Ryda
02-11-2010, 11:15 AM
This is the 1880 bore attempt for the Channel Tunnel situated at Abbots Cliff, midway between Folkestone and Dover.
A quick bit of history for you:
In the 19th Century, serious proposals were beginning to arise on both sides of the channel for a tunnel linking England and France together. The attempts on the English side were unsuccessful, mostly due to the tunnels flooding. This is one of two test bores, the other in 1881 at Shakespeare cliff. The tunnel was expected to be completed by 1886 however only 2 years on from the initial bore in 1880, very little progress had been made and the whole project was cast aside and abandoned in 1898. The British Government had decided a tunnel linking England to Europe left the country vulnerable to attack.
In hindsight that 16 years on WW1 had begun, it shows that the decision to scrap the plans was the right one.
Pictures:
Getting ready to go in
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5138804871_ce19b6d97d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryandavies1990/5138804871/)
Sleeper lined low tunnel leading towards the bore
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/5138802641_72dff29aca.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryandavies1990/5138802641/)
Silhouette of myself
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5138803475_a229e6a63e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryandavies1990/5138803475/)
Looking down the bore
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5139411084_7825c4f62e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryandavies1990/5139411084/)
I took a walk down the bore some way however the air is not of the greatest quality and for your own health it is not advised that you spend too long down there, Water was beginning to become a problem also and wellies were definitely a must!
I'll save anybody the time of trying to find a hole in the cliff for this tunnel or digging through the chalk yourself to find it - It was with permission that I gained access of this tunnel system & I am very thankful.
Cheers for looking - comments welcomed.
R
A quick bit of history for you:
In the 19th Century, serious proposals were beginning to arise on both sides of the channel for a tunnel linking England and France together. The attempts on the English side were unsuccessful, mostly due to the tunnels flooding. This is one of two test bores, the other in 1881 at Shakespeare cliff. The tunnel was expected to be completed by 1886 however only 2 years on from the initial bore in 1880, very little progress had been made and the whole project was cast aside and abandoned in 1898. The British Government had decided a tunnel linking England to Europe left the country vulnerable to attack.
In hindsight that 16 years on WW1 had begun, it shows that the decision to scrap the plans was the right one.
Pictures:
Getting ready to go in
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5138804871_ce19b6d97d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryandavies1990/5138804871/)
Sleeper lined low tunnel leading towards the bore
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/5138802641_72dff29aca.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryandavies1990/5138802641/)
Silhouette of myself
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5138803475_a229e6a63e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryandavies1990/5138803475/)
Looking down the bore
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5139411084_7825c4f62e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryandavies1990/5139411084/)
I took a walk down the bore some way however the air is not of the greatest quality and for your own health it is not advised that you spend too long down there, Water was beginning to become a problem also and wellies were definitely a must!
I'll save anybody the time of trying to find a hole in the cliff for this tunnel or digging through the chalk yourself to find it - It was with permission that I gained access of this tunnel system & I am very thankful.
Cheers for looking - comments welcomed.
R