Chuffing Nora! Worlds Oldest Tunnel Discovered
Archaeologists have discovered a 220-year-old railway tunnel believed to be the oldest in the world. The historic Fritchley Tunnel, in Crich, Derbyshire, can be traced back to 1793, two years earlier than the previous record holder. The discovery was made after they linked the tunnel to a now-defunct railway, used by industrialists to transport limestone to an ironwork factory.
Hidden away: The historic Fritchley Tunnel, in Crich, Derbyshire, can be traced back to 1793, two years earlier than the previous record holder
The tunnel was nearly lost forever when a previous land owner sealed up the passage in 1977 to build a rockery.But after a chance meeting between the current owner, John Midgley, 55, and archaeologists, they won funding to excavate the site.The dig began in January using heavy machinery to dig down three metres underground to re-open the sealed 18 metre passage.They have since discovered that the tunnel connected to the Butterley Gangroad, a horse-operated railway built in 1793, by the Butterley Company, a large local engineering firm.
Unearthed: Local resident Tony Frearson takes a look down the two century old railway tunnel
Lost: The tunnel was sealed up 1977 by a previous land owner to build a rockery. The dig began in January and used heavy machinery to re-open the sealed passage
Waiting: Two figures in the foreground look on as a train approaches. The tunnel is connected to the Butterley Gangroad, a horse-operated railway built by the Butterley Company, a large local engineering firm
The railways' purpose was to link the Cromford Canal with their limestone quarries in the area.It pre-dates a 1795 tunnel on the Peak Forest Tramway, also in Derbyshire, by two years and was thought of as the world’s oldest.‘We know that the Butterley Gangroad railway was operating in 1793 - because that is documented,’ said project manager Trevor Griffin, of the Derbyshire Archaeological Society.
Historic: The tunnel is connected to the Butterley Gangroad, a horse-operated railway built in 1793, by the Butterley Company, a large local engineering firm
It's behind you: Local resident Tony Frearson stands on the embankment that leads down into 'the world's oldest railway tunnel'
‘The route has changed but all the mapping evidence shows that the tunnel was always on the route so it is older than the one currently known as the world's oldest.’The £17,900 Heritage Lottery-funded investigation involved laser scanning to create a three-dimensional computer model of the inside.But when the work is completed in September 2014, the group plan to seal up the tunnel again to preserve it for future generations.‘The story goes back to 1977 when this tunnel was there on the abandoned railway,’ said Mr Griffin, 66.‘The owner of the cottage on the land wanted to build a rockery on the route. He contacted the owners of the railway and they said “no”.‘So he paid £400 for a 700 yard stretch of the railway. It didn't include the tunnel but the tunnel was accessed from his land. ‘He then filled up that whole area so the tunnel got blocked.’
Hidden away: The historic Fritchley Tunnel, in Crich, Derbyshire, can be traced back to 1793, two years earlier than the previous record holderUnearthed: Local resident Tony Frearson takes a look down the two century old railway tunnelLost: The tunnel was sealed up 1977 by a previous land owner to build a rockery. The dig began in January and used heavy machinery to re-open the sealed passageWaiting: Two figures in the foreground look on as a train approaches. The tunnel is connected to the Butterley Gangroad, a horse-operated railway built by the Butterley Company, a large local engineering firmHistoric: The tunnel is connected to the Butterley Gangroad, a horse-operated railway built in 1793, by the Butterley Company, a large local engineering firmIt's behind you: Local resident Tony Frearson stands on the embankment that leads down into 'the world's oldest railway tunnel'
Horsepower: An example of a horse-drawn 'train', this one was used on the Little Eaton Gangway, also in Derbyshire. It was built by the same company that constructed the Butterley line For your chance to get your hands on either one of 10 Grey Stone Tunnels or Red Brick Tunnels head over to our competition page.
Source: Daily Mail