Friends of Tranmere Tunnels

[scouserdave]

Snappel might be interested in this. I've never heard of Tranmere Tunnels until I found this website (http://ibuild.supportal.org.uk/template.aspx?itemid=1593) by chance a couple of minutes ago.

[Howie]

What a fantastic find! These have been a well kept secret. I've never heard of them and I've just spoken to a local historian based in the building I'm working in and he didn't know anything about them either. What with the Williamson Tunnels here and the Tranmere Tunnels over the water you wonder what else there might be below us here on Merseyside.

[Kev]

Great stuff! The site is a bit difficult to navigate though, hopefully I won't ghet too many errors whilst viewing, cheers Dave

[snappel]

Thanks Dave. I've seen the site before - it's very interesting and the first time I heard about the tunnels I was amazed. It looks massive!! I've been in some shelters in Stockport which were interesting, and I'd love to see the inside of these.

There's been talk on a couple of urban exploration forums about ways in, but so far nothing's been done. Obviously with something like this it's crucial that it doesn't get busted open and destroyed by local kids, etc, so I suppose all the time it's sealed off it's preserving the tunnels.

[FKoE]

I remember hearing as a kid of a rumour which

went along the lines, that under New Brighton there is a secret tunnel containing steamtrains, cars and miltary vehicles.. maybe it is just a rumour, but has

anyone else ever heard ?


Great find by the way Davey

[Kev]

I remember hearing as a kid of a rumour which went along the lines, that under New Brighton there is a secret tunnel containing steamtrains, cars and miltary vehicles.. maybe it is just a rumour, but has anyone else ever heard ?


Great find by the way Davey

I've heard something similar about Liverpool.

[Max]

I remember hearing as a kid of a rumour which went along the lines, that under New Brighton there is a secret tunnel containing steamtrains, cars and miltary vehicles.. maybe it is just a rumour, but has anyone else ever heard ?


Great find by the way Davey


Military eh.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[snappel]

The myth of

the 'Strategic Reserve' of steam locomotives, etc, is in my opinion rubbish. I've seen it debated too many times, but it just seems unlikely, unfeasible

and not worth the effort.

Every town in the country has rumours of secret tunnels and caverns - some come to light, others don't. I know there is

another air-raid shelter under Bidston Hill, plus there are the perhaps better-founded rumours of smugglers tunnels on the coast at New Brighton.

[FKoE]

Ah myth and legend eh ?, I guess all the stories of the River Mersey monster are just myth too then aye :D

:Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

[sweetpatooti]

Ah myth and legend eh ?, I guess all the stories of the River Mersey monster are just myth too then aye :D

:Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

You mean the Great Mersey Brown Trout?:eek:

[FKoE]

You mean the Great Mersey Brown Trout?:eek:

:o have you

seen it too Pootie ? :D

[MissInformed]

hi everyone
i bought a book about the history of toxteth park

last week, and it says there are tunnels underneath grafton st, a remainder of the old mersey forge.
and also tunnels underneath st michael in the hamlet,

which are similar to those in kew in london, used for keeping food iced, years and years ago.

[snappel]

Grafton Street sounds interesting. As you leave Brunswick Station by train heading south, on the

left is a big tunnel opening, brick-lined. I think it was probably an engine house or something to do with the docks/railways, but it must be more or less

under Grafton Street.

Unfortunately there are now steel piles and beams in it to support the new development above, so it might be worth a look. Could

be tricky to get to though.

[MissInformed]

Old Mersey Forge

...'This famous works, whose deserted and ruined remains now present a melancholy spectre of their former greatness,

was seperated into three different parts by two streets (Horsfall Street and Grafton Street), communication being effected by means of tunnels.'

:)

[Waterways]

Old

Mersey Forge

...'This famous works, whose deserted and ruined remains now present a melancholy spectre of their former greatness, was separated into
three different parts by two streets (Horsfall Street and Grafton Street), communication being effected by means of tunnels.'

:)

Below: the 1906 map. The tunnel at Brunswick Stn was probably an engine shed rather than a Mersey Forge tunnel - only going by the map. There were tunnels all along the Dock Rd into the rising rock. The old Cheshire Lines Building (a massive good looking red brick place and would be protected today) had dead-end tunnels cut into the rock too. Demolished in 1975. There were bombed in WW2 engine goods sheds between the Dock Rd and Caryl St that also had dead end tunnels cut into the rock too. I used to play in them as a kid. They were never rebuilt. Here it is:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5854/still004ai8.jpg

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7795&d=1219043906

Below: 1907. The Mersey Forge site has been cleared by this time. The site was like this until the late 1970s/80s. Grafton St is between the two gas holders. Horsfall St runs off to the left. St.Gabriel's Church is still standing to the right on Beaufort St as are one or two of the gas holders. The Harrington and Toxteth Dock sheds are still there.

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7796&d=1219044076

[snappel]

Nice photos. The tunnel I'm talking about is just before the gasholders by the railway, so I'm pretty sure it

would've gone underneath the forge yard. Even so, if it went anywhere, I'm sure we'd know by now. If I can, I'll check it out.

[MissInformed]

ooohhh

this is getting exciting!!:celb (23):

[Waterways]

Nice photos. The tunnel I'm talking about is just before the gasholders by the railway, so I'm pretty sure it would've

gone underneath the forge yard. Even so, if it went anywhere, I'm sure we'd know by now. If I can, I'll check it out.

The map does show

what could be tunnels cut into the rock. It could have been to supply the forge of iron ore and to export the finished products (large guns and the likes)

from the rail lines. The site closed in 1898. Strange, as the forge was a very advanced affair for the time and a great place for the workers to work in

paying well - even having library for them. They did a lot of work for foreign governments.

The owner was in contact with Bessemer regarding the

perfecting the technique of making steel en-mass. This technique changed the modern world.

[MissInformed]

there are more tunnels under St Michael

in the Hamlet too...

[Waterways]

The

Mersey Forge South Yard looking south. One of the gasholders was replaced by this ugly overlarge sod in 1971 - I hope this is demolished soon as it is an

eyesore and new residential builidings are being erected all around. The other one is still there but appears to be inactive and always down.

The

tunnels would penetrate the yard to the right. Grafton St is to the left off

picture.

http://www.toxteth.net/places/liverpool/history/images/mersey%20forge%20south.jpg

[PhilipG]

Grafton Street sounds interesting. As you leave Brunswick Station by train heading south, on the left is a big tunnel

opening, brick-lined. I think it was probably an engine house or something to do with the docks/railways, but it must be more or less under Grafton

Street.

Unfortunately there are now steel piles and beams in it to support the new development above, so it might be worth a look. Could be tricky to

get to though.

http://www.toxteth.net/places/liverpool/general/tunnel%20mouth.htm
Is this the tunnel you mean?
If so, it was

where the Overhead Railway went underground.

There were supposed to be tunnels in New Brighton used by smugglers.
They were said to be between

Mother Redcap's Inn and the Red Noses (Cliffs). I haven't heard about transport being stored in them.

Tunnels (as such) weren't dug to store ice,

but underground chambers were.
This happened quite often in the grounds of large houses.
I think there's still one at Croxteth Hall.

[Waterways]

http://www.toxteth.net/places/liverpool/general/tunnel%20mouth.htm
Is this the tunnel you

mean?
If so, it was where the Overhead Railway went underground.


That is not the one he means. It is on ground level and where Snappel

described it to be, runing under the Forge's South yard. It is easily seen from the Dock Rd.

[PhilipG]

That is not the one he means. It is on ground level and where Snappel

described it to be, runing under the Forge's South yard. It is easily seen from the Dock Rd.

Could somebody post a picture of it?
The

only tunnels the OS maps show are the 2 railway tunnels.

[snappel]

It may only go 30ft into the rock. It wouldn't be on any OS maps I shouldn't have thought...

[crm114]

I used to spend a lot of time in (not

very far) and around these tunnels.
Entrances or more probably the ventilation shafts were located at the junction of Frodsham St. and Redmond St (Marquis

St continuation) and another was located at the projected junction of Holborn Hill, Thompson St and Westbury St next to a set of lock ups in a back alley.

These were perhaps 15ft high and 10ft square brick and concrete constructions. They were secured with heavy doors and I only ever once saw it open when a

narrow iron ladder could be seen descending with no end !
Formal entrances were located in an old sandstone quarry behind the former
petrol station at

the top of Green Lane. At least two more were located in the much larger former quarry (was Charlie Lane's scrapyard now an industrial park I think) which

extends along Old Chester Road between Holborn Hill and Holt Road.
These entrances were always filled with rotting rubbish, rats abounded and were they

were wet and not particularly encouraging. Exploring a short way by candlelight never revealed much of great interest and further exploration was always

cautioned by tales of huge drops although I never saw any.

I have also been in the ones at Hoylake road bur seem to remember there being a further

internal brick wall a short way in. The concrete plug did not exist then.

I noticed on a recent return trip that "the Shaft" as it was always known

on
Frodsham St had been dismantled.

[crm114]

Post Script

A third ventilation shaft was located on the

linking road between Holt Hill and
Pearson / Hinderton road. I dont recall this ever had a name but it is actually a continuation of lower Frodsham St.

[scouserdave]

I used to spend a

lot of time in (not very far) and around these tunnels.
Entrances or more probably the ventilation shafts were located at the junction of Frodsham St. and

Redmond St (Marquis St continuation) and another was located at the projected junction of Holborn Hill, Thompson St and Westbury St next to a set of lock ups

in a back alley. These were perhaps 15ft high and 10ft square brick and concrete constructions. They were secured with heavy doors and I only ever once saw

it open when a narrow iron ladder could be seen descending with no end !
Formal entrances were located in an old sandstone quarry behind the

former
petrol station at the top of Green Lane. At least two more were located in the much larger former quarry (was Charlie Lane's scrapyard now an

industrial park I think) which extends along Old Chester Road between Holborn Hill and Holt Road.
These entrances were always filled with rotting rubbish,

rats abounded and were they were wet and not particularly encouraging. Exploring a short way by candlelight never revealed much of great interest and further

exploration was always cautioned by tales of huge drops although I never saw any.

I have also been in the ones at Hoylake road bur seem to remember

there being a further internal brick wall a short way in. The concrete plug did not exist then.

I noticed on a recent return trip that "the Shaft" as

it was always known on
Frodsham St had been dismantled.

Cracking feedback crm. Thanks.
Just one thing though,


"Exploring a short way by candlelight"
Ever thought of using a torch?:rolleyes:

[MissInformed]

far more of a

romantic vision with candle light though...don't ya think? :)

[snappel]

Dank, dusty old

air-raid shelters aren't romantic, candle light or not!! Although having said that, someone I know did disturb a pair of 'lovers' in an old shelter in

Stockport...