Tunnel Vision: Exploring the Victoria Tunnel

England

Written by Jess Friedman
• February 19, 2015

When I was at BYU, people would whisper about the super top secret tunnels that run under campus. Legend has it, they’re used for everything from storing dinosaur bones to sneaking VIPs in and out of the Marriot Center to operating a caffeinated beverage smuggling ring. From my earliest days as a little freshman, I was bound and determined to visit these tunnels and discover the truth for myself.

And then I did.

I visited the tunnels during my final semester, when I took a facility management course taught by the guy who manages all of the sporting venues at BYU. When he announced our proposed visit, I made a paper chain to count down the days.

Just kidding.

Maybe.

Whatever. Don’t judge me.

The day finally arrived, and we ventured down into the depths beneath campus. What wonders awaited us there! What treasures were to be had! I was desperate to bring home some souvenir of my foray to prove to my friends that I had, in fact, witnessed the legendary tunnels with my own eyes. A cola drink, perhaps, or a T-Rex tibia. The possibilities were endless.

And then we discovered the truth: the tunnels are used to run heating and cooling lines to some of the buildings.

That’s it.

The end.

Well, okay, there were also some windows overlooking the diving pool in the Robinson Building, where you could stand and watch the swim team practice.

You know. Like a creeper.

While the BYU tunnels were decidedly underwhelming, I still have a thing for secret underground tunnels. I love them. Give me a choice between exploring a tunnel and doing something else, and I will choose exploring the tunnel before you’ve even told me what the second option is.

Is that weird? Maybe. Whatever. Don’t judge me.

So when I needed an adventure to give my brain a break from the four big projects I had due last week, I opted for a visit to the Victoria Tunnel, which runs for 2 miles underneath the city of Newcastle, completely ignored by most of the people above ground.

In fact, as we started our journey in Ouseburn, I never would have guessed there was a tunnel running right under our feet.

Look at the prices listed on these old adverts painted on this abandoned building. Why are they listed in USD?

This boat is part of the fun programming offered at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books. The boat stays moored to the back of Seven Stories during the day, and at night, it floats away and collects stories for the children. It’s supposed to be good luck or something if you see Sea Song Sang on the move. (The boat itself wasn’t so lucky when it actually did move in 2010. A huge storm came through the area and sent so much water down the creek that it broke Sea Song Sang’s chains and set her adrift. They found her later near Tynemouth!)

This looks remarkably like the house my 7th great grandfather, Jeremiah Hatch, lived in in Nauvoo, Illinois.

This will be my next adventure. Anyone else want to explore an abandoned building with me?

Doesn’t this just scream Charles Dickens at you?

I feel like the entire community of Ouseburn is just one big scavenger hunt. There are so many fun little details to be discovered!

Victoria Tunnel was built in the mid 1800s to transport coal from a colliery in Spital Tongues to the River Tyne. It was closed in the 1860s and remained unused until the outbreak of World War II, when Newcastle was bombed 250 times.

Read that again.

Newcastle was bombed 250 times during World War II.

Can you imagine?

And most people didn’t have the space to build air raid shelters, so the city opened up the abandoned tunnel and turned it into a shelter that provided safety for 9000 people.

There were enough bunks for 500 people. They were supposed to be reserved for emergency services personnel first, then pregnant women second. Everyone else had to sit, stand, or lay on the floor. Needless to say, some people weren’t too keen on following the rules, and claiming a bunk tended to be a free-for-all. Also, don’t roll over in your sleep. That’s a long drop and a hard floor…

During its original use as a wagon way for transporting coal, the wagons used would just barely fit into the space allowed. They didn’t use horses to pull the wagons, either. They would load the wagons in Spital Tongues, give them a push, and let gravity carry them down to the river. After their loads were dumped into the barges waiting at the river, the dock workers would signal the colliery, and they’d haul the wagons back up the 2 mile track via a rope and a winch.

This chair is a modern addition to the tunnel, and it is intended for any guests who need to take a rest after climbing those awfully steep stairs. Neither of our tour guides could tell me why there was a Queen of Hearts glued to it, however. This mystery intrigues me.

These are the very steep stairs headed down into the tunnel from one of the 7 entrances added when it was retrofitted as an air raid shelter. It was scary enough descending them when we weren’t in a hurry. Imagine hearing that siren and rushing down those steps with a hundred people pushing on your back. *shudder* Must have been terrifying.

When you’re stuck underground for hours on end, you’re eventually going to have to take care of some business. This is where the deals went down, and there was exactly zero privacy.

Most visitors don’t get to see this bit, but our guides said we were so well behaved that we deserved an extra treat. So they took us on a little jaunt down a side tunnel, where someone sculpted a crucifix out of cement. There is also an honor roll with four names listed. No one knows who put them here, or why. They’ve tried researching the names on the honor roll, but have yet to find anything.

While the tunnel was used as an air raid shelter, it was broken into sections. Each section had a warden who was responsible for the people in his section. They were far enough under ground that they wouldn’t be able to hear the “all clear” signal at the end of the raid, but the wardens would get news via their radios and let people know it was time to evacuate the tunnel. They’d do so in orderly groups, one section at a time.

As our little group trudged down the long, dark tunnel, it wasn’t difficult to imagine that I was back in the 1940s. The sound of our footsteps echoing off the walls and ceiling matched the cadence of the weary hordes who descended into the darkness, never quite sure what would await them when they left again. The ever-present dampness sank into my bones. And after two hours, I was definitely ready to get back to the surface. I can’t even fathom being stuck down there for hours or even days–it’s enough to drive a person mad.

Very modern horse sculptures on the exterior of Stepney Bank Stables.

As we walked back to the parking lot, the color and character of Ouseburn was a strange contrast to the darkness and dampness and dismal greyness of the world below. It made me ever so grateful that I don’t have to remain constantly vigilant, listening for the ear-splitting siren that warns of impending disaster. I know there are still scary things that happen, but relatively speaking, we’ve got it pretty good in this part of the world.

And like a tunnel hidden under our feet, that fact is far too easy to forget.

If you live in or visit the Newcastle area, I highly recommend signing up for a tour. It is well worth the time.

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Helpful Sites

If you're planning a trip, here are some sites that I've found especially useful:

Booking.com is a great resource for cheap accommodations. They have a good variety of both hotels and hostels, so no matter your budget, you're bound to find something to suit.

Hostelworld is also good for cheap accommodations if you're digging the hostel scene.

TripAdvisor has a lot of very useful information, from reviews of attractions and travel-related businesses to forums where you can ask your questions and have them answered by locals or travel experts.

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Jess Friedman

Jess is a Canadian-American who’s always ready for the next adventure. She loves all things living, always has a million creative projects in progress, and polishes her nerd badge daily. She is passionate about helping families make and preserve treasured memories that strengthen bonds across generations. You can read more posts by Jess here.

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