Victoria tunnel and tunnels under UNOs - April 2012

I'm sure you all know the history of the Victoria tunnel, so ill just briefly run over it. It was a Victorian coal waggon way which ran from spital tounges colliery down to the ouseburn. It was later used as a bomb shelter during the 2nd world war, with seating for up to 9000 and bunk beds for up to 500 people. I cant even inagine how cramped and awful the conditions down there would have been for you if you were one of those people. It was officially opened on April 7th 1842 and we visited it on the day of its 170th birthday.

This was my first explore, but ive done 6 more since then, it's fair to say it gave me the bug! The atmosphere down here was unreal, by far the darkest and quietest place I've ever been, until a metro runs by anyway! Had a bit of a laugh getting in, almost being caught by a curb crawling taxi and thinking it was a police car so spending ten minutes lying face down on the wet grass while he found his fare was one of the many highlights! Would love to go back sometime and go a bit further in, we only went up the the reinforced bit where it turns into sewer coz we didn't have the right foot wear on for wading through poop. I've read the air is a bit ropey as you get further along anyway though.

Right, on with my pics. Im not a photographer by any means, it's all about the history and experience for me so sorry if they're not as good as some of the shots your used to!



























Now off to Uno's. After realising my love for underground stuff, my fiancée decided to take me to see the tunnels under Uno's resteraunt in town. There are 4 of them in total, we only went in the 3 connecting ones as the other is now part of the sewer and I didn't have the right footwear on. I've since found out that pheonix house used to be Northumberland county councils head office, as was the building opposite. These tunnels used to Connect the buildings to each other, and from why I can gather from looking t old war time maps, they went straight through UNOs (which is in the basement) so under the NCC office and linked to a bomb shelte which was on king st, under sabitinis, which had room for 650 people. I once read that at one time it was possible to walk from one end of the town to the other without ever having to come above ground because of all the connecting service tunnels but as the buildings have all been sold off seperately, the tunnels have been bricked up, much as these ones have....still, nice to be under ground again!










Thanks for looking x

I will get to Viccy Tunnel one day.

Nice report.

Z

It was amazing mate! I loved it do much I've applied to be a tour guide! I think it's a case of keeping an eye on the VT and one day you might be lucky enough to find it open like we did!

Haha, maybe if you get the position you can get the UrbexNE crew a special after hours full tour...

Z

It's like you read my mind :p

Ezykiel the Mystic. You've discovered my secret

Z

What can I say?!? I'm a seriously bad photographer but I'm a good explorer! I've never claimed to be any good at the photography side, and this was my first ever explore...and it was pitch black....but cheers for the constructive criticism and all that

As a new member to the forums, I'm looking forward to visiting places such as this. So is access difficult, or easy? Also, I think the photographs are fine, no need for the harsh comment.

Access is bloody impossible for Victoria tunnel at the moment. I wouldn't mind seeing the other tunnels.

CommunistCat wrote:

Access is bloody impossible for Victoria tunnel at the moment. I wouldn't mind seeing the other tunnels.

Go in and Buy a meal n ask to see them

I might have to have a meal there at some point.

I wouldn't mind seeing any of these tunnels. Could we sort something for later this week or next week maybe?

We done a part of the tunnels a while ago, and looking to do the other part.
Mr D Ive manage to "borrow" a key for that door just need to see if it fits and works then fingers crossed its all go

Is that the door I think your talking about? The nice red one in Byker?

CommunistCat wrote:

Is that the door I think your talking about? The nice red one in Byker?

Er????................. no lol

there is another way into the tunnel from else were and Mr D and myself "think" we found it the other sunday"