Williamson Tunnels

Coordinates: 53°24′13″N 2°57′19″W / 53.403744°N 2.95525°W / 53.403744; -2.95525

Graffiti circa 1960s on the wall of the Williamson Tunnels

The Williamson Tunnels are a labyrinth of tunnels in the Edge Hill area of Liverpool, England, which were built under the direction of the eccentric businessman Joseph Williamson between 1810 and 1840. They remained derelict, filled with rubble and refuse, until archaeological investigations were carried out in 1995. Since then excavations have been carried out and part of the labyrinth of tunnels has been opened to the public as a heritage centre.

History

In 1805 Joseph Williamson acquired an area of land in Mason Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool, which was then a largely undeveloped outcrop of sandstone with a scattering of scars from small-scale quarrying. He started to build houses on the site. These houses were eccentric in design "of the strangest description" without any rational plans. The ground behind the houses dropped sharply and in order to provide large gardens, which was the fashion at the time, Williamson built arches over some of the quarrying, and arched terraces over which the gardens could be extended. When these were complete he continued to employ his workmen, sometimes to carry out apparently pointless tasks, such as moving rubble from one place to another, then back again. His major project was to build a labyrinth of brick-arched tunnels in various directions and over various lengths within the sandstone. This tunnel-building continued until Williamson's death in 1840.[1] In August 1867 the Liverpool Porcupine described the tunnels as being "a great nuisance" because drains ran straight into them, in one place creating a cess pool full of offensive water 15 feet (5 m) deep, and they were being used for dumping refuse,[2] including down chutes built into the buildings above for the purpose.

Investigations and archaeology

In the early 20th century soldiers from the West Lancashire Territorial Forces Association explored the tunnels. Their drill hall in Mason Street stood on top of one of the tunnels. In 1907 the Association produced a map of the tunnels, which was incomplete because many of them were filled with rubble. The map also showed the course of the London and North Western Railway cutting between Edge Hill and Lime Street stations which ran through the area of the Williamson tunnels.[3] In 1995 a geology student from Liverpool University carried out a micro-gravity survey of the site. Some of his findings were ambiguous because of the rubble filling the tunnels and not all of his findings corresponded with those of the Forces Association. Later that year a professional firm, Parkman, carried out a survey on behalf of the Joseph Williamson Society.[4] Since then further investigations and excavations have been carried out.

The tunnels

The corner tunnel and arch constructed out of individual sandstone blocks with view of Biddulph's factory rubbish chute.

The tunnels are in an area to the east of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in a rectangle bordered by Mason Street, Grinfield Street, Smithdown Lane and Paddington. Their full extent is not known and many of them are still blocked by rubble. They vary in size from the "banqueting hall", which is about 70 feet (21 m) long, between 20 feet (6 m) and 25 feet (8 m) wide and 20 feet (6 m) high, while the smaller tunnels are 4 feet (1 m) wide and 6 feet (2 m) high.[5][6]

Purpose of the tunnels

The reasons for building the tunnels have been widely discussed. According to Stonehouse, Williamson was secretive about his motives. This has led to speculation that he was a member of an extremist religious sect fearing that the end of the world was near and that the tunnels were built to provide refuge for himself and his friends,[7] though Williamson was a practising member of the Church of England. Williamson's own explanation was reputed to be that his workers "all received a weekly wage and were thus enabled to enjoy the blessing of charity without the attendant curse of stifled self respect", his prime motive being "the employment of the poor".[8]

The Joseph Williamson Society and Heritage centre

Plates from the 1830s onwards were among the rubbish found in the tunnels after Williamson's death

The Joseph Williamson Society was founded in 1989. It was incorporated as a private limited company in 1996 and acquired charitable status in 1997. Its aim is to promote interest in the life and philanthropic achievements of Joseph Williamson and takes the form of talks, tours, publications and educational visits.[9] In autumn 2002, after much excavation, removal of rubble and renovation, one of the three sections of the site, the Stable Yard section, was opened to the public as the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre under the trusteeship of the Joseph Williamson Society.[10] Visitors are taken on a guided tour which includes the south tunnel and the double tunnel and various artefacts are on view including some of the items which have been uncovered in the excavations.[11] A programme of events and entertainments is organised on the site.[12][13] The entry to the heritage centre was formerly part of the Lord Mayor's Stable Yard which closed in 1993.[14] The stable became the home for a horse again when Pop arrived in 2003.[15]

The Friends of Williamson's Tunnels (FoWT)

The Friends of Williamson's Tunnels (FoWT) were formed in 1996 and are a group of enthusiasts distinct from the Heritage Centre whose aim 'To advance the education of the general public in all matters relating to Joseph Williamson in particular to preserve... the works and any associated structures either above or below ground that can be accessed from the tunnel entrance at Williamson Student village, No 1 Paddington, Edge Hill'. It received charitable status in 2001.[16] They do not directly fund the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre.[17]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Murden, Jon, 'Williamson, Joseph (1769-1840)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, online edn, October 2006 , accessed 30 July 2008.
  2. ↑ Moore 1998, p. 80.
  3. ↑ Moore 1998, pp. 79–80.
  4. ↑ Moore 1998, p. 81.
  5. ↑ FAQ, Friends of Williamson's Tunnels, retrieved 2008-08-04
  6. ↑ Virtual Tour, Friends of Williamson's Tunnels, retrieved 2008-08-04
  7. ↑ The Story, Friends of Williamson's Tunnels, retrieved 2008-07-31
  8. ↑ Quoted in Whittington-Egan 1985, p. 9.
  9. ↑ About the Centre, The Joseph Williamson Society, retrieved 2008-08-04
  10. ↑ About FoWT, Friends of Williamson's Tunnels, retrieved 2008-08-04
  11. ↑ Come and see the Tunnels!, Friends of Williamson's Tunnels, retrieved 2008-08-04
  12. ↑ Latest News, The Joseph Williamson Society, retrieved 2008-08-05
  13. ↑ Calendar of Events, The Joseph Williamson Society, retrieved 2008-08-05
  14. ↑ Clark, Edward, 'The Cart Horse and the Quay', Countryside Publications
  15. ↑ New arrival at Stables, Friends of Williamson's Tunnels, 2003-10-29, retrieved 2008-08-05
  16. ↑ Extract from the Central Register of Charities maintained by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Charity Commission of England and Wales, retrieved 2008-08-06
  17. ↑ Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre Publicity Leaflet, Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre, 2009 (Leaflet)

Bibliography

  • Moore, Jim (1998), Underground Liverpool: Joseph Williamson - The King of Edge Hill, Liverpool: The Bluecoat Press, ISBN 1-872568-43-2 
  • Whittington-Egan, Richard (1985), Liverpool Characters and Eccentrics, The Gallery Press, ISBN 978-0-900389-22-1 

Further reading

External links

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