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Welcome to Thanet Underground
This website documents all known "man-made" caves and tunnels located in my hometown of Ramsgate that my friends and I have discovered and explored over the years, and will gradually be updated to include the rest of the Isle of Thanet, as and when I get time!
Most of the entries relate to tunnels and caves my friends and I explored in our youth, from around 1991-1993, and the notes I made back then (age 15).
Sadly all of the tunnels mentioned in this blog are now completely sealed up and inaccessible in the years since these reports were written.
Links to the different tunnel entries are on the right under 'Previous Posts'.
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PLEASE NOTE: Underground exploration can be dangerous!
Do NOT try to explore any of the tunnels on this website unless you are, or are accompanied by, experienced underground explorers, and most of all, do not graffiti or spoil them for others, they are part of our history!
Hope you enjoy!
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Recent updates:
25-10-08:***NEW POST*** - HMS Fervent / Wellington Caves
05-10-07:***NEW POST*** - Ramsgate Library Tunnel
30-05-07: ***NEW POST*** - Wishing Towers Tunnel, Margate
Labels: air raid tunnel, kent, ramsgate, tunnels, underground
posted by Vince R at 11:17 pm
18 Comments:
Unfortunately I've been unable to devote much time lately to keeping this site updated, but there is certainly more I will be publishing here, as soon as I get a rainy weekend, and fix my scanner!
Still waiting.
Hi - loving your website - your mum suggested you may be able to help with information relating to the tunnels under Nethercourt Park.
miss you ramsgate town love always linda xx
Great photos of the tunnels.How do you get under Ellington Park as extensive network rumoured to be there. Good that you have recorded your explorations for posterity!
My mate is bang into the history of Thanet and has researched loads of unusual sites.
He recently found a filled in cave at the end of Coldswood lane off of the Haine road. At the end there is one of those Napoleonic chalk quarries (like Minster Nature reserve). He spoke to a old guy there that has told him that the cave had been brick up in the 80’s, but before that it was linked to the tunnels at Manston (the old train tunnel network). He claimed that about 5 years ago whilst working, a pit appeared in the yard. The hole was dark and seemed to be very deep. The owner of the yard at the time saw it a the perfect opportunity to dump all the yards crap into it. According to this guy, they used the hole for 2 years. Eventually filling it and concreting it over.
There are so many urban fairy tales about caves and tunnels in Thanet. My mate and I often go on adventures to look at large concrete slabs because and old dude in the pub remembers an air raid or such. I remember scaling the cliff face at Walpole bay because a group of kids told us there was a cave under the pedestrian viaduct. There was however, it was merely a long narrow tunnel created by the prefabricated materials used to create that stretch of promenade.
-Jay
Oi, achei teu blog pelo google tá bem interessante gostei desse post. Quando der dá uma passada pelo meu blog, é sobre camisetas personalizadas, mostra passo a passo como criar uma camiseta personalizada bem maneira. Até mais.
I have enjoyed your tunnels. I am now an old man and during 1940 sheltered in the tunnels using the Boundary Road entrance. In 1946 I did some exploration and even them there had been some roof fall.
That same year I climbed from the beach into the St Augustines caves and there was indeed a large room like a ballroom. However a man in a black cloak appeared and said i had no right to be there. I was obliged to climb back down.
During that climb I lost my my most prized possesion- a sheath knife.
I believe that there is some sort of tunnel under the ends of back gardens 19 to 25 Station Approach Road. Possibly longer.( About ten feet from the end fences) Probably something to do with the old railway station which was near.
The brick roof is only about 18 inches below the surface. A small hole was once knocked into it at Number 21 but we were not allowed to proceed.
Thanks for the memories
Long gone Don
Hi Don. Thanks for your comments - it's always great to hear personal experiences from people, particularly from ones that have actually been down the tunnels when they were used in the war! That's interesting about the tunnel under station approach road. I believe it was the 'ramsgate drain tunnel' and was built by the Victorians to carry steam pipes to the old railway station on Margate Road. It went quite a length apparently. Hopefully if I can get in there I will post some pictures up!
All the best
Vince
In around 1960 a school friend and myself "discovered" the Boundary Road entrance and, with the aid of candles, string and bike lamps managed to navigate our way to the train tunnel near the old "pleasurama" site. We were both only around 14 years old at the time and explored these tunnels during our summer holidays. Goodness knows what our parents would have thought had they known! You site is most interesting and brought back many old memories
I remember vividly a schoolfriend and myself "discovering" the Boundary Road entrance to the tunnel network around 1960 (we were both only 14 at the time) With the aid of candles, string and bike lamps we managed to navigate our way to the old railway tunnel near the seafront where the old "Pleasurama" complex was. Over subsequent summer holidays we must have walked miles underground! Thanks to your site for recalling happy memories.
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Notebook, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://notebooks-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.
Hi, just 'rediscovered' your site. Some good locations covered there, I've not done much of the Thanet area yet, unfortunately. I've just put up a link to your site from mine (www.sub-ex.blogspot.com), which is quite a similar blog.
Colin
thanks for this site. i stumbled on it. explored belle vue caves myself in 1971 when they were in much better condition. my photos [save one] were destroyed by fire. pity old ww2 ballroom is now inacessible cos that still had tables and chairs in it - creepy . . .
love your site
I have a hunch as to the location of the refuse destructor entrance,if im right its well hidden but best of all OPEN.. i now have a new mission for the up and coming week....irl let you kno
Hey! I was just wondering if you have ever explored the westgate on sea caves, I went down and took a look today but I'm not sure if it's safe enough I took some pictures if your interested.
hi guys,,,, im a huge fan of the site, and have poured over it massively,,,,,,,, I don't know if anyone can send any letters lobbying for Clancy Docwra to video any of the work that they are carrying out,,,, they also have a specialist mine rescue service that may have access too..... I could be wrong but I think that some of the sewage work through the chalk of this area may have been from early chalk mines/smuggling tunnes... please check link http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Victorian-sewers-20-million-overhaul/story-26040667-detail/story.html
also please see this rightmove advert for the old stable in irchester street....... take a look at pictures 10 and 11...... someone please tell me that they know about this tunnel or cave ? I cant find any mention of it anywhere, and im currently buying old books looking for more mention of smugglers tunnels !!!! all the best guys obs x
sorry that made no sense without this link... plz see pics I recommended !!!
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=28088137&sale=44612570&country=england
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