Report - Croucher's Tunnels / Barwick's Caves - Dover - April 2021

[UnknownAX]

These tunnels are known as 'Croucher's Tunnels' after the Croucher & Co Shipwrights, who operated from premises in front of the tunnels in the 1960s & 70s, and used the tunnels as a store. Prior to this they seem to have been known as 'Bushell's Caves', presumably after Bushell & Co. who previously occupied the site. Unfortunately I can't find any more information on Bushell. The tunnels themselves form the centre section of a series of tunnels in Dover's Snargate Street. The three sets of tunnels from West to East are the Court's Wine Vaults (Barwicks Caves), Croucher's Tunnels and Soldiers' Home Caves. They were all linked during WW2 to create a large Air Raid Shelter, but since the war have reverted to different private ownerships. This section takes the form of three parallel tunnels dug into the cliff at an angle, which are interconnected at the far end. They are still used to this day as a storage area.

Images

Plan of tunnels

Bricked up entrance leading to Wine Vaults (West)

Bricked up entrance leading to Soldiers' Home Caves (East)

 

[Wevsky]

Nicely done, looks a lot less cluttered than years ago, im assuming its still in use?

 

[Calamity Jane]

Great set. Looks like its still in use.

 

[Wevsky]

Great set. Looks like its still in use.

i didnt read the right up properly, he mentions its still in use, was a lot more cluttered with shite back when we visited

 

[Calamity Jane]

i didnt read the right up properly, he mentions its still in use, was a lot more cluttered with shite back when we visited

Ah me neither, I was reading the history lol. Blind pair

 

[Wevsky]

Ah me neither, I was reading the history lol. Blind pair

It's a nice spot though, and hats off to them for getting in. all three sections hes posted are far from a walk in unlike some years ago

 

[UnknownAX]

It's a nice spot though, and hats off to them for getting in. all three sections hes posted are far from a walk in unlike some years ago

Yep, it's an awful lot harder now due to the fact that they're all separate and sealed, which is the reason I decided to post them individually. Back when you guy's did it the flats weren't there.

It's actually quite funny as each of the tunnels had it's own problems that we had to solve to get in. The best is yet to come , you may have heard from Obs about it.. but a lot of people are going to shit the bed.

 

[Wevsky]

Yep, it's an awful lot harder now due to the fact that they're all separate and sealed, which is the reason I decided to post them individually. Back when you guy's did it the flats weren't there.

It's actually quite funny as each of the tunnels had it's own problems that we had to solve to get in. The best is yet to come , you may have heard from Obs about it.. but a lot of people are going to shit the bed.

Sounds interesting