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. Mandai T15 Trail. During World War Two, Portsdown's chalk pits were also used for bomb shelters. The wrought iron bridges have been repaired with . During a few visits to the site, we managed to see the entire place. and paper to jot any markings or distances down as for a reference, we had Thanks. The third access around 280metres north of the portals looked to still be blocked but didnt actually try it. UPDATED: !!!! 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. Hampshire Record Office typical of a tunnel. middle of the night, the motorway was totally empty, but it sounding and The two south entrances are welded and the only north entrance I found next to Fort Southwick is blocked with concrete. Its also these people who go equipped with an iPhone torch & dressed in t-shirt and shorts. 3 RD left, left. I have been to all 4 entrances (after looking many times) and they were all sealed. Gaz. centre. RM 2JTBFYJ - Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson. Sharing ideas and thoughts will always lead us to progress. is the Portsdown Hill is a great place for seeing the views of the City of Portsmouth, picnics, and dog walking. The carvings were names etched into the walls, some dates, and some rudimentary attempts at pictures. 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. Portchester Castle and Wymering Manor (which the ghost of Reckless Reggie Theres plenty of information online. 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. It was used for military purposes for over 100 years before being taken over by the council. Terje Dahl, Editor, The Norwegian internet magazin Sydhav I found the 4th entrance but its been filled with a massive block of concrete, Shame to see it in the state its in we went in a few years ago now when it was in really good state I still have photos, I live in the area so always been interesting to me I remember going up the big ramp where the shed was and seeing urbex spray painted near the upper level bunker. During the late seventies/early eighties Call +44 23 9229 0571 * or Request Details. 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. East of The cross was carved as a memorial to one of their colleagues who was killed during a roof collapse. We are in desperate need of a Secretary who will be the central point of contact. PT . Each fort was designed as a self sufficient unit and connecting tunnels would The platforms on the inner side of the rampart were for additional guns firing over the parapet. could turn around, and this is when I first ever knew about the bunkers, I Remember air has 21% oxygen at 19% you will start to suffer from oxygen deficiency and at 16% will be struggling to survive. Hi can you tell me where the other entrance is please As Jake said, blocked with concrete although nothing a sledge and a bolster cant remove. there is supposed to be a priests hole. In fact, the Portsdown Tunnels play such a significant role that Portsmouth became an important target for the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The southern face and entrance was protected from direct manual attack by these gorge buildings. I really dont understand the need for people to deface these places?! 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. Winchester Stay in the left-hand lane, this will take you down the slip road to a roundabout. May be able to access. Would you mind sending me some information on where I can find an entrance please? 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. jake.davi@yahoo.co.uk, Is there any possibility the wall could be climbed or is it completely sealed off. the hill. 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. 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. But what this change in temperature did do was change the conversation over to reports of hauntings. Tunnels. Please stop e-mailing me. Portsmouth from Portsdown Hill - 1949 and 2021. There are also museums etc to visit if you wish. So where are the other entrances on the hill in relation to the east entrance? OBSCURED Another tunnel entrance now lost in the undergrowth on the slopes of Portsdown Hill When the air raid sirens sounded, people would flee their homes for the night and make their way. Portsdown Hill Rd. For safety reasons you didnt want too much traffic past an area where gunpowder etc was stored. Please note Fort Nelson ramparts are closed until further notice. is an aerial photograph east of Fort Purbrook taken in 1969 when Detached house for sale - 5 bedrooms 5 5 5 7,807 sq. Hi please may you direct me in how to enter this bunker? Wymering Approximately 900 acres were taken over and clearance rights obtained for another 1000 acres. vintage abel reels. Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8Bi7M05rRsINBxQ_LbyIw/joinWeve mapped out some locations to explore Portsdown hi. on iOS, Android & AppGallery. Four tunnels can be accessed beneath the fort, built in the 1860s and armed until the early years of the 20th century. This is one of a series of forts on the coast of Britain built to protect Britain from invasion by France in the 1860s. Both very much sealed. Dirtbiker1@hotmail.com. 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! Suppose it doesnt make its way up the tunnel anyway, can smell it though from be outside! We now walked into a different tunnel. Excelsior Tunnel. Is there any chance you could help? Rather than white-washed brick walls, the tunnel was now bare chalk. north to south and the hole appeared about two thirds up the road. hump in the centre of the picture was used as a firing step. Roundabout ahead 2 nd exit. For more information, contact Fine and . Shall let you know ? Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. generated a Registered Charity No 284744, Hampshire Genealogical Society, 2023 | Site by Wizbit, Palmerstons Folly The Story of Portsmouths Forts. Went down there a week ago during the day to have a look around and see if there was a way in, both South entrances sealed but still cool how the noise from the M27 started to disappear as you walk up to the doors. But when I was in my teens, some friends and I decided to "Relic of a Giant Race. Going to check it out at a later late. even The walls had loopholes for rifle fire. The Excelsior mine sett at one time embraced much of the Kit Hill area, just over a mile N. E. of Callington in Cornwall, but the name later came to be more closely associated with the Excelsior Tunnel, sometimes known as Kit Hill Tunnel. In 1953 the Civil Defence leased part of the fort for county emergency planning and civil defence standby headquarters. Besides five new batteries constructed along the sea front, there were six new forts built Gomer, Grange, Rowner, Brockhurst, Elson and Fareham. slightly and with the use of a torch we tried to see what was inside. 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 Our guide explained to use how the tunnels also had Cold War history during those decades and the fort was also taken over by Portsmouth Council in the 1970s. they watch as there was no visible signs of a hut or tower, just lots of told that there is a small gauge train that runs directly from Fort Real shame I didnt go in when I was peering down the tunnel only couple of weeks ago! bayley2828@icloud.com, Is there still a way in thats all I need to know. No doubt someone will and will be available to explore again. - Fort Widley was constructed between the years 1860 and 1868 and is identical in structure and layout to Fort Southwick. Underground tunnels went from the Barrack block to the caponiers in the moat. From the west Caponier an underground gallery leads back to the spiral stairs and then southwards towards the barracks. Palmerston Forts. The forts are on the crest of the hill, overlooking Portsmouth and its harbour. Hi Johnny If you rotate that map 90 and just overlay it, itll all become very clear. Is there really a way in? As it neared the western entrance, 190 feet of the tunnel. Danramsden@live.co.uk if wanna email me instead. thanks to David Moore of the Palmerston With Lewis, if youre local youre in an excellent position to research this place heavily and find all entrances, surely? having 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. Compensation for residents evicted from their homes is unknown. bunkers, and until that time I didn't know they existed, always saw the The War Department purchased the land along Portsdown Hill from the Lord of the Manor, Mr T Thistlewayte. The roof was now lower, with the tunnels now becoming white-washed bricks walls, with various cabling and ventilation pipes running along them. However after looking at aerial maps the day after I believe I have now found the 4th entrance and will go back shortly to try it out. the road along the top of the hill to the tunnels as I can remember seeing THE EARLY HISTORY. This has been demolished and back filled. 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. PT's Kittatinny Tunnel entrance design "TURN LIGHTS ON" for safety. 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). Read More How These Local Fields of Green Played a Huge Role in WW2Continue. 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 . Gaz M. You have found one of the entrance tunnels to the fuel bunker. If I remember rightly, the compound with the road access is the east access tunnel. 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. READ MORE: The tiny Hampshire village of Micheldever that was built around a train station. | across, inside the hole we could see brickwork forming the top of an arch 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 . RF E5TNY5 - Entrance to Fort Nelson, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK; part of the Royal Armouries. The report was submitted in 1860 and the recommendations were: 1) To prevent the enemy from landing on the Isle of Wight, 2) Protection of the anchorage at Spithead, 3) Defence of the Needles passage, Isle of Wight, 5) Land defences divided between the Gosport defences and the Portsdown hill forts. 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. We say where we are with coordinates, have the clothing, do underground stuff. 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. Squirrel Hill Tunnel construction began in 1946 and opened to traffic on June 5, 1953. "It was now that I realised how little information there was. No issues with breathing down there at all, but the north entrance has been back filled with concrete as of last week, so its a waiting game. When anyone replies to your comment you will be notified by e-mail, please check your Hotmail, GMail, YahooMail junk folders! Ghostly residents include a man said to be a sergeant-major who enjoys whistling while haunting the fort. Interest in the tunnels has been sparked for years, with the site also having a role to play during World War Two. 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? If I was a believer in ghosts, this is where I would imagine they might want to appear! Unfortunately all entrances have been welded shut with a big steel bar. 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. Explores the tunnels, shelters and caves on Portsdown Hill Portsmouth ground floor of Trinidad House and I was frequently woken by noises and 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. Six large 19th Century Palmerston forts sit on top of the hill alongside the modern Type 45 destroyer test rig which looks as though Portsmouth was subject to an incredibly high tide! Cookies Hello, I live locally and would like to know if theres any other entrances, please drop me an email Id be very grateful. Workers dealt with blue marl clay shrink-swell soil, which was notorious for shifting during rainfall. 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. Ten lives were lost to cave-ins before the tunnel was even completed. The Naval Fuel Bunker is not a hard place to find. The most important of these is usually a will, which lists the deceaseds property and outlines who it has [], The Hampshire Genealogical Society requires your help. Many thanks Four men were killed and the locomotive was trapped inside the tunnel. What is the arrowed feature cut into the hill? Please email me at. 104 30K views 2 years ago This incident took place on Portsdown Hill, Hampshire on the 19th of May 2020. Regards and keep up with this very interesting and local There was one very poignant carving though, and you can see that below. After finding the site about "Portsdown Tunnels", I found Fort Nelson, Portsdown Hill Road, Fareham, Hampshire, PO17 6AN. Bunk beds and kitchen facilities were installed in the corrugated sheeting-lined tunnels. This last section of the gallery is brick lined; the main magazine opens off its west side about half way between the spiral stairs and the barracks. Where abouts is the site and where is the entrance Id love to check it out. I havent done any exploring in ages and I was hoping to check this place out soonish. During the Second World War, the New Forest was a hive of aviation activity with large airfields and bases including RAF Beaulieu, Calshot, Holmsley South,, Read More Sway Airfield: The WW2 Emergency Landing Ground (ELG) / Decoy SiteContinue, This week I visited Holton Heath and Sandford to explore the two light anti-aircraft Bofors gun tower sites. It is these underground chambers that most of the paranormal activity is said to have been experienced. * Calls to this number will be recorded for quality, compliance and training purposes. chalk walls of the tunnel, it seemed as if we had walked a fair distance 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. back out and not walk around in circles and by using the flint we wasn't During the Second World War it was modified to provide more accommodation. Portsdown Hill is a long chalk ridge in Hampshire, England. Wymering Manor is supposed to be connect to Properties sold Filter: This area only All years In the far right hand corner, Reports; Images; Videos; Map; Written by Nick Catford on 01 August 1989. Today a small depression That was it, I was hooked. Both also have tunnels systems dug underneath them, but this is where the differ in construction. from HM Naval base Portsmouth to the Victorian forts on Portsdown and and what ish direction? Really want to visit this place could anyone help me with finding an entrance please ? The restoration work and its purpose verified. Click link Get the Carpark Rates App. These training scenarios have even include preparation for events such as earthquakes. chalkpit, chalk pit. | Hampshire and iow news. "My mum then finalised the whole deal by telling me stories of how she sheltered from the blitz during World War Two by taking refuge in the Wymering Deep Tunnel Shelter. We shortly came out of the first tunnel to an open area. Its cool theres other ways in but you need a rope to get down the final part be careful the ladders are very rusted! Explore! Southwick to the HM Naval Dockyard and also to Gosport to the fuel depot Credits I don't know but maybe. portsdown hill tunnel entranceodyssey clone putters. All Portsdown Forts played a role during the Second World War. and of course locked, what I can remember is the doors were fixed on 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. April 9,1930: SHARE. With the fort buildings and extensive tunnels cut into the chalk they allow an unprecedented amount of space to investigate. Instead, he created this fascinating website which chronicles the Portsdown Tunnels in extensive detail. 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. Our gas meter didnt ping once, things must have changed considerably down there. AsSecretary you will work with the other Principal Officers to ensure the smooth running of the HGS. 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. "As the years went by I still quietly absorbed information. The Navy used it for radar in 1947, and a Navigational School until 1968. 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. The hike from the parking lot to Rays Hill Tunnel is a gentle uphill walk. If the trial is successful they will be considering opening on other Saturdays in 2023. Id be worried with the build up of fumes as there would be nowhere for it to now escape? This stained glass window, known as the D Day Window, is in Christ Church, Widley the Garrison Church for the Portsdown Forts when the Army were in occupation. Be interested to hear! These gorge buildings protected the southern face and the entrance from direct manual attack. would welcome any contributions that would conclusively prove it 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. Against advice, the decision to build the forts proceeded in the same year. If you are checking the blueprints and are talking about the North most entry point, I can conclude its sealed. armament depots, and there is also a entrance to the tunnel via a ladder 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. Found the entrances on the south slope, all sealed up. photo site location. Unless any local yobs have smashed through the wall that leads down into the tunnel (it would take some doing) its still blocked. Checked the main tunnels but couldnt get in. | The Portsmouth Papers, published by Portsmouth City Council. Like the other Portsdown Hill forts, beneath Fort Widley is an extensive tunnel system dug into the chalk and earth. Work to prepare the site started - and finished - in 1942 and provided the Armed Forces with a bombproof HQ to oversee its plans. As an electrical There is what appears to be a fireplace in the middle section of the caponier for this very purpose. Looking vertically up the stair case, you could see daylight coming in. 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. At just over 3,500 feet, it's a long way through the tunnel. 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. So we packed our bags and set off to explore this abandoned pocket of Singapore. The fumes would also be very strong Id imagine more so now there is no airflow. 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. to the Sea Forts in the Solent. Is there any more entrances any one has found? The engine powered the ventilation plant. 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.". On the south side, two storey accommodation was living quarters for about 250 men, there were also married quarters for twelve soldiers. spealogy, urban, speleology, military, fort, palmerston, folly, WWII,WW2, mod, MoD, ROC, 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. 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. was surprised on how big they are inside once you drive into the hill Sussex Street Fort Wallington, completed in 1865, was built on blue slipper clay. 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. If I found myself near a library I might pop-in for an hour and look for references of Portsdown. Our Horsham paddock is located on Dawes Farm just off the Bognor Road, the field is surrounded by trees and offers 3 acres of space for your pooch to enjoy. The site was uncovered by contractors during a period of But that doesnt mean Fort Widley wasnt used during WW2. Fort Nelson Fort Nelson, near Portsmouth, is home to the Royal Armouries' national collection of artillery and historic cannon - free admission.

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