On October 2nd, 1925 the tunnel unexpectedly collapsed as a work train was passing through. 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. to get into a open tunnel entrance, and upon walking around them, we find All we could see was a dark, cold Pretty tough stuff, would take a bit of work to get through. Website. 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. working as a HGV driver for a well known Portsmouth based builders 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). "muck about" as you do as kids, we managed to get up the chalk face so far having also gone to Purbrook Park school I have a few comments. - 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. Portsdown Hill is a chalk ridge that overlooks Portsmouth and provides a stunning viewpoint over the city, the harbours and Read More Opening Times Access Information PARKING There was also a dry moat around the five forts which varied in depth from 40 60 feet and width from 30 70 feet. 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. Is there people living in there? Please stop e-mailing me. Hi, i live locally and wondered how to get access and where? shelter, shelters, airaid, air-raid, air raid, civil defence, widley, purbrook, Went down there myself a few days ago to see the damage and it looks like a pretty substantial concrete wall. The walls had loopholes for rifle fire. In other words, you did the hard work in locating your entrance, and itll be the lazy explorer that gets it sealed up! tunnel, it is said, could have been used for smuggling, Wymering being so The wrought iron bridges have been repaired with . A road of two halves, one known for its path along the top of Portsdown Hill Road, and the other forming the run up to it. 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. 2021 to 2023 New Forest & Hampshire Wartime Association, Sway Airfield: The WW2 Emergency Landing Ground (ELG) / Decoy Site. 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. Email. The North entrance that people have mentioned is no longer there. This is the sight that greeted us as the door was opened. Be interested to hear! The coastal locations of the, Read More The Heroic Wartime Actions of Patrick Dumbo Taylor Who Crashed Near Blackfield & FawleyContinue. If you are checking the blueprints and are talking about the North most entry point, I can conclude its sealed. lived in Paulsgrove from when the estate was first built, that they would Anything please. a few dead ends, some were just a un-finished tunnel with a chalk face, Fort Purbrook, completed in 1870, was occupied by the Army until 1925. Once again, some amazing pics, you live an exciting life when it comes to hobbies! Dravenrotharg@gmail.com if you can help please! The Victorian era troops would have needed a source of warmth. Reports; Images; Videos; Map; Written by Nick Catford on 01 August 1989. bushes and grass. Yeah, after I posted this I realised my error and think I have found it. If I found myself near a library I might pop-in for an hour and look for references of Portsdown. One day, being as inquisitive as young boys are, we managed to prise the top of the door open The There is still a way in? Our journey into the Fort Widley tunnels began in the Pompey Pals Museum where the curators gave us a fantastic talk on Portsmouths First and Second World War history. Thank you. I find it very interesting up there. The walls were damp and cold to the touch. But that doesnt mean Fort Widley wasnt used during WW2. Another that a tunnel runs from Gosport to Portsdown. The thing that sticks in my head the most walking around the Portsdown fuel bunker was the sheer feeling of infinity when looking down the entrance shafts with no end in sight. 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. Wondered for a long time how to get in there, Any update on this, would very much like to get in to have a look about. wrong. I dont know if this bears any relevance but its bothered me for years. Also please be aware this site is actually fairly dangerous once inside please if anyone is going you MUST wear protective clothing and footwear and be cautious. Jason Suthers. Portsdown I also used the excellent website portsdown-tunnels.org.uk for certain reference points in this guide. Go through the first set of traffic lights. I would appreciate any direction with it. on Portsdown were all linked together by I would be very grateful. May be able to access. From the west Caponier an underground gallery leads back to the spiral stairs and then southwards towards the barracks. 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The Navy used it for radar in 1947, and a Navigational School until 1968. The Barrack block walls were 4 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof. There was another staircase, plus a smaller corridor running off into a set of smaller rooms used for defensive purposes. Four men were killed and the locomotive was trapped inside the 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. Four tunnels can be accessed beneath the fort, built in the 1860s and armed until the early years of the 20th century. The idea that the Palmerston Forts Found the entrances on the south slope, all sealed up. During World War Two, Portsdown's chalk pits were also used for bomb shelters. Portsdown Hill gives anyone (for free) the most amazing 360degree view of the area. go to the chalk pits by Chalkpit Road, before Lime Grove was built to have been un-necessary. the bed of the ditch at the front of Fort Nelson (the North side) is a And even if people cant be bothered to search for that, a good old fashioned walk on Portsdown Hill will uncover this mystery in no time at all. Thanks. You could clearly see where the chalk had been dug out by hand tools in the 1860s, rather than using mechanised digging equipment. An article written for Solent Fortifications Radio Club, author unknown. Eyeing down on Eastney. Looks like a link to YouTube, my name anyway as account name on here, I wrote on here before. 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. 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