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

That tunnel was more likely to be part of the drain system or other service duct for tranmere tunnels. There is substantial water ingress as you mentioned previously as well as toilets to cater for 6000 people. If that tunnel was not full of water it shows it probably is a drain.

Thanks for the info, something to watch out for

I suppose that's a possible answer but improbable as my uncle lived in that house way before those tunnels were built and the drainage system was installed. I think it would be likely he would have known had they dug a drainage tunnel through his back yard and under his house.

I have been all round the basement, sub basement and adjoining service tunnels and I have not seen any.

I would also like to take this opportunity to dispel the Arrowe park secret car park under maternity rumour which is also untrue. Apart from a handful of plant rooms and 2 switch rooms the only other place the public and general staff don't see under maternity is a reasonably big storage area that just contains two big water tanks,old light fittings, a couple of old floor buffers, a pool table and a few other bits.

I too can confirm what kevin is saying regarding the basement below the maternity block. Entrance which is adjacent to the staircase. Pleny of old bedside reading lights which they still use for spares !!

There used to be all sorts down there but they had a clear out at some point. We used to regularly go down there to rob bits off the old nurse call panels to repair other ones still in use and also to pinch the old style fire alarm interfaces. We treated it like a bone yard.
You can look through the air bricks and spy on the people walking around outside the front haha. Also occasionally you can hear women screaming in labour in the delivery room above.

Sorry. Totally off topic.

I used to be pushed to the quarry air raid shelter in my pram at the end of the war. My mother says it was like a mini town town there. In the early sixties it was opened up and refurbished as a nuclear bunker. My cousin was an electrician for the company that did the rewiring. They were astonished at how operational it still was.. It was all very hush hush and sealed up afterwards. I just remember the archway entrance closed with with a wooden gate and padlock in the fifties. Children were always breaking in. I lived in a bungalow built in the bomb debris on top of the quarry.

It really should be a site of historical/archaeological interest. At least its safe until there's money available.

I know this is an old post but just came across the reference to Marquis street,I remember working on a house in Marquis street,I think it was the left hand one in the middle block,can't remember when but it was a while back,I noticed there was a hole in the back garden with what looked like steps going down,not big enough to enter but big enough for the chap over the road who was doing some work on a house to lose a few barrow loads of hardcore down and still leave room for more.You could see some brickwork on one side (the other side was hidden)the steps were concrete and I think there was concrete on the top which had either moved or been broken.Thought this might trigger some more memories.

Thanks for your input. The information, (which we cannot at present find), is that the tunnels were assessed for possible use as a nuclear shelter and I suppose some re-wiring could have been done, but in the end they were judged unsuitable.

Were they really unsuitable? Were any suitable? The nuclear shelters constructed were not functional they were only to placate the masses. Best example is in Berlin where you get a perfect phone signal inside

.

wonder what was going on here today ? (its now bricked back up) posted on facebook today

Interesting; hope for more news.

I presume the big steel plate "fell off"? I'm also presuming that someone did a "sweep" of the tunnels before the brickies started work!!

I think you'll find that that's the entrance in Holborn Square, which I don't think ever had a steel plate. The one we looked at at the back of the garage is where there was a plate.

Yup.. you are quite right Chris. My mistake. It's an age thing !