Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Tranmere Tunnels - Inside the Shaft

Anyone noticed that this is on page 9 of the Wirral globe? I will scan it later when I get home if anyone has not

our GLOBE hasnt turned up this week so would really appreciate a scan Mr Whelan. Ta

nope never had chance my parents threw it out b4 i could evan get a sniff of it bein deliverd

same here

You can read it on the Wirral Globe site here:
http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/3598533.Wirral___s_wartime_bunkers_revealed/

thanks for that chris, i'd missed that report myself...covered to make way for a road and housing.... its diabolical....

Yeah, saw the story, or small snippet in the globe!
To be honest, its not even dug deep (excuse pun!) into the story, we should be seeing more of our sub-terrainian (like the big word i made up?) heritage in the news! Wiki Investigation has turned up loads of stuff, and im sure WE would like it to be used to tell a story of our past. In a few years time, or sooner if left up to our councillors, all this will be lost under more demolished heritage or beurocratic paperwork!!
VIVA LA WIKIWIRRAL, VIVA LA REVOLUTION!!

You guys are unbelievable. I never heard of the Tranmere Tunnels, I worked for the old Birkenhead council in the '60's and lived about ten minute walk from the site. This is fantastic. I had been in the Bidston Hill tunnels when I was about 12-13yrs old. Very scary, probably one torch between ten of us and lots of ladders to up and down. Keep up the good work guys. All the best from Australia.

Dave Miller

I spent many hours down those tunnels as a lad.We used to climb up that shaft in Thompson St,at the top it was similar to a sub station type of building and we could see out of airbricks looking along the street.

There used to be 2 ways in one was at the back of Charlie Lanes scrap yard,which is now a trading estate alongside the Monkey steps and the other way where we entered was at the rear of a garage that now sells cars,right opposite the Yard pub at the top of Green lane.Rumour had it that the tunnels went even further,at least up into the area under Mersey park.I remember them being sealed up in around about 1978,due to two lads from St.Georges Ave getting lost in there with no torches,the police and fire brigade were involved and ordered them to be sealed.

A few years later it was rumoured that they were being used as a storage facility for the European food mountain as it was known then.

Happy days.

Chris;)

oggie..Welcome to the select few who have been down the shelters. When you have plenty of time, there are long threads on here about the Tranmere tunnels to be read!

The comment about them being used as a storage facility for the European Food Mountain is a new one.

The air bricks were fitted after the original wire mesh grills kept getting cut/pushed in by person or persons unknown !!

The furthermost extremity of the system was the shaft at Frodsham St./Redmond St.,(my school friend lived in the house next to the shaft head) and another shaft which is now under one of the new houses in Guy Close! They didn't go any further "inland" than that. A look at the plans that are lurking on here somewhere will show all.

As said many times before, Wirral Council are missing a unique opportunity to turn these shelters into a great tourist attraction as has been done elsewhere. Enough said !

Yes, welcome, Oggie. I never went into them myself, but I remember them being constructed. I had relations in Olive Crescent & remember hearing the explosions. Pinzgauer & myself happened to be at the shaft at the top of Holborn Hill when it was uncovered; it's possible that our knowledge prevented the digger from falling in! The funny part is that Pinzgauer lives in Scotland & I live in Shrewsbury & we had met to investigate something else. A day sooner or later & we'd have missed it. Elsewhere on the site is a report on a recent exploration of the Bidston tunnels, constructed at the same time, with a very good video, done by a few senior members of this site. Enjoy.

Cheers, Chris.

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/3598533.Wirral___s_wartime_bunkers_revealed/
What the hell is this?? Seems a bit fabricated...Danny Ambrose, of Mellwood Construction???

No, not fabricated, the info. is basically correct. The only point I'd make is that Danny Ambrose, whoever he is in Mellwood Construction, was not really involved. Whether he told our contacts on site not to go down is debatable; probably covering himself for H&S.

I can't understand why the paper needed to pick up on it again.

thats what thay do!