Williamson Tunnels facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Williamson Tunnels |
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The Banqueting Hall chamber beneath Joseph Williamson's house.
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| Type | Excavations; possible sandstone quarries, or subterranean folly |
| Location | Edge Hill, Liverpool |
| Built | 1810–1840 |
| Restored | 1995–present |
| Restored by | Friends Of Williamson's Tunnels Joseph Williamson Society |
| Architect | Joseph Williamson |
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The Williamson Tunnels are a huge network of underground spaces in the Edge Hill area of Liverpool, England. They were likely built by a wealthy man named Joseph Williamson between 1810 and 1840. Even though they are called "tunnels," most of them are actually large rooms and passages dug out of sandstone, with brick or stone arches built over them.
No one is completely sure why Williamson built these tunnels. Some people think he was digging for stone, while others believe he wanted to give jobs to poor people. Some even think he was just an eccentric (a bit odd) and built them for fun!
Over time, the tunnels were filled with rubble and waste. They became mostly hidden until people started exploring them again in 1995. Since then, volunteers have found and cleared many parts of the tunnels. You can now visit some sections on guided tours. Volunteers are still working to uncover more of these mysterious underground spaces.
Contents
History of the Tunnels
In 1805, a rich businessman named Joseph Williamson bought land in Mason Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. This area was mostly open land with some sandstone rocks. Williamson started building houses there.
A writer from the 1800s, James Stonehouse, said Williamson's houses were very unusual. The land behind them sloped steeply. To make big gardens, Williamson built arched structures to extend the ground level. He kept building and changing many structures on his land, including a large house for himself.
Williamson hired many poor and jobless people to do the work. This included soldiers who had no work after the Napoleonic War. Stonehouse said Williamson sometimes gave them strange tasks, like moving piles of rubble from one spot to another, and then back again!
At the same time, his workers also dug many brick-arched tunnels and rooms deep underground. These tunnels covered a large area. Stonehouse explored some of them in 1845. He described them as a maze of "vaulted passages" and "deep pits." This tunnel-building continued until Williamson died in 1840.
Later, in 1867, a local newspaper said the tunnels were a "great nuisance." Drains ran into them, creating dirty pools of water. People were also using the tunnels to dump trash, sometimes through special chutes from the buildings above.
In the late 1800s, the city of Liverpool began filling the tunnels with rubble and waste from demolished buildings. This continued into the 1900s. Most of what we know about the tunnels came from James Stonehouse's writings. His work helped bring back interest in Williamson and his tunnels.
Exploring the Tunnels
In 1881, a group of mining engineers explored some of the remaining tunnels. They made a map of the main parts of the site.
In the early 1900s, soldiers also surveyed the tunnels. They created a map, but it was incomplete because many parts were filled with rubble.
Interest in the tunnels faded for much of the 1900s. Many sections were buried or destroyed by new buildings. However, starting in the 1980s, people became more interested in Williamson's work. This led to the creation of two main groups dedicated to the tunnels.
In 1995, a student from Liverpool University used special equipment to survey the site. Later that year, a professional company also did a survey for the Joseph Williamson Society.
Both groups eventually got permission to start digging. Over time, they have uncovered a large part of Williamson's underground world. They have cleared away two centuries of dirt and rubble. During the digging, they found many old items, some from the 1830s. These include bottles, plates, pipes, old signs, and military items. Many of these were probably just trash dumped in the tunnels. Many finds have been cleaned and are now on display.
How Big Are the Tunnels?
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The tunnels come in many shapes and sizes. Some are huge chambers, while others are too small for a person to enter. The "Banqueting Hall" is about 60 feet (18 m) long and 27 feet (8.2 m) high. The largest "Paddington" chamber is shorter but an amazing 40 feet (12 m) deep. Even bigger tunnels, like the "Great Tunnel" seen by early explorers, have not been found again yet.
Why Were the Tunnels Built?
The reason for building the tunnels is a big mystery. Williamson was very secretive about his plans. This led to many local stories and folklore. When James Stonehouse wanted to publish his research, Williamson's friend, Cornelius Henderson, threatened to sue him. This stopped the paper from being published for some years.
The most common idea is that Williamson built them to help poor people. He supposedly said his goal was "the employment of the poor." His workers "all received a weekly wage." This meant they got help without feeling like they were just getting charity.
Some parts of the tunnels seem to support this idea. There are many fancy architectural details hidden deep underground. These would have been dimly lit and rarely seen. For example, at the Mason Street site, a beautiful stone arch was found deep underground in a plain side room. It had no clear purpose. These features might mean Williamson was helping his workers learn new skills.
Another idea, that Williamson was part of a religious group that thought the world was ending, came from a TV show. But there is no proof for this. Williamson was a member of the Church of England.
Stonehouse and Hand thought the tunnels were just the pointless hobby of an eccentric man. However, Hand also believed Williamson's goal of helping the poor was noble. Many of Williamson's workers later found jobs building railways, using the skills they learned.
More recent studies suggest the "tunnels" were actually old stone quarries. Williamson might have been digging for high-quality sandstone to use in buildings. The way the tunnels are shaped looks like typical stone quarries. The "aimless" parts might have been where workers followed the best stone. By building arches over these quarries, Williamson could then build houses on top.
During Williamson's time, people rumored he was making a lot of money from digging stone without permission. He claimed he made little money and used the stone for his own properties. It's possible he kept it secret to avoid paying taxes and fees for the stone he sold. This might be why his friend threatened to sue Stonehouse. Even though Williamson stopped his tobacco business in 1818, he left a large fortune when he died. It seems much of this money came from his digging and building projects.
The Joseph Williamson Society and Heritage Centre
The Joseph Williamson Society started in 1989. It became a charity in 1997. Its goal is to share information about Joseph Williamson and his good deeds. They do this through talks, tours, books, and school visits.
In 2002, after a lot of digging and cleaning, one part of the tunnels, the Stable Yard section, opened to the public. This is now the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre (53°24′14″N 2°57′31″W / 53.403991°N 2.958721°W).
Visitors can take a guided tour to see a large part of the tunnels, including the impressive "Double Tunnel." They can also see many items found during the excavations. The center also hosts events and entertainment.
Visiting the Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre lets visitors see a big part of the tunnels. It is open Tuesday to Sunday in summer, and Thursday to Sunday in winter. You don't need to book in advance. The center is also used for live music, events, filming, and training.
The Friends of Williamson's Tunnels (FoWT)
The Friends of Williamson's Tunnels (FoWT) is a charity run by volunteers. They work to explore, dig out, and protect the tunnels.
FoWT's main base is on Mason Street, where Joseph Williamson's house once stood. Most of the house is gone, but volunteers have uncovered a huge area below ground. They have found many tunnels branching off in different directions and at different depths. Beneath the basement is a large room called the "Banqueting Hall." It got this name from old stories that Williamson held fancy dinners there. However, it's very unlikely it was ever used for that. As of 2019, the "Banqueting Hall" has been completely cleared. Volunteers are still digging in new tunnels leading from it.
Another section of tunnels is at the "Paddington" site. This area has several underground levels leading to a large vaulted room about 40 feet (12 m) high. The floor of this room is about 60 feet (18 m) below ground. It was cleared in 2016 after many years of digging.
The tunnels have been used as a filming location. They have appeared in several documentaries about the tunnels and the FoWT volunteers. The group has also been featured on TV news channels like the BBC and ITV.
Visiting the FoWT Sites
The public can visit the "Paddington" site with free guided tours on Wednesdays and Sundays. The Mason Street site is open to FoWT members. Members can also attend regular history talks and other events.
The Tunnels in Fiction
- In Series 13 of Doctor Who, called Doctor Who: Flux, the Williamson Tunnels are featured. Joseph Williamson and James Stonehouse also appear. In the story, set in the 1820s, Williamson seems to know about a terrible event coming in 2021 called the Flux. This force destroys everything it touches. Williamson appears in different places and times, suggesting the tunnels somehow have portals through time and space. Williamson explores these portals to find a way to stop the Flux.
- Joseph Williamson's life and the building of the tunnels have been made into a play and radio show called The King of Edge Hill. It was written by Karen Brown. The radio version was broadcast on Radio 4 in 2000. The stage version played in Liverpool in 2007 and won awards.
