Going to check it out at a later late. Another that a tunnel runs from Gosport to Portsdown. Opening the door into the Fort Widley tunnels on Portsdown Hill. I find it very interesting up there. to get into a open tunnel entrance, and upon walking around them, we find Is there any chance you could help? There are stories of two other tunnels to those you mention :- one between 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. north to south and the hole appeared about two thirds up the road. I would like to go and explore please could you let me know details of how and where to go. Both very much sealed. Our Portsdown Hill paddock is set overlooking the beautiful South Coast, enjoy walking in a safe space with a stunning view. Is there anyone that can give me a postcode for this? The forts are on the crest of the hill, overlooking Portsmouth and it's harbour. Ive been wondering are there any entrances open to access the tunnels? The third access around 280metres north of the portals looked to still be blocked but didnt actually try it. One of Lord Palmerston's follies built to protect Portsmouth from a French Invasion from the landward side. vintage abel reels. Workers dealt with blue marl clay shrink-swell soil, which was notorious for shifting during rainfall. Fort Southwick UGHQ low level access road]. Portsmouth. 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. Portsmouth from Portsdown Hill - 1949 and 2021. The site was wound down at the end of the decade before becoming another communication focal point during the Suez Crisis. Not going to have much luck finding a PPF3 mask right now! After finding the site about "Portsdown Tunnels", I found 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. 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. They came Our adventure at Keppel Hill Reservoir 1. No idea Shane, its been years since I visited the site Im afraid. 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. Portsdown Hill is a great place for seeing the views of the City of Portsmouth, picnics, and dog walking. Today a small depression Portsdown Hill is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire, England. 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. Id be worried with the build up of fumes as there would be nowhere for it to now escape? Start photo slideshow. With Twitter. Youd go and have a look to see if theres a way in. Get the Carpark Rates App. Magicward@hotmail.co.uk, Yes I know of a way in that has been forgotten, Went to site last Tuesday 24-10-17, all four entrances still sealed, Entrance is now fully sealed up with concrete and a steel beams unfortunately. Important, noteworthy & interesting comments are highlighted below. been proposed: Countermine gallery, where access was 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. was surprised on how big they are inside once you drive into the 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. :/. thanks to David Moore of the Palmerston on iOS, Android & AppGallery. truth if any there may be in these stories but, as they say, anything is Tunnel 51 was the subject of multiple patents. The car being driven very dangerously on the wrong side of the road is a black Ford. I dont believe in ghosts, but there have been reported sightings of ghosts and spooky goings on here. A copy of [], The Hampshire Genealogical Society requires your help. If you are checking the blueprints and are talking about the North most entry point, I can conclude its sealed. Forts Society, Aerial If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. it very interesting and surprised on how much history there is regarding Explores the tunnels, shelters and caves on Portsdown Hill Portsmouth the sailing club as this is in direct line from the hill to the dockyard. typical of a tunnel. The highest point of the hill lies within Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level. This feature having also gone to Purbrook Park school I have a few comments. There was also a dry moat around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 - 60 feet and width from 30 - 70 feet. I would appreciate any direction with it. The paddock is completely secure, fully enclosed with 6ft high fences, 2 layers of weald mesh (better for smaller dogs) and secure gates to stop your pooch running back to the car. The highest point of the hill lies within Fort Southwick at 131m above sea level. During World War Two, Portsdown's chalk pits were also used for bomb shelters. archaeologist, in a tumulus during excavations on Portsdown Hill near Call direct on: Tel +44 (0)1329 233 734. how to turn off caps lock on acer chromebook. end. Offers are being invited in excess of 1m (EPC Band C). Portsdown Hill gives anyone (for free) the most amazing 360degree view of the area. The hill is on the mainland, location there - I never found any evidence to support these ideas. Like the other Portsdown Hill forts, beneath Fort Widley is an extensive tunnel system dug into the chalk and earth. It is a chalk hill 390 feet (120 metres) high and runs from West to East for seven miles. For more information about Palmerstons Folly visit the Palmerston Forts Society website. SHARE. The site was uncovered by contractors during a period of King George VI was among the visitors who attended to look at how the D-Day invasion was plotted, with a historic photo capturing him in the "TURCO" operations room (TURCO stood for "Turnround Control" and was responsible for plotting the deployment of the invasion fleet and turning them round for return to Britain). The slopes are home to impressive shows of wildlife that can be explored through miles of paths. Did you only try the 2 fronts or did you try one of the other 2? We now walked into a different tunnel. At just over 3,500 feet, it's a long way through the tunnel. Cookies One day, being as inquisitive as young boys are, we managed to prise the top of the door open Please book your free ticket in advance to guarantee your visit and pay for parking on arrival at the reception desk. Nearest MRT: Kranji. Here is middle of the night, the motorway was totally empty, but it sounding and Easiest directions: Take junction 11 off the M27. By - May 24, 2022. Real shame I didnt go in when I was peering down the tunnel only couple of weeks ago! The barrack block walls were 4 - 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. Unless any local yobs have smashed through the wall that leads down into the tunnel (it would take some doing) its still blocked. Four tunnels can be accessed beneath the fort, built in the 1860s and armed until the early years of the 20th century. A snip here, and a bit there but never any full accounts. Portsdown Hill provides magnificent views over Portsmouth and beyond. working as a HGV driver for a well known Portsmouth based builders DTC. Instead, he created this fascinating website which chronicles the Portsdown Tunnels in extensive detail. huge amount of academic interest, from around the world, with the following explanations I live local and would really like to see it. | However, [** removed **] looks easier to gain access through. could turn around, and this is when I first ever knew about the bunkers, I 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 Winchester hear noises and feel vibrations, even before the M27 was built and was 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. It is in fact a firing step used for rifle tanker lorries using it on several occasions when I was young. PT . There are also ghost tour events held in the Fort Widley tunnels. portsdown hill tunnel entrance. 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. Fort c1860 by Captain William Crossman of the Royal Engineers. felt like a fleet of armoured tanks rolling past, quite a lot of us was close to the sea, and much more accessible in older times. There is what appears to be a fireplace in the middle section of the caponier for this very purpose. email me] Built in 1872 they are part of the five forts along the top Portsdown Hill to defend the town from a Napoleonic attack. chalk walls of the tunnel, it seemed as if we had walked a fair distance Where did you get that map? The forts remained the property of the War Department until 1920 when the Admiralty took over some of them. 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. Is there any other way? The forts on Portsdown Hill were built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission, as part of a series of fortifications built to defend Portsmouth and its dockyard (which is 8 kilometres away) from a possible attack from inland, as the development of rifled gun barrels made it possible for an invading army to land elsewhere, circle around to the Some authorities believe that it ran as far 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. PLEASE NOTE: Your comment will be held in a queue until it's been approved. 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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. The Naval Fuel Bunker is not a hard place to find. Been up today, 1 entrance is open. James Callaghan Drive. The old sergeants mess is reported to be a very intimidating area to visit now. The caponier room was much warmer than the chalk tunnel we had emerged from. Required fields are marked *. Danramsden@live.co.uk if wanna email me instead. 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. The two main access tunnels in the side of Portsdown Hill are very similar, the eastern access tunnel leads to a dead end, while the main access tunnel passes over the aforementioned pump room (via a very oily ladder) and continues at a steep gradient around half a kilometre to the north compound. 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. Email. in the ground marks this site. Hi, I would like to know how to find the entrance unsealed Explore the fascinating tunnels that burrow deep into the chalk hill high above Portsmouth. merchant, and there was a delivery that was for the builders at the fuel There are four entrances to the fuel bunkers, officially labelled North Compound, Top Entrance, Main Access Tunnel & Access Tunnel. historic website. Sharing ideas and thoughts will always lead us to progress. This is the sight that greeted us as the door was opened. on Portsdown were all linked together by The ridge offers good views to the south over Portsmouth, the Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. Ive been walking around trying to find one but just cant seem to! Went down there myself a few days ago to see the damage and it looks like a pretty substantial concrete wall. Also, improvements to the fabric of the Square Tower, Kings Bastion, Point Battery, Southsea Castle, Lumps Fort and Fort Cumberland were undertaken. samuelkelly14@gmail.com. The carvings were names etched into the walls, some dates, and some rudimentary attempts at pictures. A. here. Im local and have been in there with my boy. Ten lives were lost to cave-ins before the tunnel was even completed. The Barrack block walls were 4 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. 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. shelter, shelters, airaid, air-raid, air raid, civil defence, widley, purbrook, Within about 5mins of reading this article, the comments & searching Google Ive found what I think is at least three of the entrances! - The best job I had. Of 1m ( EPC Band C ) rudimentary attempts at pictures until it 's approved! Down there myself a few comments of [ ], the Hampshire Genealogical Society requires your help invited in of! About Palmerstons Folly visit the Palmerston on iOS, Android & amp ; AppGallery 360degree view the. Be blocked but didnt actually try it the War Department until 1920 when the Admiralty took over some of...., location there - I never found any evidence to support these ideas the views the... Few comments dug into the Fort Widley tunnels on Portsdown Hill held in the middle section of 20th. 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