.........................

when i worked at the alexander hotel on the corner of exchange st a waiter called walter who worked there just after they started building the castle markets showed me some photos of the tunnels that they found and told me that he and his mate walked into them until they got so scared that they turned back. afterwards they were filled in and the markets built walter said that the tunnels went in the direction of the queens head in pond st

Originally posted by mikey
They are part of the manor castle, I think. They link the castle to the Queens Head Pub. (Mary Queen of Scots and all that, she was imprisoned there for a few years)

There is a society for the castle maybe they can help you. Let me know as I may be interested in taking a look

They have never proved that tunnels run from Manor Castle to the Queens Head pub, tunnels do criss cross Sheffield but they are more likely to be connected to Shefield Castle.
In one tunnel a sword and a chair and table were found some time ago. There was a theory that a tunnel ran from Manor Castle to the Cross Keys at Handsworth but I dont what evidence brought this idea about. A lot of the tunnels are actually Coal Mine shafts, Sheffield had quite a few Pits and they could not fill them in so they were left.

Originally posted by haggis
a waiter called walter

LOL try saying that when pished :)

Originally posted by Wattsy
I understand that the tunnels run under the Manor castle as previously been pointed out where Mary Queen of scotts was indeed imprisoned. I also understand that she was walked to her execution from the tunnels that run from under the public house called Cross Keys at Handsworth / under St Marys church at Handsworth right through to Manor Castle. Hence the Pub in Pond Street called the Queens Head (listed building)

She'd have had a bloomin' long walk... ;)

She was executed at Fotheringay Castle, February 8, 1587.

PT

Originally posted by Gleighton
I remember reading in one of the history of sheffield by R.E.Leader about the train tunnels that ran from the station at the Wicker. They ran under the houses at Pitsmoor and when they went under the houses everything shook. If you look behind the car yard just past the wicker on your way down saville street you can see where they bricked up the tunnel.He also mentions about mine shafts collapsing there as well, due to floods.It took parts of the houses away that were built on them when they collapsed.

Where did this tunnel come out? I have noticed the bricked up entrance behind the vauxhall garage and wondered where it led.

Originally posted by lazarus
They have never proved that tunnels run from Manor Castle to the Queens Head pub, tunnels do criss cross Sheffield but they are more likely to be connected to Shefield Castle.
In one tunnel a sword and a chair and table were found some time ago. There was a theory that a tunnel ran from Manor Castle to the Cross Keys at Handsworth but I dont what evidence brought this idea about. A lot of the tunnels are actually Coal Mine shafts, Sheffield had quite a few Pits and they could not fill them in so they were left. have you any more information or details about these items found in the tunnel? its very interesting and i would love to be able to see them if possible,perhaps it was a guards station that they found, have they been given to the museum in sheffield do you know?

Correct me if I'm wrong but to avoid confusion and be strictly correct, shouldn't we be talking about Sheffield Manor House (not Manor Castle), to avoid confusion with Sheffield Castle?

Originally posted by Saxon
Correct me if I'm wrong but to avoid confusion and be strictly correct, shouldn't we be talking about Sheffield Manor House (not Manor Castle), to avoid confusion with Sheffield Castle? its a local area thing,i was born round the corner from it and have always known it as the manor castle when in fact it was a lodge used while hunting on the park

Originally posted by Saxon
Correct me if I'm wrong but to avoid confusion and be strictly correct, shouldn't we be talking about Sheffield Manor House (not Manor Castle), to avoid confusion with Sheffield Castle?

I grew up near Manor CASTLE, it was always called that even though everybody knew it was a lodge --- so to me and the people that grew up near the castle, it will remain the Castle

Sorry, this is completely unrelated but I would like to speak to you about a posting from months ago regarding Cuneo's in sheffield, I am currently researching my family history which includes the Cuneo's, you seemed to have information about them so I woundered if you were also researching them.

Please rely !!

Originally posted by levans44
Sorry, this is completely unrelated but I would like to speak to you about a posting from months ago regarding Cuneo's in sheffield, I am currently researching my family history which includes the Cuneo's, you seemed to have information about them so I woundered if you were also researching them.

Please rely !! The information that I had about Cuneos was from ASPECTS OF SHEFFIELD 2 (available at Sheffield Scene) On page 90 there is a referance to the CUNEOS
living in Lambert St in 1871 at No 41. There was Andrew and his wife Maria along with their six children also his son-in-law lived with them but the family were not new to Sheffield as all the children were born in the City and the family as I said in an earlier post were listed as Musicians and in 1876 they were listed as Ice cream makers.

Originally posted by lazarus
The information that I had about Cuneos was from ASPECTS OF SHEFFIELD 2 (available at Sheffield Scene) On page 90 there is a referance to the CUNEOS
living in Lambert St in 1871 at No 41. There was Andrew and his wife Maria along with their six children also his son-in-law lived with them but the family were not new to Sheffield as all the children were born in the City and the family as I said in an earlier post were listed as Musicians and in 1876 they were listed as Ice cream makers.

Thanks for the info, I had that info already as I am researching them for family history purposes, I have trace them back to a small town called Coreglia Ligure near Genoa, which we will be visiting in 5 weeks time. I will dig the book out form the library though to see if it gives me any other information.

Thanks again

Originally posted by jackthedog
Where did this tunnel come out? I have noticed the bricked up entrance behind the vauxhall garage and wondered where it led.

This tunnel linked the old LMS Goods Station on Saville street with the Bridgehouses Goods Station belonging to the LNER opposite the bottom end of Corporation street. You can (or could) see the exit from the bridge on Chatham street.

Most of what was the Bridgehouses Goods Station is to be buried under the Inner Ring Road scheme.

It was rumoured that there was a tunnel/tunnels leading from Queens Towers to Manor Lodge. I don't know how true these rumours were though.

Originally posted by Greybeard
This tunnel linked the old LMS Goods Station on Saville street with the Bridgehouses Goods Station belonging to the LNER opposite the bottom end of Corporation street. You can (or could) see the exit from the bridge on Chatham street.

Most of what was the Bridgehouses Goods Station is to be buried under the Inner Ring Road scheme.

So I presume the Bridgehouses Goods Station sat up on top of the tall wall (which is now being demolished) where the old IMO car wash buiding is?
And I presume the Woodhead line passed by it?

I am interested in the old magistrates court in sheffield, apparently they have underground tunnels that lead to snig hill police cells. is this true? Also there are supposed to be other secret tunnels that lead to the city centre anybody no anything about this?

[MOD NOTE] threads merged.

i heard there is still a tunnel in use from castle ruins to the queens head pub . . . . you have to pass thru wybourn so it was safer using the tunnels to avoid the muggings. . . . even the rottweillers hang round in pairs :heyhey:

Now don't hold me to this as I was not their at the time, but the source is pretty trustworthy and apparenty it was reported in a sheffield paper during the late 70's early 80's.

It goes that the grounds keeper / caretaker of Beauchief Abbey was digging up the flower bed at the back of the Abbey when the ground caved in to reveal what he though was an old water well. This was apparently documented and a firm was called in to check that the well was dry so they could fill it in and have the flower bed back. The firm (no idea who) sent a guy down the well on a rope to check out the bottom of. Once he got to the bottom their was no water at all but 2 large wooded doors with metal studds all over it. The guy was not too impressed about finding these doors and came back up in a hurry. (not really want you want at the bottom of a well.) For some unknow reason it was decided that the hole would be filled in, apparently it took 2 full cement lorries to fill it. I have looked my self in the central libary, but it mainly seems to be concentrated on the Castle.

What I do know as 100% fact is - The hammer and pincers pub on Ringinglow road (bents Green) use to be a blacksmiths. The last blacksmiths before you went on the old road to manchester. (still had the old anvil out the back when I worked there) a bit further up the road at the back of silverdale school and the fire station are thrift house cottages. Originally (in the time of the blacksmiths not the pub) thrift house was a Monks bakery, supplied the travelers with fresh bread before setting off to manchester. This bakery was run by monks from the Beauchief Abbey.

This is now where things are not so clear. "Apparently" their is meant to be a tunnel running from the Abbey to Thrift house, the reason for this tunnel was to help the monks escape with the gold/treasure and documents when attacked by invaders. The entrance to the tunnel at thrift house is meant to be under the outside wall on the end cottage nearest the fields. under the floor of the last cottage. When I was at silverdale the cottages were referbished after all of them were gutted by fire, The builders never actually knocked down the walls or messed about with the floors ( I presume that they are a listed building), best way to check is ask the owner of the end cottage if you can dig up the stone living room floor.

If there is a tunnel leading from the Thrift house cottages to Beauchief Abbey it would have to be very deep, follow the contours of the land and purley for time saving be in a straight line to the Abbey - but then what else did the Monks have to do with their time for all those centurys !!!!!.

I am more likely to belive that yes there are some tunnels at Thrift house and at Beauchief Abbey, but they don't actually go anywhere. More like just lead off for maybe upto 1/4 of a mile and end in a chamber where the could hide things out of the way.

Their are meant to be documents in the vaults of the central libary giving fairly detailed locations of the entrances and the directions that these "Tunnels" go in. I have asked in the past about these documents but just hit a blank wall, and blank expressions normally, hence why I don't bother any more.

I'm a bit sceptical about the idea of a tunnel running between the Abbey, and Bents Green. (I'm not saying that the report in the paper was not made in good faith, BTW)

after all, that's situated on top of one of the highest hills in Sheffield. how on earth would the monks at the abbey

a) be able to get a tunnel to run UNDER the River Sheaf? and then

b) how would they get a tunnel to run, right up up to the great height needed at Bents Green/ Ringinglow, from the depth of where the Sheaf runs along the bottom of the valley? the impracticability of the amount of "climb" is what stopped sheffield getting an "underground"/ metro system, like London or Tyneside.

PT

I wonder if this is a mixture of several stories? Thrift House is a short distance off Ringinglow Road, which was a Turnpike Road and earlier a packhorse route, and there was a bakery at Thrift House which served the local big houses, as well as travellers along the Road. In mediaeval times yew trees were used as signposts or boundary markers, and there used to be a line of seven yews called the Monks' Guides which marked the way for the monks who travelled from the Abbey up what's now Millhouses Lane to the chapel at Ecclesall to hold services. Although it's not on the route, near to Thrift House is a yew tree which is believed to be the oldest tree in Sheffield, and could be as much as 800 years old. Put all these together and stir well! On the other hand, the first mention of Thrift House is in 1504, so it existed well before the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the Abbey had rights to a lot of land in the Porter and Mayfield Valleys, and Thrift House would be on a possible route between the land and the Abbey.

Never mind a mixture of stories, these are all just fanciful tales based on people discovering old shallow drift mines and bell pits which cover most of Sheffield.

There are no mysterious tunnels under Sheffield.

Originally posted by Tony
Never mind a mixture of stories, these are all just fanciful tales based on people discovering old shallow drift mines and bell pits which cover most of Sheffield.

There are no mysterious tunnels under Sheffield.

I would doubt around the thrift house area as it's either solid clay or marsh land. The fire station at Ringinglow is built on a massive concrete base as the area was very soggy marsh. Their is still a natural spring and small pond at the back of the fire station that used to feed the marsh, now after the little pond, it drains straight into sewer.

Does any know how old Castle Dyke house is?

Originally posted by dreamscape


Does any know how old Castle Dyke house is?

Actually the stream used to feed a row of troughs on the lane to Thrift House. It's now culverted under the lane and feeds a large pond in the garden below the lane. It then flows down the hill to Parkhead through gardens on Bents Drive, Hill Turrets and by Parkhead Post Office.

The first mention I can find of Castle Dyke is 1829 when it was leased by Thomas Kershaw from the Hollis Trust. Sometime around the turn of the century it was either enlarged or rebuilt. In 1900 Ernest Hague bought it from the Trust for £5,750. The Council purchased it in 1943 and it became a residential home in 1946. In 1989 the house and 4.1 acres of land were sold at auction for £835,000 and it became a private house again. And we know who lives there now don't we:thumbsup:

Originally posted by algy
......Castle Dyke.......... And we know who lives there now don't we:thumbsup:

No! Enlighten us (or at least me!)

this may have already bin mentioned But anyone remember any tunnels on the fields at the end of skyedge Av?, maybe 1960's

Originally posted by dreamscape
I would doubt around the thrift house area as it's either solid clay or marsh land.
So no tunnels there then eh? :)

Originally posted by Saxon
No! Enlighten us (or at least me!)
Clue: a boxer who likes fast cars. (or so I'm told)

I have been reading this thread for over an hour now. Totally fascinating. I can believe there are some underground bunker things, after all the country did go a bit nuts for a while but I am surprised that none are opened up on the "look what we have got in Sheffield" way of things. I must admit I wouldn't mind nosing round them myself.

Im looking for any information regarding the supposed tunnels from Sheffield Manor Castle, Manor Lane,

From what im aware these tunnels went to Castle Market?, Attercliffe?

Anyone know anything about it?

Have a look at this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13360) thread. It's an old one that covered tunnels in Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool etc. It's a really interesting thread, but may dispel some of the myths about Sheffield tunnels.

There's also this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12091&perpage=15&highlight=tunnels%20manchester&pagenumber=1) one that covered nuclear bunkers in various places that is also quite interesting.

According to one of the blokes working on the building on Fargate ,they have found a tunnel from there to Manor Castle

I believe this one on Fargate oes under the "boots" store at the bottom. A friend of mine used to work there and the staff were convinced the basement was haunted due to the tunnel .

Just trying to contact my dad regarding a post a few pages back.

My granparents lived in Pitsmoor up to the 1960's, and at the back of their garden, there was the remnant of a huge wall, completely covered in ivy, and built to standard far beyond that was necassery for a garden, i seem to remember at least 15 feet high.In the wall was a carved stone, i think with some kind of circular pattern.

I was told it dated back many centuries, when Pitsmoor was a modest walk from the castle.My very vague memory seems to recall it being talked of as some part of a barrack,and it may link to a previously mentioned 'something' in the Pitsmoor area, which may then have a tenuous link to any castle / tunnel story.

I'll re-post when i get the name of the road, house, wall etc.

Originally posted by derek
With regard to the comments from SaxonLeigh about the High Green area.In the early eighties I travelled from Sheffield to Barnsley every day along the A61 going past the site of the new Midland Bank building. For months I saw lorry loads of materials going onto the site but no construction work was evident from the road. I can only conclude that it goes down a very long way. Purely by coincidence at around the same time I came into contact with a guy who worked for the bank, something to do with their promotion side or similar, who told me he had been up to the site ti photograph the work in progress. Whether he should have disclosed it or not, I don't know but he said one of the pictures had been of a bank of generators, all in seperate blast proof enclosures, all with the doors open. I was told that that would not be seen again as they were to be kept in a state of constant readiness and only ever one unit would be accessed for maintenance at any time. He seemed to be of the opinion that there was a lot more to the building than than a bank computer centre. If you look at the level of security around the place now it makes you wonder if this is one of those legendary RSGs.


Derek

I believe the site you are talking about is nothing more than a bank data centre which has been placed underground for security. the building materials you saw going in would have probably been for construction of the underground bunker

Originally posted by jayjay
According to one of the blokes working on the building on Fargate ,they have found a tunnel from there to Manor Castle

Ah, right.......

so, they have traced the tunnel all along its length then? (she said with a wink! ;) )

As I commented on the thread about a tunnel from Beauchief Abbey to Bents Green, I have to say I have a healthy scepticism about the idea of tunnels there, too.

How, for example would the tunnel have negotiated the river(s) along the valley bottom, (the Sheaf, the Porter and the Don, which all merge together in that vicinity)
and, secondly, how would they have incorporated such a steep rise from the valley bottom up to that point on the hillside?

It is not totally impossible, but I do find the idea improbable.

PT

[MOD NOTE] - threads merged

As per my previous post, spoke to my parents who's parent's (fathers side) lived on Shirley Road , Pitsmoor.

At the top of their garden is a massive wall , well covered in ivy now.The wall has a circular section which i remembered, but did'nt remember that it was actually a blocked/bricked up entrance to something !

Well faded memories from my parents suggested there was indeed a large structure on the Shirecliffe plateau, and immediately recalled to me that the wall and bricked up hole in my grandparents garden was always known in previous generations as a tunnel from this building(s).

If anyone wants proof , i will gladly point out which house it is.

these threads are fascinating. A fwe years ago i was really intoi this stuff, and managed to interview one of the councils emergency planners. The impression that he gave was that there were no large bunkers in sheff, and that plans all involved using existing spaces - such as the cellars of the city and town hall....

personally however i dont think he was telling the whole story.

Tankersley certainly seems a likely spot - close to main roads out of sheff.

Moorfoot would also seem probable - constructed late 70;s 80's, however seems to central for a bunker, so i feel tankersley is more likely.

As an aside i have heard that there is a deep bunker beneath Barnsley town hall, linking into old mine workings.......

my father told me a true story his father told him of a tunnel a tunnel of such lenth that men marveled at it s wonder he told me it took more than 1 million orange/red industrial bricks to build now were talking 100 plus yrs ago so you can imagine how many bricks that would be in todays terms anyway i digress my father mentioned the sage of hather as it s origins i moved to new zealand when i was a youngster and only returned recently i have searched everywhere for said place i am exasperated by my unfruitful searching and am begining to disbelief my own father who is sadly now departed i would be gratefuln if anybody good help me solve my lifelong story thank you

Originally posted by syeclops
he told me it took more than 1 million orange/red industrial bricks to build now were talking 100 plus yrs ago so you can imagine how many bricks that would be in todays terms anyway.

that'd be about, ooh, over a million bricks in todays counting...
;)

PT

Well not really, today's bricks are smaller, although the joints are usually larger :)

9’’ x 2 5/8’’ x 4 1/4’’ inches was the standard imperial brick, though lots of brickworks had their own sizes. Modern bricks are all 215mm x 65mm x 102.5mm.

So, as you can see, there would be more bricks now than then. Here endeth the dullest lesson this week :D

but earlier bricks were smaller in dimension, (eg tudor etc...!)

I havent got my "maths head" on tonight, how does 9 x 2&5/8 X 4&1/4" compare/convert/contrast in millimetres to 215 x 65 x 102.5 mm?

P "particularly blonde tonight" T

Originally posted by Dug
Someone once told me that there were/are tunnels that run to the Carbrook Inn (near the Arena). Also I was in Halifax Hall last week, which is near Endcliffe Park, and there was some blurb on the history of the buildings which included about tunnels which ran to Town Hall.

Would it not be a good idea to plot some of these supposed tunnels on a OS MAP and see if there are any points of intersections, reference points on the oldest upto the newest OS maps and cross reference these with historical and geological records. Quite a legnthy process i'll admit but the conclusions would be interesting.

Originally posted by omnicans
these threads are fascinating. A fwe years ago i was really intoi this stuff, and managed to interview one of the councils emergency planners. The impression that he gave was that there were no large bunkers in sheff, and that plans all involved using existing spaces - such as the cellars of the city and town hall....

personally however i dont think he was telling the whole story.

Tankersley certainly seems a likely spot - close to main roads out of sheff.

Moorfoot would also seem probable - constructed late 70;s 80's, however seems to central for a bunker, so i feel tankersley is more likely.

As an aside i have heard that there is a deep bunker beneath Barnsley town hall, linking into old mine workings.......

Originally posted by derek
Sorry, pressed wrong key.

With regard to Barnsley's bunker, I grew up in that town and it was common knowledge in the sixties that the bunker was on Wood Street behind a wooden door on what looked like a coal shed. Mine workings would be too dangerous due to risk of flooding if there was any geological movement after an attack.

Originally posted by senseofplace

Friends who have worked at Fargate have reported tunnels linking shops together

I've been in one of these tunnels. They aren't really anything exciting but when I first went in I admit I was a little excited at being somewhere most Sheffield people don't know about.

Originally posted by thespirituk
I've been in one of these tunnels. They aren't really anything exciting but when I first went in I admit I was a little excited at being somewhere most Sheffield people don't know about. Are you sure they wasn't just connecting cellars, can you explain in more detail what and where these tunnels were.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by Bikertec
Are you sure they wasn't just connecting cellars, can you explain in more detail what and where these tunnels were.:thumbsup:

I think a lot of the cellars in commercial properties in town had openings made to the cellars in adjoining properties during the early days of the war. They were intended to be used as air raid shelters so there needed to be a means of escape if "your" building was hit.

This topic was started on 05-05-2003 and in this time as anyone been intouch with the Sheffield Council about these tunnels, i think i will send them a letter next week and i will let you all know what they say.

They are most certainly tunnels and remind me of subways. Very 'constructed' not something that looks like an empty cellar. Looking back, I wish I'd had a camera.

We were moving some furniture into the basement of one of the buildings on Fargate, and the tunnel is how we got it in. There are connections to it from the surface (between Fargate and Church Street there's quite a bit of space where the buildings have car parks/service areas). There must be large lifts in some of these because furniture was in the tunnel waiting for us when we opened the door inside our office basement. It was definitely well finished (probably concrete construction), lit, on a slight incline just like if you walk 'up' Fargate from the old Coles Corner to Orchard Square and very 'square' shaped. I didn't walk all the way up it, but a few of us walked a little way up and there were doors to many of the shops/buildings on Fargate/Church Street. Very strong secure doors I might add.

It's hard to describe now so I did a search on the Internet for 'tunnel' images. After trolling through many Google results I came across a picture that made me go 'Aah!' Let me just stress that this is not the tunnel underneath Fargate. But when I saw this, this is almost exactly how I remember it, lighting and all.

Picture (http://www.scatterjoy.net/archives/000148.php)

Add a slight incline and a few entrances in the wall and it's the picture I've had in my head since the late 80's early 90's (minus the graffiti of course).

Looks like it might have been old air raid shelters for the shops as suggested by the previous post.:thumbsup:

I seem to remember when I worked in the town hall there was some talk of tunnels in sheffield along fargate. I think word on them might be quite well sealed though :mad:

Originally posted by magnum
Would it not be a good idea to plot some of these supposed tunnels on a OS MAP and see if there are any points of intersections, reference points on the oldest upto the newest OS maps and cross reference these with historical and geological records. Quite a legnthy process i'll admit but the conclusions would be interesting.

I second that. Even if none of these tunnels actually exist, there are definitely other structures out there, such as sewers, culverts, cellars, bunkers, subways, and other underground connections. So it'd be worth trying to plot out on a map.

We could grade them according to supporting evidence:

For example, to kick off with concrete facts, we could put down the old subways at Moorfoot (under Moore Street and Eyre Street), the subway connecting Surrey Street with Howard Street before the Heart Of The City redevelopment started around 1998, the Hole In The Road, and the former Furnival Gate underpass.

There's also that subway under Sheaf Street that used to alllow you to reach the station without crossing the road at street level. I believe it used to continue as if to a point under the station concourse.

Then there's the Porter Brook which is subterranean for long tracts after Hunters Bar (e.g. it runs under Waitrose's car park).

(These are all definites.) We could then have some of the more fanciful/romantic concepts, e.g. tunnel from Manor Lodge to Castle in a fainter colour that implies they're more notional than actual underground strucutres...

I'll start one off, then you can add your comments. How about it?

That sounds like an excellent idea PBerry!

In addition to those, there is the culverted river sheaf which runs underneath the station, as well as St Mary's gate I believe?

Originally posted by Virus
That sounds like an excellent idea PBerry!

In addition to those, there is the culverted river sheaf which runs underneath the station, as well as St Mary's gate I believe?

It wasn't meant to be an exhaustive list--just some real-life examples to start the ball rolling--but yes, The Sheaf runs underneath the top end of Sheaf Street in some strange way. My belief is that it runs under the pavement between Ponds Forge and Sheaf Street and continues under the pavement of Exchange Street to meet The Don at Blonk Street corner...

We shall see...!

Seem to remember there used to be a tunnel linking the old sorting office Pond hill to the railway station. Some sort of vehicle used to transport mail and parcels back and forth. Does anyone else remember this?

Originally posted by burnttoast
Seem to remember there used to be a tunnel linking the old sorting office Pond hill to the railway station. Some sort of vehicle used to transport mail and parcels back and forth. Does anyone else remember this?

It'd have to go under the river (see my post immediately above), so it makes it unlikely.

When I was little I lived in Woodseats and it seemed to be common knowledge then that there was a tunnel from Beauchief Abbey which came out in Graves Park near what was then the outdoor theatre. At school we were taught that it was constructed so that the monks could escape - possibly dissolution of the monasteries time? can't quite remember. We used to go looking in the park for it but never found it.

We were also taught that there are hundreds of tunnels under Sheffield and that is why Sheffield could never have an underground train system like London.

Re nuclear bunkers in the city. I don't think that they would be that obvious as to ahve steel doors. We went in one in Berlin (think there's about 15 there) and to enter it was just like going into a shop doorway. In fact it reminded me of the glass doorway at 13 Fargate. It was exactly like it.

What we need is someone from the City Planning Office to join in this debate - they must know where all the tunnels and bunkers are.

If there's a trip going count me in!

OK, let's start with the basics.

Here (http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/road_trips/sheffield/conduits.png)'s the underground (or mostly covered) watercourses of the Porter and the Sheaf.

Originally posted by Shirleye


What we need is someone from the City Planning Office to join in this debate - they must know where all the tunnels and bunkers are.

I admire your faith Shirleye.....:rolleyes:

I remember working on the restoration of Beauchief Hall back in the 90's it was rumoured then that the tunnel led from the Hall down to the very bottom of the lane, Some of the openings were partially blocked from around 10 feet once you enetered what was to be believed the openings which are sited at the bottom of the main steps to the main entrance on both sides. They were eventually sealed off and bricked up.

Originally posted by Sidla
I'm fascinated by tunnels. I'm from in a small town in Leicestershire which apparently has a network of tunnels below it. Not sure how true it is.

which town is that? I'm from Leicestershire originally too

ACCUALLY I WAS WORKING AT THE CANAL BASIN A FEW YEARS BACK AND IF YOU WOULD ALL LIKE TO TAKE YOUR SELVES DOWN THERE THERE IS AN OLD SAW MILL WHICH IS NOW USED AS A BOAT STORAGE PLACE OR WHATEVER I THINK ITS OFFICES AND AS YOU ENTER THIS BUILDING THERE IS A SMALL ENTRANCE WAY WHICH IF YOU DROP A COIN DOWN THERE IS AT LEAST A FIFTY FOOT DROP WE THEN ASKED THE SECURITY REPRESENTITVE DOWN THERE AND HE SAYS THERE IS A TUNNEL WHICH LEADS UNDER THE ROADS AND TO THE CASTLE MARKET AND THEY BOTH LINK TO MANOR CASTLE VIA THE QUEENS HEAD PUB SO I DONT KNOW MAYBE HE IS TELLIN THE TRUTH BUT I HAVE DEFO WITNESSED THE DROP ITS QUAILITY

964boy,

I think your caps-lock key might be broken... ;)

PT

I've heard there's a nuclear bunker under the city hall?? Anyone know about this?

I've heard there's a nuclear bunker under the city hall?? Anyone know about this?

There was one under the Town Hall extension (Egg Box) but I have no idea whether it's still there since the building was demolished. If I remember correctly, it could be accessed through the underground car park and I seem to remember there may have been a (concealed) entrance for large vehicles from Pond Street.

I'm thinking that someone in the council might be in an excellent position to comment on all the speculation in this thread....... Are you there RR?

(And apologies for putting you on the spot!!! I'm only hoping that you might know something!!!!!!!)

Hello all-
these therads about underground/hidden places seem to be attracting quite an interest. I have recentley attended a meeting of an Urban exploration group in Leeds and was thinking that it could be an idea to establish something similar in Sheffield?
Maybe head out and explor/document/photograph some of these places?

What would people think?

There were extensive tunnels found linking Manor Castle to Sheffield Castle (when it stood) and both being linked to the Cathedral.

Most were found when the hole in the road was built and more recently with the ponds forge development.

Have you got anything to back that up? Such claims have been raised at a number of points in the thread, but we can't find any definite proof or first-hand evidence.

There are lots of tunnels under Attercliffe,that run from the old Sheffield Steel works right into the city centre.They were used as air raid shelters during WWII.I know 'cos I've been in 'em!

I read on the sign thats just near Castle Markets that there are the remains of the castle dungeon underneath. I wonder if there is anyway to find out where?


We went to see this with school - all that remains is a bit of the castle wall and an iron gate fixing - not really what i'd built my hopes up to see.

Sheffield would have been fantastic if the castle remained!

My Grandma used to live Next to meersbrook park in the 70s in a large house on brook road. In the cellar of most of the local houses, was a door which led to a huge air raid shelter under the grass, in the park, alongside brook road, just near the buildings which used to be the ruskin museum or whatever it was. I used to go in the park when I visited, and in this field, were boarded up windows set into the ground.

If you walk along brook road now down from the school and past beeton road, you notice that the road is in a bad state at certain positions. This I believe, is where the tunnels under the road have collapsed.

In addition to this, I have been in many cellars of old terraced houses in the woodseats area. And it is very common to find a doorway which has been bricked up with more modern bricks. Again this was to allow people to escape to the next door house during the bombings in WWII. :)
I have actually been in those air raid shelters.We used to break the covers open in the early 60's when we were kids and use them as a den.They had bunks and shelves in them.Park keepers always chased us out.

We went to see this with school - all that remains is a bit of the castle wall and an iron gate fixing - not really what i'd built my hopes up to see.

Sheffield would have been fantastic if the castle remained!

Because Sheffield was a Royalist stronghold, (IIR my history C) Sheffield Castle was one of the "ruins that Cromwell Knocked about a bit".(As were Scarborough and Knaresborough Castles)

So we took a heck of a lot of punishment during the civil war.

When the Castle was razed to the ground, the stone was invariably robbed out, for other buildings; this is why, sadly not a lot remains.

PT

iwas always led to believe that the main tunnel went from carbrooke pub attercliffe rd up to castle then down to queen head pond st there is a wooden paneled room at front of pub where tunnel starts

Found all these thread extremely interesting - its such a shame these tunnels couldnt be opened up to the public! I would love to explore them.

Apparently there are loads of tunnels leading from Manor Castle to the Castle markets in town too. I don't know how true they are, but my friend works for the Manor and Castle Development Trust thingy so I'll ask her if I see her today.
Chloé When Jimmy Childs knocked down the Corn Exchange there was talk of them finding a tunnel leading in the direction of the sheffield castle but it was not investigated.

Speaking of tunnels, when they closed the hole in the road, did they fill it all in or are the tunnels still there but covered over?

I think the hole was filled with rubble from some demolition that was conveniently going on at the same time.

Speaking of tunnels, when they closed the hole in the road, did they fill it all in or are the tunnels still there but covered over?

I think the hole was filled with rubble from some demolition that was conveniently going on at the same time.

I'm pretty sure the same fate befell the central island of Furnival Square.

hey I'm new to this forum. Was just wondering if anyone has actually been to any of these tunnels, I'm very interested in it and would love to explore some or find out more information about them from some form of reliable source. Any one here want to take me on a subterreanean adventure??

It's a lovely set of stories kebabgirl, but I'm firmly of the opinion that the tales of tunnels are nothing more than fanciful exaggerations and urban myths that have built up over time.

I've yet to come across anyone that has really seen or been in a 'tunnel' that isn't just a basement door, a bricked up cellar, or an old mine working. There's no real reason to build a tunnel, and the geology / available technology really does put it into the realms of fantasy.

Lovely tales, but I don't think there's anything in them.

Ok Tony, if I find any I'll let you know.

P.S, How do I know that you're not working for the Government in attempt to persuade people on this forum that these tunnels don't exist so that we don't find go and find the nuclear shelters amongst other things apparantly down there??!!!:) :loopy:

Hehe :) I love the idea of tunnels, I'm just bit too realistic for my own good sometimes.

Make sure you tell me as soon as you find them though :D

I've heard (though I haven't tried it myself) that if you go under the viaduct in between the leadmill and the train staition, next to the new spar. You eventually come up near forge dam. Its a varyation of current water outlets but apparently there is acsess to at least 3 "secret tunnel" (although I'm sure the council are aware of them.

A perfect place to hide when the zombies invade

I've yet to come across anyone that has really seen or been in a 'tunnel' that isn't just a basement door, a bricked up cellar, or an old mine working. There's no real reason to build a tunnel, and the geology / available technology really does put it into the realms of fantasy.

Lovely tales, but I don't think there's anything in them.

Thats what the man wants you to believe!!

I've heard (though I haven't tried it myself) that if you go under the viaduct in between the leadmill and the train staition, next to the new spar. You eventually come up near forge dam. Its a varyation of current water outlets but apparently there is acsess to at least 3 "secret tunnel" (although I'm sure the council are aware of them.

A perfect place to hide when the zombies invade

the river Porter runs between the station and forge dam, what is described will probably be the culverted sections between the station and DC cook's old car showrooms. there's more culverting towards waitrose, and a bit more behind ecclesall road.

PT

Spent plenty of time back in the seventies filling in the old air raid shelters,
most were under school playgrounds. But never came accross a proper tunnel,
although there was one leading from Holtwood House I believe running under the Burngreave Cemetery.

the river Porter runs between the station and forge dam, what is described will probably be the culverted sections between the station and DC cook's old car showrooms. there's more culverting towards waitrose, and a bit more behind ecclesall road.

The bit by DC Cook's showroom is actually the culverted part of the Sheaf. The Porter Brook runs from Bramall Lane/Eyre Street roundabout, crossing Matilda Street at right angles about 25 yards from the traffic lights with Shoreham Street, behind BBC Radio Sheffield, and under Red Tape Studios to here (http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/road_trips/sheffield/porter_brook_culvert.jpeg), by Leadmill Road.

I'll get my photos together soon and present a walking tour.

As for tunnels, anyone, good luck in finding them. And if you do, please prove them with photos!!

hiya i haven't lived in Sheffield for all that long but do know there are plenty of tunnels through out Sheffield.
A lot go from churches and old breweries to pubs or other locations, but i know out of experience once you're in one it's a right job to find your way back. All those tunnels it's a right maze so if you deside to go in one be prepared for a right track and better make sure you mark where you've been

hiya i haven't lived in Sheffield for all that long but do know there are plenty of tunnels through out Sheffield.
A lot go from churches and old breweries to pubs or other locations, but i know out of experience once you're in one it's a right job to find your way back. All those tunnels it's a right maze so if you deside to go in one be prepared for a right track and better make sure you mark where you've been

Where about's are the entrances and exits for the tunnels you've been in? Do you have any photo's?

looks like i better get my waders on. Anybody know where to get blue prints of the underground makeup????

anybody out there know of some links to sites with blueprints of the citys underground makeup. The older the better.

Just get your Sheffield A-Z and follow the rivers. Where they disappear, that's your 'tunnel' :)

There arent any that are free (that I know of) as it's useful commercial informaiton that costs a lot to collate and update. If you purchase an environmental search that will show you where all the drains, electricity, gas and other services are.

Try http://www.promap.co.uk/promap/products.jsp?mainkey=1&thiskey=1

Hello all-
these therads about underground/hidden places seem to be attracting quite an interest. I have recentley attended a meeting of an Urban exploration group in Leeds and was thinking that it could be an idea to establish something similar in Sheffield?
Maybe head out and explor/document/photograph some of these places?

What would people think?

I think that's a great idea. Are there any UrbEx groups in Sheffield?

If not there ought to be. Do you want to start one up?

Ok Tony, if I find any I'll let you know.

P.S, How do I know that you're not working for the Government in attempt to persuade people on this forum that these tunnels don't exist so that we don't find go and find the nuclear shelters amongst other things apparantly down there??!!!:) :loopy:

There is a well-known nuclear bunker in Manchester, though it's not open to the public as it's a telephone exchange: http://www.cybertrn.demon.co.uk/guardian/

Most of the big cities had nuclear contingency plans during the height of the Cold War--I can't see Sheffield being an exception. However whether anything remains of any bunkers, or whereabouts their locations are, I don't know.

It's a lovely set of stories kebabgirl, but I'm firmly of the opinion that the tales of tunnels are nothing more than fanciful exaggerations and urban myths that have built up over time.

I've yet to come across anyone that has really seen or been in a 'tunnel' that isn't just a basement door, a bricked up cellar, or an old mine working. There's no real reason to build a tunnel, and the geology / available technology really does put it into the realms of fantasy.

Lovely tales, but I don't think there's anything in them.


Bravo Tony,

Can we put this story on the shelf.

The chance of any of these "Romantic Tunnels" ie Manor Castle to the Sheffield Castle, etc. ever exisiting are a bit far fetched.

I think we are all victims of local folklore and our relative's imaginations. Every family had a story teller. Mine was no exception. My Uncle Albert was one of the best; however, even he used to roll his eyes at the suggestion of tunnels to Manor Castle. If there was one, it would only go a few metres at the most.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, when the tunnnels are said to have been built, England just didn't have skills or the instruments to do it. Tunneling more than say 100 metres underground needs good accurate surveying and it just wasn't around until the late 18th or early 19th century.

If they started digging from Manor Lane to the castle in town in Elizabethan times, they were just as likely to end up in Attercliffe or Encliffe Park. Also, they had to get under the River Sheaf. Going under a river, any river, without flooding everything is not easy, even today.

Regards

In the 15th and 16th centuries, when the tunnnels are said to have been built, England just didn't have skills or the instruments to do it. Tunneling more than say 100 metres underground needs good accurate surveying and it just wasn't around until the late 18th or early 19th century.

Regards
tunnels were used to undermine castles in the 12th century and before,they had to go under moats etc and were often started hundreds of yards away from the castles out of sight of the castle troops,often this was the only way to beat the defences of a castle

tunnels were used to undermine castles in the 12th century and before,they had to go under moats etc and were often started hundreds of yards away from the castles out of sight of the castle troops,often this was the only way to beat the defences of a castle

Hi
I agree some tunnels were dug hundreds of yards to undermine castles; however, alignment in these circumstances wasn't too important. If you were a few feet or yards off the place you first intended to be, it didn't matter as long as you got under the wall.

What I'm talking about is tunnels, supposably dug in Elizabethan times or earlier, that went for 2 or more miles. Also situations like Manor Castle to Sheffield Castle that were hundreds of feet different in elevation. This is where you can't use guesswork or goodness knows where you might end up.

Remember the stories about the PoW's in World War 2 who dug tunnels to escape from the camps. The people who planned these things were often some of brightest around but without the necessary surveying equipment, they could make mistakes. The end of their tunnels might come up inside the wire rather than outside.

Regards

according to a friend who salvaged scrap metal from the hyde park demolition, there was a tunnel he saw which seemed to run from underneath the old hyde park flats, and looked as if it headed towards town.

:)

Shallow drift mine? Previously demolished building basement? Victorian sewer? Services trench? Combined Heat & Power. Air raid shelter? Possibly any of them, but a 'secret tunnel'? Nah. :)

Im currently writing an article for a local magazine and looking for as much "real" Information as possible regarding any and all types of tunnels under sheffield. Any Sites that I DONT have to pay for would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks peoples

Realistically discussing tunnels from the era of sheffield castle etc etc is not worthwhile since they will almost certainly be destroyed now.

Subterrean Sheffield more than likely consists of simply basements, mines, and the odd ww2 bunker. It is possible the universities have steam tunnels however. Nottingham (and dare i say it leeds) is far more interesting when it comes to underground tunnels.

Nuclear Bunker wise, the best you'll probably get is the ROC bunker at the back of abbeydale golf club.

It's a great thread that has been the subject of speculation for donkeys years, long may it go on as the last thing that I want to hear is that there were no tunnels. Logic implies that there would have been tunnels during the time when Catholic's were being percecuted but my guess is that they would have collapsed by now.

Also as has been mentioned in previous posts Victorian drains could have been mistaken for tunnels as could mine shafts. However the foundations of Sheffield Castle still exist so it should be pretty simple to find any signs of tunnels there.

Yeah i think this is a great thread. Nothing wrong with going down in victorian drains and mines if people know where they are ;)

are you the same DBS from 28dayslater then?

Yeah that is I. Unfortunately not in Sheffield anymore though. There's still loads of sites i want to do.

Have you done jessops yet? I'm only half way through...

im looking at doing it soon, ive seen your entrance and i dont think ill fit through it lol so i need someplace else to get in

PM me on 28 days, i've got a better one but you need to climb a little bit; it's how leary got in.

I went to Jersey in the 1980's and went to see the German military underground hospital, this was a tunnel system set up with wards and operating theatres , the lot really impressive

Shame my old mans not still with us, as a kid he used to play on the fields that is now Woodthorpe School, it was originally Woodthorpe Hall.He told me many tales of him and his friends playing in the the tunnel that led from the back of the hall and split into 2, 1 smaller tunnel going down to the Old Queens Head and the other coming out somewhere at Darnall behind the Greenthorpes Garage where the allotments are. Apparantly many of the miners who lived in the area used the Darnall tunnel to get to work at the "Nunnery Pit" site when the weather was bad.I lived on the Woodthorpe for a few years and we found a brick lined tunnel in our garden when we were building a patio area.I contacted the N.C.B who after visiting the site, confirmed that it wasn't constructed by the Coalboard .They were unsure what the purpose of the tunnel was .I wish I had explored it a bit more thoroughly now.There was a lady on our crescent who was something of a local historian and she had some knowledge of the Woodthorpe Hall.I'm not sure if she's still alive but I will make some enquires to see if I can shed any more light on the Hall and its tunnels

Shame my old mans not still with us, as a kid he used to play on the fields that is now Woodthorpe School, it was originally Woodthorpe Hall.He told me many tales of him and his friends playing in the the tunnel that led from the back of the hall and split into 2, 1 smaller tunnel going down to the Old Queens Head and the other coming out somewhere at Darnall behind the Greenthorpes Garage where the allotments are. Apparantly many of the miners who lived in the area used the Darnall tunnel to get to work at the "Nunnery Pit" site when the weather was bad.I lived on the Woodthorpe for a few years and we found a brick lined tunnel in our garden when we were building a patio area.I contacted the N.C.B who after visiting the site, confirmed that it wasn't constructed by the Coalboard .They were unsure what the purpose of the tunnel was .I wish I had explored it a bit more thoroughly now.There was a lady on our crescent who was something of a local historian and she had some knowledge of the Woodthorpe Hall.I'm not sure if she's still alive but I will make some enquires to see if I can shed any more light on the Hall and its tunnels
that's really interesting, it's only when you look back that you realise what a find that really was!

Why oh Why oh Why did Sheffielders not go down and take a proper survey of what was / is actually down there? After reading some of these posts you would think that there was enough interest to go to some of the places mentioned, dig about abit and see what you find! There must be loads of things we have forgotten about our great city that should be unearthed and explored, documented and only then brick up again after making sure we had every bit of history squeezed out of it.
I have only been able to read afew of the many posts on this thread so if anyone does know a book or anything that goes into detail on this subject please tell me because I would be facinated to do some exploring for myself!

I live in Sydney, Australia and was at one time a Sheffield resident and employed by Sheffield University.
The "tunnels under Sheffield" discussion is interesting in that I can make a comparison with the city of Sydney. We have very old tunnels originally dug to carry water. This project was called the "Tank Stream" and was operational until fairly recently. This project pre-dates the tunneling for the City Circle rail line.
Interestingly, we are still tunneling Sydney, this time for under city and under harbour roads.

Welcome to the forum Don. :thumbsup:

Thanks, Peterdo!

I still don't believe that these are anything more than a figment of vivid imaginations. Nobody has been able to prove that there is anything but Mine shafts, bell pits, adits, sewers and foundations underneath Sheffield, and Sheffield's topography hardly lends itself to the tunnels that are suggested.

Sorry to be so sceptical. :P I do like the romance of the idea :)
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The Carbrook Hall has a tunnel leading to the manor castle and this is well known, we , meaning my husband and myself once lived in Carbrook and a lot of people have seen the tunnel for themselves. [ but that was in the 70's before they had to seal it up] . The cross keys at Handsworth have also
a tunnel. The tunnels at the Tinsley hotel was uncovered and left for all to see in the 80's. You will find out that all these tunnels are now inaccessable as they have all collapsed or unsafe to go thro'.

I'm still not convinced to be honest. The feat of both surveying technique and mining engineering needed would be tremendous achievements today, never mind hundreds of years ago. Such a construction project would surely have been recorded on at least one occasion if so many exist, yet we only have contemporary reports of "sealed up and collapsed tunnels" :suspect:

.. and why would anyone need to travel underground from the Manor to Carbrook Hall? :huh:

A lot of these tales of supposed tunnels are based on
"Well, my uncle's next door neighbour's cousin's cat went down one of those tunnels in 1899, and so it HAD to be true"

as tony said, a) such a fantastical engineering feat would surely have been trumpeted to the world as the most amazing achievement...

and b) a lot of these tunnels, such as the one that's supposed to run from ringinglow to Beauchief Abbey have such steep gradients, hard bedrock, and would have to pass under/through rivers etc, making the idea preposterous that it could have been done with the technology available almost a thousand years ago.

PT

I love this thread, it keeps popping up again every 3 months or so. The whole issue would make a great study into urban myths and legends. I am sure that if you asked a random selection of Sheffield folk most people would have heard about the supposed tunnels that riddle the city, some would probably even know of someone that has seen them (no first hand evidence mind you).

Unfortunatly I think PT is spot on. Over the years various sightings of collapsed cellars, basements, drainage systems and minor mine workings have become mixed up with the city's famous historical landmarks and some good old fashioned nostalgia and imagination.

I would loved to be proven wrong though!

I'm fascinated by tunnels. I'm from in a small town in Leicestershire which apparently has a network of tunnels below it. Not sure how true it is.
Where in Leicestershire? I just found this thread and its interesting.

A lot of these tales of supposed tunnels are based on
"Well, my uncle's next door neighbour's cousin's cat went down one of those tunnels in 1899, and so it HAD to be true"

as tony said, a) such a fantastical engineering feat would surely have been trumpeted to the world as the most amazing achievement...

and b) a lot of these tunnels, such as the one that's supposed to run from ringinglow to Beauchief Abbey have such steep gradients, hard bedrock, and would have to pass under/through rivers etc, making the idea preposterous that it could have been done with the technology available almost a thousand years ago.

PT

Well done PT and Tony. You put it in all in a nut shell.

It didn't happen folks. We have all been had by neighbours, relatives, friends, etc. with overactive imaginations.

Nobody has come forward with a photograph of any these tunnels or maps, charts, eye witness accounts (sworn before a justice of the peace) - Nothing. And nobody will.

It is, regretably, all romantic speculation. Nobody had the skill to drive (dig) a tunnel in those days more than a few dozen metres and still maintain accuracy, certainly before 1830. Even if half the stories about tunnels under Carbrook Hall were true, its a wonder it hasn't collapsed in to them.

I retired at the end of 2003 as a Professional Engineer,after 52 years in heavy engineering. My last job was on a hydro electric power plant in West Asia. This was all underground with lots of tunnels: almost 7 km of them if you could stack them end to end. Even with all the latest laser surveying equipment we had, it was still a challenge for our guys and our contractor to maintain accuracy on each tunnel and arrive at the place we intended.

Regards

Of course there were tunnels! Every city and town across the country with castles or ruins or even any historical significance will have link out of the town incase of attack or invasion.

They weren't exactly feats of engineering to be trumpeted, because they were only a tunnel and they have been built for centuries.

Of course there were tunnels! Every city and town across the country with castles or ruins or even any historical significance will have link out of the town incase of attack or invasion.

They weren't exactly feats of engineering to be trumpeted, because they were only a tunnel and they have been built for centuries.


thats right, there are a number of famous sites for these tunnels, namely edinburgh in which large amounts of people lived in these tunnels,with some of the people never seeing the light of day. this is many..years ago

Of course there were tunnels! Every city and town across the country with castles or ruins or even any historical significance will have link out of the town incase of attack or invasion.

They weren't exactly feats of engineering to be trumpeted, because they were only a tunnel and they have been built for centuries.

So tell us why Sheffield Castle was under siege during the Civil War then? ;)

Of course there were tunnels! Every city and town across the country with castles or ruins or even any historical significance will have link out of the town incase of attack or invasion.

They weren't exactly feats of engineering to be trumpeted, because they were only a tunnel and they have been built for centuries.

I agree there may have been escape tunnels from some castles but they only went for a few dozen metres because they could not control the direction they were going. They couldn't go for kilometres, from A to B as some people sugested. It was impossible. Directional control for tunnelling (getting you precisely from A to B) only became possible when the first precision surveying instruments appeared in the late 18th - early 19th century.

What this thread has been talking about is tunnels under Sheffield. We are not talking about other cities and towns, etc. We all grew up with fantastic tales about all these tunnels that were supposed to go for kilometres in every concievable direction. Sheffield Castle may have had a short escape tunnel but as Tony pointed out, it certainly wasn't functioning by the time of the siege in 1644 (?).

As to tunnelling not been a feat of engineering, it depends what you are tunneling through. Digging in soft soils, such as we find in the bottom of the Don Valley, is one thing. Driving a tunnel through rock with the primative tools they had then, accomodating radical changes in elevation, passing under rivers - which is claimed for at least one tunnel supposedly under the city - is something altogether different.

Regards

So tell us why Sheffield Castle was under siege during the Civil War then? ;)

Sorry, this has taken a bit too much of a historical turn for me now, but i'd hazard a guess that people wanted to occupy it.

How is this relevant to whether there were any tunnels leading from it or not?

Well obviously is there were any escape tunnels, the Royalists would have been using them to escape. :)

Tunnels were occasionally constructed towards castles from outside the walls, but their intention was to quickly undermine foundations and cause the collapse of walls, not to pop out at the other end. Even then, most failed to reach far enough because they didn't know where they were tunneling.

I still love the romance of the idea of tunnels, but I have to draw the conclusion (along with a few others) that they don't exist, never have, and that any reports are merely blocked up entries, foundations, bell pits, adits, shafts, drifts, sewers, furnaces, etc. It doesn't stand up to a moment of scrutiny.

Well obviously is there were any escape tunnels, the Royalists would have been using them to escape. :)


Maybe the royalists (the important ones) did escape, but kept the gate locked and the cannon fodder behind to defend the castle, hence the siege still taking place.

It is almost inconceivable to think that a castle didn’t have an escape route (or one that wasn’t well documented anyway, kind of loses it secrecy otherwise) be it tunnel or otherwise. Harlech’s escape route comes out half way down a stone cliff! Now that is a tunnel, through rock!

I think you're wrong...so we'll have to agree to disagree!

A lot of these tales of supposed tunnels are based on
"Well, my uncle's next door neighbour's cousin's cat went down one of those tunnels in 1899, and so it HAD to be true"

as tony said, a) such a fantastical engineering feat would surely have been trumpeted to the world as the most amazing achievement...

and b) a lot of these tunnels, such as the one that's supposed to run from ringinglow to Beauchief Abbey have such steep gradients, hard bedrock, and would have to pass under/through rivers etc, making the idea preposterous that it could have been done with the technology available almost a thousand years ago.

PTummmmm,yet they could transport huge blocks of stone weighing many tons from wales, the south american tribes managed to measure the distance of the moon a thousand years before the thousand years you mention, other tribes built pyramids that can not be built today, others put massive stones so close together a playing card could not be placed between the joint,and then of course theres the romans who were doing fantastic engineering feats two thousand years ago, i think pt you may have to give appreciation where it is due,to the inginiuity of man

Nobody has come forward with a photograph of any these tunnels or maps, charts, eye witness accounts (sworn before a justice of the peace) - Nothing. And nobody will.



Hartshead tunnel:

http://www.picturesheffield.com/jpgh/s09546.jpg

http://www.picturesheffield.com/jpgh/s09545.jpg

Part of the Castle foundations I believe.

All the caption from picturesheffield says is 'hartshead tunnel' no other info. Might have a word with the guy from the local studies see if he knows anything further about these.

Hartshead is where the Dove & Rainbow is, if they were foundations it would've been an outbuilding for the castle I would have thought.

Harlech’s escape route comes out half way down a stone cliff! Now that is a tunnel, through rock!

I think you're wrong...so we'll have to agree to disagree!

That tunnel at Harlech was in fact an entrance to the castle from the sea. When Harlech was built the seal level was higher than now and the sea access was intended to afford a provisioning and re-inforcemant route if the castle was besieged.

and then of course theres the romans who were doing fantastic engineering feats two thousand years ago, i think pt you may have to give appreciation where it is due,to the inginiuity of man

And the Greeks before them..

http://pr.caltech.edu/periodicals/eands/articles/LXVII1/samos.html

That makes tremendous suppositions for which there is no evidence.

However, we do have evidence for the standard of surveying and tunnelling knowledge only 200 years ago. I give you the monumental cock up that was the Standedge Tunnel just up the road which very nearly ended up as 2 tunnels.

http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/huddersfield/standedge3.htm

Hartshead is where the Dove & Rainbow is, if they were foundations it would've been an outbuilding for the castle I would have thought.

Doubt if it was anything to do with the castle, - when the castle was built Hartshead would have been on the western fringe of what then was Sheffield, and the outer courtyard of the castle extended along the south side of what is now the Haymarket.

http://www.sheffieldmarkets.co.uk/images/street-plan.jpg

Worth checking in Local Studies as there are likely newspaper cuttings about that tunnel.

That makes tremendous suppositions for which there is no evidence.
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Dismissive as ever :rolleyes:

That tunnel on Samos doesn't exist then and is just a figment of academic imagination ? :hihi:

No, not dismissive, just that I can't find any real records for how it was done, just an assumption that it was down from 2 ends via some ropey trig and land surveying techniques that would create huge errors. It would be quite possible to do it from one end in a straight line on a constant slope with little knowledge, but not from each end. It's a pretty simple job to be honest.

I've got one or two surveying qualifications so I know how hard it would be today from both ends with laser levels, never mind a few tripod or hand held squares. ;)

All the caption from picturesheffield says is 'hartshead tunnel' no other info. Might have a word with the guy from the local studies see if he knows anything further about these.

Hartshead is where the Dove & Rainbow is, if they were foundations it would've been an outbuilding for the castle I would have thought.


Hi,

If it's in Hartshead, its a tad way from the Castle; however, its the most interesting discovery yet.

Have we any idea who these people are and when the photo was taken? Looking at their clothes, etc. it looks like it could be the thirties or forties. Most men, particulary workmen, had stopped dressing like that by the fifties.

Remembering that Hartshead was one of the most heavily damaged areas in the blitz, could this "tunnel" have been exposed by a bomb or was it exposed during the reconstruction of the area ?

If so, its possible that the men are from the City Enginners dept., in which case, there may be an old report of their findings on file somewhere.

If they are archaeologist, then there most certainly would have been a "Dig Report" done by somebody.

Regards

If anyone really wants to find out for themselves you can call ARCUS, the Universities archaeology department who do 99% of the investigation work in Sheffield.

I suspect I know the answer that you will get back, but never say never ;)

Does anyone remember the massive hole that opened up on the Park Square Roundabout island about 10-15 years ago? Apparantly this happened because an old mine shaft under the roundabout hadn't been filled in correctly.

Still amazes me that there's all these funky things under the ground that we never hear of. I'd kinda convinced myself that the stories of the Castle remains under the Fish Market were something I'd dreamt up until doing an internet search on it a few months back.
When I was kid we used to down to see the remains of the castle, they could be cearly seen among the excavation, walls even an arch at one stage.

my father told me a true story his father told him of a tunnel a tunnel of such lenth that men marveled at it s wonder he told me it took more than 1 million orange/red industrial bricks to build now were talking 100 plus yrs ago so you can imagine how many bricks that would be in todays terms anyway i digress my father mentioned the sage of hather as it s origins i moved to new zealand when i was a youngster and only returned recently i have searched everywhere for said place i am exasperated by my unfruitful searching and am begining to disbelief my own father who is sadly now departed i would be gratefuln if anybody good help me solve my lifelong story thank you
Probably been said but it would seem likely that the Sage of Hather, is Hathersage, non!

That sounds about right, so that would probably make it the the Totley Tunnel. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totley_Tunnel) You can marvel at its wonder 3 times an hour on the train to Manchester ;)

Never heard of the Sage of Hather though. :huh:

Does anyone remember the massive hole that opened up on the Park Square Roundabout island about 10-15 years ago? Apparantly this happened because an old mine shaft under the roundabout hadn't been filled in correctly.


Hi,

This is a bit off-topic, but there used to be strange structure on Sheaf Street, opposite the bottom of Commerical Street (generally where Park Square is now).

It stood in a little yard. On one side were the original buildings for Sheaf Motors and on the other, a funny little road called Granville Hill that went up from Sheaf Street to Granville Streets.

The structure was a sort of tower, made from heavy timbers. On top was what looked like a small water tank, although it might of have been a cover for some machinery. At the back of yard were what looked like a couple of small cottages. They always seemed to have the doors open and the lights on. Once in a while. you might see a person moving around in the yard as if they were taking care of the equipment.

I once asked my dad what this was and he thought that it was an old mine shaft which had been closed-off and was now used for pumping water from the Nunnery Pit. I think the whole thing disappeared very quickly, about the same time that the Nunnery closed.

Does anyone else remember it?

Regards

No, not dismissive, just that I can't find any real records for how it was done, just an assumption that it was down from 2 ends via some ropey trig and land surveying techniques that would create huge errors.

Well I wasn't trying to make a case for the claim that the Samos tunnel was dug from both ends, - just using the link to show depoix that much vaunted Roman technology was often,- even usually, based on that of conquered peoples. The Romans were kleptomaniacs and what 'art' they couldn't carry off home as booty they copied, or enslaved the originator to reproduce for them.