real time web analytics
Report - - Monkton Farleigh Down Tunnel - Wiltshire - April 2017 | Underground Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Monkton Farleigh Down Tunnel - Wiltshire - April 2017

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

Grom

Camera Drowner
Regular User
History

Construction of the Monkton Farleigh Down tunnel was started in 1937 and completed in 1941 as part of a project to create an ammunition supply on the railway sidings of Farliegh down. The idea being that it provided a secure route of transporting ammunition that would be invisible to any kind of air reconnaissance.

The tunnel itself is 1.25miles long and runs at an uphill gradient of 1:8. It used a system of narrow gauge tracks to transport the stored ammunition up and down from the large sorting yard at the beginning of the underground section. The long uphill tunnel section used a series of conveyor systems to move the stored ammo up and down.


The Explore

I visited here with Brewtal and a friend who lived locally and hadn't done much exploring before.

The gradient of 1:8 is a good work out, especially if you walk the entire length of the tunnel. It took about 20 minutes to get all the way to the end.

There is a small hole in the wall that apparently takes you to Browns Folly mine. Its a petty small hole but I could just about squeeze myself halfway through to take a look through to the other side.
Frustratingly a pile of metal parts and machinery has been dumped directly over the other side, making it a daunting and claustrophobic prospect to get through. I'm sure you could if you really wanted to, but I didn't fancy it.

The walk back was a lot easier being downhill, and when we finally the glow of daylight we started to here voices of people at the mouth of the tunnel. They must have heard us too because they shouting down to us to say hello.

For some reason I decided that 'Hello! We are not Murderers!' was the most appropriate response.
They turned out to be people doing an 'Urban Photoshoot'. So we had a good chat then then went on our merry way.

A pretty rad explore overall!



Photos

33792046525_621a2c1321_b.jpg


32979145613_f828b9d71d_b.jpg


32949035184_8dfa25f7d4_b.jpg


33407463790_43dd1d6bf4_b.jpg


33636957062_74aa379028_b.jpg


33662526881_6847001b29_b.jpg



The sorting yard

32949010734_caf06e8c36_b.jpg



The beginning of the long tunnel section

33751233676_b88ef54e59_b.jpg


32979105643_f8a828142a_b.jpg


32948997794_211b310ee8_b.jpg



Fun Fact: The nearest Morrisons is 3 miles away. This is some serious commitment right here.

32979092533_6b85db26a3_b.jpg



A few original markings on the wall.

33791994475_6d60d64c79_b.jpg


33791986735_2362da58e1_b.jpg



This is about half way where the tunnel goes from square to rounded.

32948978244_382d7780b0_b.jpg


33635587822_bb9df52087_b.jpg


33751166226_ae8ef89a78_b.jpg


33662459601_16f45a4e1b_b.jpg


33407378350_132b0334e9_b.jpg


32979011443_b9199e946a_b.jpg


33407334660_8062302cd3_b.jpg



And finally the brick wall at the end.

32979003283_5a1bae8af1_b.jpg
 

mw0sec

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
VERY nice lighting. I think the hole you are referring to would lead into the storage depot (Monkton Farleigh mine). it could be a bit embarrassing to be found in there!
 

tumbles

Drama Queen
Staff member
Moderator
VERY nice lighting. I think the hole you are referring to would lead into the storage depot (Monkton Farleigh mine). it could be a bit embarrassing to be found in there!

The hole doesn't really lead into anything as they've back filled it with a load of shite on the other side.
 

Montstar

28DL Member
28DL Full Member
The hole doesn't really lead into anything as they've back filled it with a load of shite on the other side.

...and then there's another wall. So would be totally pointless risking climbing through the junk.

Can't believe the state of the place now! Always good to see an update though. :thumb
 
Top