SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Does any one remember a long sloping tunnel next to Bluehill Lane Quarry? I remember going to the flooded quarry to fish for gudgeon and catch frogs and newts in about 1952.I think that the quarry was being filled in shortly after this. The access to the tunnel was off Wortley lane.The tunnel was long and dark and sloped down from the edge of quarry about 10degrees and was apprx. 100yds long.At the bottom or end was a large pump of some sort and I seem to remember that it was working when I ventured down it.A gang of us went down holding burning newspaper aloft to light our way! of course the paper went out before we got to the end and we were all a bit scared and ran back to the surface where we were told to clear of by some guy in green overalls.Those were the days!

Hey Stutterdog just think how many Elf & Safety regs you violated going down that tunnel with no hard hat, hi vis jacket etc and carrying a burning torch! It could have been full of methane or exhaust fumes - you are lucky to have survived!

blackprince wrote: Hey Stutterdog just think how many Elf & Safety regs you violated going down that tunnel with no hard hat, hi vis jacket etc and carrying a burning torch! It could have been full of methane or exhaust fumes - you are lucky to have survived! Hi Blackprince!.As you know these items did not exist in those days, and I forgot to mention that at the bottom was a hole in the wall where fresh air came in and ventilated the shaft. In any case we didn't think of the dangers.

stutterdog wrote: blackprince wrote: Hey Stutterdog just think how many Elf & Safety regs you violated going down that tunnel with no hard hat, hi vis jacket etc and carrying a burning torch! It could have been full of methane or exhaust fumes - you are lucky to have survived! Hi Blackprince!.As you know these items did not exist in those days, and I forgot to mention that at the bottom was a hole in the wall where fresh air came in and ventilated the shaft. In any case we didn't think of the dangers. Yes I know and "dangerous" industrial sites and building sites were not fenced off the way they are these days. Tunnels were fascinating to kids. I remember "exploring" the tunnel where Killingbeck goes under York rd. There was an iron grill on the entrance but the bars were bent and we little kids could squeeze through and wade along the tunnel with our wellies on. Later on in my trainspotting phase we were always being chased off Railway property.

Yes I remember a tunnel there but the one I went down (with our gang!) was a bit further over, accessed over the quarry/tip that was right next to Blue Hill Lane and towards the park (where we used to play tennis).We actually got to the bottom of this one - about 100yds, 10 deg to horizontal, then we could go no further due to a locked/chained gate.It was pitch black without a torch - this was about 1960/61.I think there were a stack of tunnels around that area, perhaps they were to do with the coal seams/mines?

AngryofMayfair wrote: Yes I remember a tunnel there but the one I went down (with our gang!) was a bit further over, accessed over the quarry/tip that was right next to Blue Hill Lane and towards the park (where we used to play tennis).We actually got to the bottom of this one - about 100yds, 10 deg to horizontal, then we could go no further due to a locked/chained gate.It was pitch black without a torch - this was about 1960/61.I think there were a stack of tunnels around that area, perhaps they were to do with the coal seams/mines? What was often called the quarry was also a coal mine and it also mined fireclay for the adjacent brickworks.The tunnel I assume (and Chameleon will be the check on my guessing) is a "day hole" in which the miners could walk straight into the mine rather than have to first drop down a shaft.Sounds like the old day hole became an accessway to a shaft when they worked out the clay and coal near the surface.Not too many day holes in Leeds but Miggy Colliery originally was worked from a day hole.Loads of Dales lead mines were accessed by walking straight in though.

stutterdog wrote: blackprince wrote: Hey Stutterdog just think how many Elf & Safety regs you violated going down that tunnel with no hard hat, hi vis jacket etc and carrying a burning torch! It could have been full of methane or exhaust fumes - you are lucky to have survived! Hi Blackprince!.As you know these items did not exist in those days, and I forgot to mention that at the bottom was a hole in the wall where fresh air came in and ventilated the shaft. In any case we didn't think of the dangers. Puts me in mind of when they closed off Miggy Colliery and pulled it down in the seventies. Across the land they left square brick, concrete topped inspection shafts with iron grate lids. Two local kids got the top off one and climbed down only to be overcome by the gases and died. Splashed all over the YEP. I think that led to such inspection shafts no longer being kept accessible. Why they were needed Chameleon may know??? Grumpytramp would know too.As for Blue Hill Colliery I looked forward to going back to see that last year and they've build a private housing estate on it. How dare they.

AngryofMayfair wrote: Yes I remember a tunnel there but the one I went down (with our gang!) was a bit further over, accessed over the quarry/tip that was right next to Blue Hill Lane and towards the park (where we used to play tennis).We actually got to the bottom of this one - about 100yds, 10 deg to horizontal, then we could go no further due to a locked/chained gate.It was pitch black without a torch - this was about 1960/61.I think there were a stack of tunnels around that area, perhaps they were to do with the coal seams/mines? Thanks Guys .I think were talking about the same tunnel here,sounds like it.It's over 55years since I went their so the things you remember from then do fade in the old memory a bit