The secret tunnel under Leamington's town centre that had council planners baffled

There has been much debate this year about tunnels under our towns - here is an article from 1968 that might add a bit more to the mystery
By Philip Hibble
Published 29th Dec 2021, 10:02 GMT
Workers found the 35-foot deep brick-line cavern after bulldozing homes and shops to make way for the car park in Tavistock Street. It had a well in the middle.Workers found the 35-foot deep brick-line cavern after bulldozing homes and shops to make way for the car park in Tavistock Street. It had a well in the middle.
Workers found the 35-foot deep brick-line cavern after bulldozing homes and shops to make way for the car park in Tavistock Street. It had a well in the middle.

The secret tunnels under Leamington and Warwick have provided much debate over 2021.

Our columnist Peter Bowen has written about them after he spoke to people who had walked in the tunnels.

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His articles caused a lot of reaction - and this week, reader Gary Timlin sent us a Leamington Courier article from 1968.

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Workers found the 35-foot deep brick-line cavern after bulldozing homes and shops to make way for the car park in Tavistock Street. It had a well in the middle.Workers found the 35-foot deep brick-line cavern after bulldozing homes and shops to make way for the car park in Tavistock Street. It had a well in the middle.
Workers found the 35-foot deep brick-line cavern after bulldozing homes and shops to make way for the car park in Tavistock Street. It had a well in the middle.

And yes, you guessed it, it is about another secret tunnel.

Workers found the 35-foot deep brick-line cavern after bulldozing homes and shops to make way for the car park in Tavistock Street.

But they feared that the secrets of the tunnel may remain a mystery forever - town hall inspectors examined the tunnel many times but had no idea what it was.

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The entrance was at the rear of 20 Tavistock Street - the only house in the row without a cellar. The tunnel itself is 35 feet long and built up at each end.

The article from 1968The article from 1968
The article from 1968

Talking to the paper in 1968, Mr William Hampson, deputy borough engineer, said it was about 150 years old with a well in the centre of the floor.

The cavern is not marked on any plans in the town hall and is not known to be referred to in any local history books.

Our thanks to Gary for sending in the article.

If you have any more information on tunnels under our towns, feel free to email us on [email protected]

Click here to read our previous stories:

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'We walked the secret tunnel under Leamington' - the fascinating story of two boys who discovered the hidden passageway while playing in their garden

https://www.warwickshireworld.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/we-walked-the-secret-tunnel-under-leamington-the-fascinating-story-of-two-boys-who-discovered-the-hidden-passageway-while-playing-in-their-garden-3213757

Is there a secret tunnel under Leamington? Looking into a local mystery

https://www.warwickshireworld.com/news/opinion/columnists/is-there-a-secret-tunnel-under-leamington-looking-into-a-local-mystery-3143174

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How our ongoing secret tunnel investigation in Leamington and Warwick has led us to a Russian spy and former naval officer

https://www.warwickshireworld.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/how-our-ongoing-secret-tunnel-investigation-in-leamington-and-warwick-has-led-us-to-a-russian-spy-and-former-naval-officer-3230523

Exploring Leamington's secret tunnels: Trailing cobwebs and covered in dust, former worker emerges to confirm there is a second tunnel in the town centre

https://www.warwickshireworld.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/exploring-leamingtons-secret-tunnels-trailing-cobwebs-and-covered-in-dust-former-worker-emerges-to-confirm-there-is-a-second-tunnel-in-the-town-centre-3222520

Related topics:LeamingtonPeter BowenWorkers