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Report - - Excelsior Tunnel, Kit Hill, Cornwall - January 2018 (very eerie apparently!) | Underground Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Excelsior Tunnel, Kit Hill, Cornwall - January 2018 (very eerie apparently!)

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Bertie Bollockbrains

There is no pain
Regular User
With thanks to the Daily Mail whose article dated 10th March 2017 made me aware of this site. As the Daily Mail is known for the highest standards in journalism, there's no need for me to do any research for the history of this site. I will just copy the article, amend names and add my own photos.

Eerie pictures reveal the secret 19th century Cornish mining tunnel used to test explosives for Operation Orpheus nuclear research during the Cold War
  • Excelsior Tunnel in Callington, Cornwall, was used by the British Military in the 1940-50s to test weapons
  • It was the first site to detect underground explosives under the name Operation Orpheus
  • Images from inside the tunnel are revealed for the first time after a daring photographer paid a trip inside
These eerie images reveal the secret past of a nondescript Cornish mining tunnel which was once used to test explosives and research in the Cold War.

The photographs were taken at Excelsior Tunnel in Callington, Cornwall, by a daring man.

He took his son to explore the hidden tunnels but admitted he was alarmed halfway through the visit when he realised no one knew where they were - and the historic tunnels could be at risk of collapsing after days of heavy rain.

Under the code name of Operation Orpheus, the 2,180-foot underground passage became a testing ground for the British military to trial the impact of nuclear tests.

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While civilians and Cornish residents carried on as normal, beneath the ground weapon experts were trialing potentially dangerous explosives.

According to newspaper cuttings between 1959 and 1960, some 75 explosions were carried out.

But CornwallLive reported local people didn't seem phased - or aware - of what was happening.

Weapons were fired in 6ft diameter voids at depths of 100 to 300 feet though no nuclear material was reported to be involved.

Why the Cornish site was chosen has never been disclosed but a writer suggested it was selected due to its depth and the fact it had been abandoned for some time.

Previously secret files released from the National Archives showed scientists had conducted "extensive geological investigations" on mines across Cornwall and Devon.

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The document read: 'They were therefore very familiar with these mines and had many of the facilities on tap for reworking them.'

The Cornwall site was one of a few chosen places selected by Britain and America to trial weapons during the long war.

At Greenside Mine 3,000lb charges were detonated while massive explosions were set off in a salt mine near Louisiana in the United States.

And it was the rumours about the mine's military past which first ignited photographer Bertie's interest.

This led the 45 year old to daringly visit the site this year - accompanied with his son and his camera.

Inside the mines, he took a series of shots showing the hidden tunnels which were once used by miners and then the military.

One image shows the nondescript entrance, built into the side of the ground, which is largely hidden from view.

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But while they were exploring, he admitted he became panicked when he remembered the days of heavy rain - and that no one knew they were there.

But he said the trip was worthwhile as he finally discovered firsthand a place he had heard about for decades.

The tunnel was first dug out in around 1880 to connect to a nearby mine shaft to gain access to tin but this was abandoned half way in.

During the Cold War, the tunnel was chosen to become the first site to experiment with the detection of underground explosions under the name, Operation Orpheus to coincide with the United States' Operation Cowboy.

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There is no evidence that nuclear weapons were detonated there but in 1959, the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment exploded small charges into the granite of the tunnel at 100-feet and 300-feet.

The tunnel has been abandoned ever since the tests ended in 1960 and moved to Cumbria.

With thanks to the Daily Mail - revealing Urbex locations since 1896.

For a more comprehensive history, without use of the words "eerie" or "daring", visit the SubBrit page.
 

DaveFM

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
With thanks to the Daily Mail whose article dated 10th March 2017 made me aware of this site. As the Daily Mail is known for the highest standards in journalism, there's no need for me to do any research for the history of this site. I will just copy the article, amend names and add my own photos.

Eerie pictures reveal the secret 19th century Cornish mining tunnel used to test explosives for Operation Orpheus nuclear research during the Cold War
  • Excelsior Tunnel in Callington, Cornwall, was used by the British Military in the 1940-50s to test weapons
  • It was the first site to detect underground explosives under the name Operation Orpheus
  • Images from inside the tunnel are revealed for the first time after a daring photographer paid a trip inside
These eerie images reveal the secret past of a nondescript Cornish mining tunnel which was once used to test explosives and research in the Cold War.

The photographs were taken at Excelsior Tunnel in Callington, Cornwall, by a daring man.

He took his son to explore the hidden tunnels but admitted he was alarmed halfway through the visit when he realised no one knew where they were - and the historic tunnels could be at risk of collapsing after days of heavy rain.

Under the code name of Operation Orpheus, the 2,180-foot underground passage became a testing ground for the British military to trial the impact of nuclear tests.
I don't think much would remain of the place if they'd test detonated an atom bomb there!
26062261838_a17a5f1447_h.jpg


39036249135_1fa9d98775_h.jpg


25063025987_9d7ed66be5_h.jpg


28154501769_efca785348_h.jpg


39902102352_40e2ccd1d3_h.jpg


While civilians and Cornish residents carried on as normal, beneath the ground weapon experts were trialing potentially dangerous explosives.

According to newspaper cuttings between 1959 and 1960, some 75 explosions were carried out.

But CornwallLive reported local people didn't seem phased - or aware - of what was happening.

Weapons were fired in 6ft diameter voids at depths of 100 to 300 feet though no nuclear material was reported to be involved.

Why the Cornish site was chosen has never been disclosed but a writer suggested it was selected due to its depth and the fact it had been abandoned for some time.

Previously secret files released from the National Archives showed scientists had conducted "extensive geological investigations" on mines across Cornwall and Devon.

28154446769_6991002b27_h.jpg


39902028802_d52c1b050a_h.jpg


39934546611_6c45c78003_h.jpg


The document read: 'They were therefore very familiar with these mines and had many of the facilities on tap for reworking them.'

The Cornwall site was one of a few chosen places selected by Britain and America to trial weapons during the long war.

At Greenside Mine 3,000lb charges were detonated while massive explosions were set off in a salt mine near Louisiana in the United States.

And it was the rumours about the mine's military past which first ignited photographer Bertie's interest.

This led the 45 year old to daringly visit the site this year - accompanied with his son and his camera.

Inside the mines, he took a series of shots showing the hidden tunnels which were once used by miners and then the military.

One image shows the nondescript entrance, built into the side of the ground, which is largely hidden from view.

39223495504_c1d8ba9880_h.jpg


39934442181_f0842c2e54_h.jpg


26061951578_f747930af5_h.jpg


39035964625_538f1f1d50_h.jpg


But while they were exploring, he admitted he became panicked when he remembered the days of heavy rain - and that no one knew they were there.

But he said the trip was worthwhile as he finally discovered firsthand a place he had heard about for decades.

The tunnel was first dug out in around 1880 to connect to a nearby mine shaft to gain access to tin but this was abandoned half way in.

During the Cold War, the tunnel was chosen to become the first site to experiment with the detection of underground explosions under the name, Operation Orpheus to coincide with the United States' Operation Cowboy.

26061881518_b05f7e8623_h.jpg


26061856208_5dd6b437e9_h.jpg


39901816762_053d7e12e7_h.jpg


There is no evidence that nuclear weapons were detonated there but in 1959, the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment exploded small charges into the granite of the tunnel at 100-feet and 300-feet.

The tunnel has been abandoned ever since the tests ended in 1960 and moved to Cumbria.

With thanks to the Daily Mail - revealing Urbex locations since 1896.

For a more comprehensive history, without use of the words "eerie" or "daring", visit the SubBrit page.
 
Last edited:

EOA

Exploring with Bob
28DL Full Member
Looks like a cracking mooch, although I nearly couldn’t read you report because it was too eerie for me!
 

rod987

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Great photo's and thanks for bringing back happy memories. I was part of the AWRE team there in 1960. Photo's 6 and 13 show the cross cut in the main tunnel where the explosion happened.
Past the small circular opening was a 6 foot diameter sphere cut out of the rock. After the charge was placed, a thick steel circular plug sealed the hole with 8 nuts. The small diameter holes carried the electrical firing cables.
A long 2 x 2 foot oak beam braced the plug to the other side of the main tunnel. My boss and I were the ones to push the firing trolley by hand up the narrow gauge rail track close to the beam but behind a wall of sand bags. Close to the outside of the entrance, another wall of sandbags was built. The charge was fired just after midnight, just a dull thud at first then a great cloud of crap and water shot out of the tunnel mouth bending the small branches of trees, a pause then a vacuum induced pull back into the tunnel. We had to wait 'till morning for the extractor fans to get rid of gases. The first wall of sandbags was almost demolished. As we walked up the tunnel we could see bits of the firing trolley and "matchsticks" everywhere. As we got nearer the crosscut we realised these were the remains of the oak beam which had totally disappeared as had the wall of sandbags! I don't remember the state of the steel plug except that is too was somewhere else. For me the most interesting thing was the inside of the rock sphere.
The heat and pressure of the explosion has glazed it - just like that!
 

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