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View Full Version : Spur Tunnel. Dover Castle Feb 2009.



Herbivore
02-04-2010, 10:13 PM
The Spur tunnel runs from inside the grounds of Dover castle and lead under the Dover to Deal road and on to below the Dover to Guston road it is believed that it was dug to mine the above roads but it is not known when it was completed. Visited earlier this year. 40 ft. Abseil to get in and once we were in we headed for the far end of the tunnel. I paced this out at 230 'yards'...ish
It's back-filled at the end but as you can see in the plan, it heads off right to the bottom of a 15ft well.

This second level looks like a fork with five prongs. The four outer ones being 20 yards long but the middle one is much shorted and leads to another well. This one is brick-lined and not as high as the previous one. This level is a mirror of the lower one but with one less (and shorter) 'prongs' and a few brick reinforced parts. Another well leads up to the highest level.
The long vertical shafts in the plan are back filled and inaccessible: The upper parts are filled with earth and not chalk.
Here's some pics.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r207/kai1989/Castle_spurtunnels-1.jpg

The long main tunnel:
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p473/Hugh-Jarsole/DSC02095.jpg

The well to the second level:
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p473/Hugh-Jarsole/DSC02086.jpg

At the top looking forward to the next brick lined well.
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p473/Hugh-Jarsole/DSC02076.jpg

On the second level:
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p473/Hugh-Jarsole/DSC02082.jpg

Looking up the second well. to level three:
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p473/Hugh-Jarsole/DSC02084.jpg

Looking across the third level.
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p473/Hugh-Jarsole/DSC02077.jpg

Last well, leading to the top level. Said to be only four feet below ground.
http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p473/Hugh-Jarsole/DSC02080.jpg


graffiti along the main tunnel.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3445730910_2e28a83458.jpg

Herbivore
02-04-2010, 10:16 PM
Shit! No green arrow. :wflag I'm sure I'll get the hang of this.

coops
07-04-2010, 09:37 AM
Nice pics mate thanks for sharing

magooČ
07-04-2010, 10:44 AM
Nice job :thumb

Herbivore
07-09-2010, 05:14 PM
Very nice. Thats some serious engineering went into those, the map looks confusing enough, god knows how they managed to dig it.

I forgot to mention; the E.H. survey of 1999 states that the long main shaft was dug from both ends and
they somehow managed to meet in the middle. (forgiving the little kink). It's also only about 3-4 feet wide.

wevsky
10-09-2010, 12:44 PM
only just spotted this..my my you do get around!! :)

Ryda
10-09-2010, 10:43 PM
Feel so ashamed I didn't get my arse in gear and come with you guys when I had the chance. Great pics mate

Herbivore
10-09-2010, 11:21 PM
Feel so ashamed I didn't get my arse in gear and come with you guys when I had the chance. Great pics mate
Yeah the place was locked down this winter when all the scaffolding was put up to repair the spur caponier roofs. I only posted a report up once E.H. had secured the place. A year after we'd been in!

Ryda
10-09-2010, 11:23 PM
Haha good old E.H. I remember it was a while ago you went in, after months of planning and "where the fuck is it"ing. I did wonder what they were doing down there.

wevsky
23-09-2010, 12:22 PM
Yeah the place was locked down this winter when all the scaffolding was put up to repair the spur caponier roofs. I only posted a report up once E.H. had secured the place. A year after we'd been in!

so im assuming entrance even for those who abseil is no longer doable..shame as its a great place sure a few people would love to have seen it :)