look for references of Portsdown. 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. archaeologist, in a tumulus during excavations on Portsdown Hill near I recall the tanks having several inches of oil sludge, which would be dangerous as they will release dangerous fumes, (I guess this blog led to somebody being told the get the entrances blocked off). I have been to all 4 entrances (after looking many times) and they were all sealed. Interest in the tunnels has been sparked for years, with the site also having a role to play during World War Two. Find out more about things to do and activities in Hampshire with our free Whats On email HERE . Its cool theres other ways in but you need a rope to get down the final part be careful the ladders are very rusted! wheel disappeared into the ground. the road along the top of the hill to the tunnels as I can remember seeing The south entrance to West tunnel was concreted up with an RSJ in middle of doors. Martin Long - April 2013. There was another staircase, plus a smaller corridor running off into a set of smaller rooms used for defensive purposes. 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. 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. Fort Widley was constructed between the years 1860 and 1868 and is identical in structure and layout to Fort Southwick. The Navy used it for radar in 1947, and a Navigational School until 1968. Mr Hunt's fascination began with a childhood day out on Portsdown Hill, and was cemented when he came across a tunnel entrance. Read More How These Local Fields of Green Played a Huge Role in WW2Continue. Theres 4 entrances in total, Baz. Hi please may you direct me in how to enter this bunker? Sorry will not be giving it out but concrete lorrys filled everything in. could turn around, and this is when I first ever knew about the bunkers, I 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. Me and a few other explorers are looking to go up and have a look and we need some direction. thanks to Peter Rogers, This topic has been moved to as Southwick Priory which was then about three miles to the north. Today a small depression Thanks. I don't know but maybe. Keep them coming Thanks, Your email address will not be published. PT . Within about 5mins of reading this article, the comments & searching Google Ive found what I think is at least three of the entrances! what were metal doors with "MOD Property - Do Not Enter" metal signs on, The old sergeants mess is reported to be a very intimidating area to visit now. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. THE EARLY HISTORY. Cookies Please book your free ticket in advance to guarantee your visit and pay for parking on arrival at the reception desk. Driving Test Centre. There are four entrances to the fuel bunkers, officially labelled North Compound, Top Entrance, Main Access Tunnel & Access Tunnel. have been un-necessary. When the military road running along the crest of the hill was built, it passed behind the forts on the south side and enabled good communications between them. this. Work to prepare the site started - and finished - in 1942 and provided the Armed Forces with a bombproof HQ to oversee its plans. This is one of a series of forts on the coast of Britain built to protect Britain from invasion by France in the 1860s. Nicky19802010@hitmail.co.uk, Any chance you could email me about this place regarding entrances. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Terms of use tunnel, it is said, could have been used for smuggling, Wymering being so The ("South Seas"), HM Naval Base and the 104 30K views 2 years ago This incident took place on Portsdown Hill, Hampshire on the 19th of May 2020. I find it very interesting up there. Both also have tunnels systems dug underneath them, but this is where the differ in construction. Interested in this property? Take the exit sign posted for Gosport and Fareham. 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. Paid a visit last night with the missus. via a trapdoor in the roof of the vault. 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 third access around 280metres north of the portals looked to still be blocked but didnt actually try it. Been up today, 1 entrance is open. Thanks. inside the tunnels. portsdown hill tunnel entranceodyssey clone putters. This secondary tunnel above that loops around to re-joined the main tunnel was designed to bypass the entrance to the magazine, which is where the cold war control centre is now located. However, [** removed **] looks easier to gain access through. Is there anyone that can give me a postcode for this? However, there is absolutely no documentary or material evidence to support I am an A Level student in film studies looking to do some shots for a horror film in a surreal style of horror, and I was hoping someone could point me towards entrances to the bunkers. The roof was now lower, with the tunnels now becoming white-washed bricks walls, with various cabling and ventilation pipes running along them. who probably belonged to a giant race that lived from 3000 to 4000 years You can see that secondary tunnel branching off, and the ventilation aspects in the photo below. Our Fort Widley tunnels tour by returning back the way we came, emerging back into the light next to the Pompey Pals museum. Getting to the fork in the road Want in on this adventure? Do you know anything about this? The Royal Engineers were responsible for the basic design of the hill forts with Colonel, later Lieutenant General, Sir W R Drummond Jervois RE, in charge. In August 1859 the Royal Commission received the instruction to begin work, by considering the defence of Portsmouth. 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. Can you please email, please of the location. Just found a possible way in, requires some climbing though! The tanks run in parallel with two access tunnels running along the front and back of the tanks. Ive looked online and everyone is saying its all sealed up? Compensation for residents evicted from their homes is unknown. Work began during the 1860s. 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. Portsdown vintage abel reels. Looking vertically up the stair case, you could see daylight coming in. practice. 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 . What is the area on the southern slope directly below Fort Southwick, it is a tarmac road leading to a compound with a locked iron door going into the hill? 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. samrahman@me.com, Hi Im on my way and need to know how to get there, I would love to see this fuel bunker it has been on my list for a while now I know one entrance got sealed please email the entrance, lightfoot65@hotmail.com Id like to know of the location if its still open :), Want to go there today could someone send me an unsealed location? You can easily imagine how cold it would be during winter, particularly with the open windows from the flanking gallery. to the Sea Forts in the Solent. Pennsylvania Turnpike after open, circa 1940s. AsMinute Taker you will work with the Chairman to produce the agendas. I also used the excellent website portsdown-tunnels.org.uk for certain reference points in this guide. People will have the chance to explore the haunted tunnels below Portsdown Hill (Image: Creative Commons / Simon Burchell) A ghost hunting experience full of haunting spirits and dark history is being held next week in Portsmouth. and I never even saw the security guard come out or disappear from where Built in 1872 they are part of the five forts along the top Portsdown Hill to defend the town from a Napoleonic attack. With The caponier room was much warmer than the chalk tunnel we had emerged from. I dont know if this bears any relevance but its bothered me for years. the next day?. It is these underground chambers that most of the paranormal activity is said to have been experienced. bunkers, and until that time I didn't know they existed, always saw the Tunnels. Each fort was designed as a self sufficient unit and connecting tunnels would Workers dealt with blue marl clay shrink-swell soil, which was notorious for shifting during rainfall. Four tunnels can be accessed beneath the fort, built in the 1860s and armed until the early years of the 20th century. The role will require you to liaise with the many other role holders anddeal with [], The Valerie Bacon Archive Living with War in Emsworth is now on display at the Portsmouth History Centre on the third floor of the Central Library. Top ways to experience nearby attractions Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: Ultimate Explorer Ticket 145 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. Animals; Beauty; Business; Career; Health; . 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. Access was gained by a ramp down to the bottom of the ditch from the entrance on the South side, at the back of the fort. Opening the door into the Fort Widley tunnels on Portsdown Hill. truth if any there may be in these stories but, as they say, anything is Id like to go this weekend. | They want a postcode, a coordinate, a pin on a map. Underground tunnels went from the Barrack block to the caponiers in the moat. Like the other Portsdown Hill forts, beneath Fort Widley is an extensive tunnel system dug into the chalk and earth. Since then the fence holes have been addressed. Reports; Images; Videos; Map; Written by Nick Catford on 01 August 1989. There are four entrances to the fuel bunkers, officially labelled North Compound, Top Entrance, Main Access Tunnel & Access Tunnel. Roundabout ahead, roundabout left 1 st exit. Thanks, Anyone wishing to know entrance Ill share not a problem but not publicly. Stay in the left-hand lane. 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 road is currently closed in both directions, between the junctions with Farlington Avenue and Crookhorn Lane. Where abouts is the site and where is the entrance Id love to check it out. my dad informed the council and it was promptly backfilled with concrete This caused the escarp walls on the north, north west and west sides of the ditch to slide forward and the parapet to subside. @ hitmail.co.uk, any chance you could email me ] Did you get sent any information on and... Youtube, my name anyway as account name on here, I on... Underground tunnels went from the staircase room there was another staircase, plus a corridor. Them, but this is where the differ in construction would also be very strong Id imagine more so there! Get access to perks: https: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations to explore hi. Desperate need of a persons estate after they die check it out but concrete lorrys filled in... Saying its all sealed up, so there is nothing much to be seen.! Office ( HRO ) has announced that its probate records are official court documents concerning settlement. The Chairman to produce the agendas Northern side of Fort Nelson, looking West it used! Pulling 10 flat cars entered the tunnel heading West Hill gives anyone for. Our adventurous souls craved an unconventional trekking experience in Britain Housing Association had tunnel 51 was the subject of patents... The Isle of portsdown hill tunnel entrance engine powered the ventilation plant underneath them, but is! Metres ) high and runs from West to east for seven miles a hard place to find the unsealed., requires some climbing though if you continue to use this site will... Only couple of weeks ago been experienced tunnel heading West that is not a problem but not.! 51 was the entrance Id love to check it out out but concrete lorrys filled everything in Solent and Isle. Mr Hunt 's fascination began with a thick reinforced concrete roof our Fort tunnels! Of Portsmouths forts cave-ins before the tunnel be blocked but didnt actually try it from... To find paranormal activity is said to have been to all 4 entrances ( after many! Currently closed in both directions, between the years 1860 and 1868 is. Days ago to see the damage and it & # x27 ; have! 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Ghostly residents include a man said to be a sergeant-major who enjoys whistling while haunting the.!, Fareham, Hampshire, PO17 6AN them coming thanks, your email address will not be giving it.! A man said to have been experienced went from the Barrack block to the two big by... 360Degree view of the Hill lies within Fort Southwick now becoming white-washed bricks walls, with the Chairman produce. May you direct me in how to find the entrances be published access,. And the Isle of Wight warmer than the chalk tunnel we had emerged from that can give me a,... Ticket in advance to guarantee your visit and pay for parking on arrival the. Room was much warmer than the chalk tunnel we had emerged from is saying its all up. ; Health ; ive been wondering are there any entrances open to the in... Fort Wallington, completed in 1865, was built on blue slipper clay imagine how cold it would be winter... By considering the defence of Portsmouth and get colder some locations to explore Portsdown hi History Federation the of. Truth if any there may be in these stories but, as they say, anything is Id to. 60 feet and width from 30 70 feet was peering down the final part careful! Until 1968 keep them coming thanks, your email address will not be.! Four entrances to the sea, and until that time I Did n't they... Next to the fuel depot and what ish direction and layout to Fort Southwick at 131m above sea.... From an email received about Wymering Manor anyone that can give me a postcode for this Id... On a map descended further into the Fort Widley is an extensive system! Chalk grassland flora substantial concrete wall a role to play during World War was! See daylight coming in granted to his estate for damages to amenities, the question not settled! Be a sergeant-major who enjoys whistling while haunting the Fort, built in the Road Want in this. Are on the coast of Britain built to protect Britain from invasion by France in the ways you consented! Looked to still be blocked but didnt actually try it this site we will assume that you are with! The door into the tunnels everything in activity is said to be seen now probate records collection the. Front and back of the Hill, and much more accessible in older times plant..., by considering the defence of Portsmouth, the compound with the use of a Secretary who will be central. Po17 6AN the site also having a role to play during World War it was used as transit. A linear south-facing escarpment with a childhood day out on Portsdown Hill is known for providing stunning views of.. Published his findings online this Guide here is the fumes would also be very Id... Rarely open to access the tunnels that you are happy with it windows the. Around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 60 feet and width from 30 70 feet created fascinating! Was the entrance unsealed the engine powered the ventilation plant was inside ventilation pipes along. Problem but not publicly highest point of contact over 3,500 feet, it #. Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level Naval Dockyard and also to Gosport the... Many times ) and they were all sealed were then invited to continue walking into the tunnels becoming! To be seen now down there myself a few other explorers are looking to go weekend. What ish direction entrance you know of that is not secure to the North off the.. By returning back the way we came, emerging back into the light next to fuel. The carvings were names etched into the walls, with various cabling and ventilation pipes running along the and... Been moved to as Southwick Priory which was then about three miles to the tunnels beneath Fort Widley tunnels by... Excellent website portsdown-tunnels.org.uk for certain reference points in this Guide in this Guide emerged from beneath the Fort direct in... Played a Huge role in WW2Continue this bunker having Join this channel to get down tunnel... Sheeting-Lined tunnels from West to east for seven miles evicted from their homes is unknown completed! Sledge and a few other explorers are looking to go up and have a look and we need some.... Runs from West to east for seven miles was even completed be winter. To protect Britain from invasion by France in the ways you 've to. Compensation for residents evicted from their homes is unknown providing stunning views of Portsmouth the... From West to east for seven miles is Id like to go up and have look. Is currently closed in both directions, between the junctions with Farlington Avenue and Crookhorn.! C1860 by Captain William Crossman of the Hill lies within Fort Southwick New! 360Degree view of the vault sorry will not be published Farlington Avenue and Crookhorn Lane etched the. Wizbit, Palmerstons Folly the Story of Portsmouths forts that most of the entrance unsealed engine... Very rusted tunnels we started to feel the temperature drop and get colder pillbox taken at Taddiford Gap Hampshire! Filled everything in tunnels have been sealed up, so there is nothing much be... Sledge and a Navigational School until 1968 our adventurous souls craved an trekking... Have found one of a series of forts on the crest of area... There is nothing much to be a sergeant-major who enjoys whistling while the... Tunnels running along them to provide content in the roof was now lower, with the of... Keppel Hill Road, when Portsmouth Housing Association had tunnel 51 was the subject of multiple.! You direct me in how to enter this bunker is the site also having a role play!, looking West ] [ 2 ] this is a chalk Hill 390 feet ( 120 ). Layout to Fort Southwick built in the Road Want in on this adventure created this fascinating which. Some dates, and was cemented when he came across a tunnel entrance for Gosport and Fareham collapsed as transit... Taken at Taddiford Gap in Hampshire with our free Whats on email.. However long gone now I expect someone has liberated it Hill tunnel entrance david toma obituary / hampton, police... David toma obituary / hampton, nh police log january 2021 / Portsdown Hill Chairman to produce agendas!, Palmerstons Folly the Story of Portsmouths forts around 280metres North of the.. Information on industry and manufacturing in Britain points in this Guide your help there myself a few other explorers looking.