Tar Tunnel facts for kids
The Tar Tunnel is an old tunnel found on the north side of the River Severn in the Ironbridge Gorge area of Coalport, England. It's one of the ten cool places you can visit that are part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. These museums are looked after by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.
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What is the Tar Tunnel?
The Tar Tunnel is named after the natural tar, also called bitumen, that oozes from its walls. This sticky, black substance looks a bit like thick syrup. It was discovered by accident a long time ago.
How Was It Discovered?
In 1787, miners were digging a tunnel for the Coalport Canal. Their goal was to connect the canal near the River Severn to the lower parts of the mines under the Blists Hill area. This idea came from a man named William Reynolds.
As they dug, they hit a gushing spring of this natural tar. They had dug about 3,000 feet (910 m) into the hill. Because so much tar was found, the plan to build the canal tunnel was stopped. Instead, people focused on getting the tar out of the ground.
What Was the Tar Used For?
The Tar Tunnel was a very interesting place in the 1700s. Even today, natural tar still slowly drips from the brick walls. Back then, the main use for this tar was to treat ropes and seal wooden ships to make them waterproof.
A small amount of the tar was also bottled and sold as 'Betton's British Oil'. People thought this oil could cure many illnesses, like rheumatism (sore joints) and scurvy (a disease caused by not enough vitamin C).
After the canal tunnel project was stopped, another clever invention was built nearby instead. This was the Hay Inclined Plane, which helped move boats up and down a hill. Its base was right next to where the canal basin would have been.
Visiting the Tar Tunnel Today
In the past, visitors could go inside the first 300 feet (91 m) of the tunnel. They were given hard hats for safety. Electric lights lit up the brick-lined passage, which ended at an iron gate.
However, because of unsafe gases that can build up inside, it's no longer safe to enter the tunnel. But don't worry! Visitors can still look into the tunnel from the entrance and see a part of its length. It's a unique chance to see a piece of history where natural tar still oozes from the earth.
