Hidden History - The Ramsgate Tunnels Above & Below Tour, Ramsgate, Kent
Hidden History - The Ramsgate Tunnels Above & Below Tour
The Ramsgate Tunnels (1863-1965)
Ramsgate, Kent
Saturday 12th May, 2018
Yesterday The Team at Hidden History participated in an arranged tour of The Ramsgate Tunnels entitled The Above & Below Tour. The aim of the tour was to walk the tunnel network above ground learning more about surrounding history before heading into other areas of the vast network underground. We started the tour near the furthest Westcliff entrance and made our way to all other entrances and ventilation airshafts. Many of the entrances and airshafts are now completely inaccessible however renovation plans by the organisation may look to open them to the public in future. Eventually we arrived at the St Luke's entrance on Boundary Road where we desended the ladder underground. Witnessing this area of the tunnels for the first time was incredibly overwhelming with plenty of iconic features and periodic graffiti. My personal highlight was the intact Wardens Post situated just near the entrance way. Towards the end of this network it become apparent that we had arrived at the main Victorian Railway Tunnel known during World War II as Tunnel Town. This area was great to learn more about the stories and people that played a part in the Ramsgate Tunnel story.
Overall it was a superb opportunity for The Team to learn more about local histories and discover additional areas of network that are closed to the public. I would like to say a special thanks to The Ramsgate Tunnels for such an informative and all round amazing experience.
Below I have included some history surrounding The Ramsgate Tunnels and we hope you all enjoy our experience.
The History of The Ramsgate Tunnels:
The Tunnel Railway (also known as the Ramsgate Cliff Railway, the Ramsgate Tunnel Railway, the Ramsgate Underground Railway and the World Scenic Railway) was a 2 ft(610 mm) narrow-gauge underground railway in Ramsgate, Kent, England. Following the restructuring of railway lines in Ramsgate in 1926, the section of line between Broadstairsand Ramsgate Harbour including a tunnel to the seafront at Ramsgate was abandoned. The narrow-gauge Tunnel Railway was opened within the disused tunnel in 1936 to connect tourist attractions and shops near Ramsgate harbour with the new railway main line at Dumpton Park.
Except for its two stations—one at each end of the tunnel—the line ran entirely underground. The line was built in less than three months, and on its completion in 1936 was one of the shortest independent railway lines in the country. It was open for only three years before being converted to a major air-raid shelter during World War II. After the war's end, it was not included in the 1948 nationalisation of British railways but remained in private hands.
Passenger numbers fell during the 1960s, and the line became economically unviable. Following a train crash in 1965, the owners closed the line at the end of September that year. The tunnel still exists, but no trace remains of either of the two stations.
Wartime:
In the late 1930s, war between Britain and Germany began to seem likely. Ramsgate's location on both the English Channel and North Sea and its proximity to the Thames Estuary, its large port facilities, and its close proximity to RAF Manston made it a likely target for heavy aerial bombing and as a landing site for any German invasion of Britain. With this in mind the town's borough engineer and surveyor, R. D. Brimmell, devised a scheme in 1938 for a network of tunnels beneath the town, to serve as a vast deep-level air-raid shelter for the town's inhabitants.
A 3 1⁄4-mile (5.2 km) semi-circular network of tunnels was dug beneath northern Ramsgate, connecting to the existing railway tunnel. It was opened by the Duke of Kent on 1 June 1939, three months before the outbreak of war, and visited during the war by Winston Churchill. The network was capable of sheltering 60,000 people, although Ramsgate's civilian population at the time was approximately 33,000.
Ramsgate Tunnels
The Kent Coast Railway arrived into Ramsgate Harbour in 1863, courtesy of engineer Frederick Turner and Messrs Peto, Betts and Crampton, his contractors. But the adjacent tunnel - almost a mile in length - added to a collection of operational challenges and the line through it closed in 1926.
To better serve visitors to the seafront attractions, a 2-foot narrow gauge railway was built from a site close to one of the town's new stations. It incorporated another tunnel, converging with the old one close to its midpoint.
The operation was suspended during the Second World War when 2½ miles of tunnels - driven beneath Ramsgate's streets - acted as a deep-level air-raid shelter. In January 1941, more the 1,700 people were recorded as living in 'Tunnel Town'.
Although the narrow gauge service was reinstated after hostilities ended, the operation was blighted by neglect and was brought to an end in 1965. The tunnels were locked up, but are now open to the public again as a tourist attraction.
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Ramsgate Tunnels Tour - 6th July 2014
Ramsgate Tunnels Tour - 6th July 2014
ENGLAND - RAMSGATE - TUNNELS - The Hidden Underground Town
Join us in the discovery of the history of
A HIDDEN UNDERGROUND TOWN.
The UK's largest network of galleries
digged to save civilians from the bombing
of World War II.
Since 1939,
while the city above was devastated,
the inhabitants of Ramsgate (Kent)
digged 2½ miles of deep shelter tunnels
and took up residence in them.
In 1940,
over 300 families were living permanently
in this evolving underground town.
WATCH THIS VIDEO!
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Massimo Cozzi and Tania Bianchi
Ramsgate Tunnels and Caves
This was originally uploaded in 2014, I explore the caves at peg well bay in Thanet, Kent
Please visit this link to find out more information of Thanet's caves and tunnels:
SECRET RAMSGATE HUGE TUNNEL SYSTEM
Today I visited a massive tunnel system in ramsgate and was in for a treat with the size of the place was amazing
Ramsgate Tunnels, Air Raid Shelters
A walking tour of the Ramsgate Tunnels, Air Raid Shelters, back in 2010
Starting from the main train tunnel (Wind Tunnel) through the Air Raid Shelters from there.
IKS Production 2010
© 1998-2008 Subterranea Britannica:
The London Chatham & Dover Railway Company opened their extension from Margate to a terminus at Ramsgate Harbour in 1863. The last section of the line ran in a 1124 yard tunnel from Dumpton Park to the terminus on the seafront, close to the harbour. In 1926, Southern Railway built a link from their line at Dumpton Park to the former South Eastern Railway station at Ramsgate Town, a mile inland. The link was built because of cramped conditions at the terminus and the steep gradient which caused some difficulty for steam locomotives. The Harbour Station and the tunnel were closed from 2nd July that year.
While the track was soon lifted, the station building, purchased by the Town Corporation, was leased to Thanet Amusements Ltd. who built their Pleasureland Amusement Park. Having opened a fun fair and zoo, the company was keen to utilise the former railway tunnel and after considering a number of possible proposals decided on a narrow gauge 'scenic' railway running from the southern tunnel portal where they built 'Beach Station', to a new terminus at 'Hereson Road' a few minutes walk from the Southern Railway's Dumpton Park Station.
The scenic railway utilised the first 800 yards of the railway tunnel from where a new 300 yard narrow gauge (8' X 6') spur tunnel was constructed. The spur curved to the northwest at a gradient of 1 in 15, emerging into the new station at Hereson Road. The contract for the work was awarded to Holborn Construction who in 1936 built a single track line with a passing loop just short of the spur junction, and three tracks serving two wooden platforms at each station
The 'World Scenic Railway' as it was called, opened for business on August Bank Holiday 1936. Each carriage was fitted spotlights to illuminate tableaux on the tunnel walls.
At the outbreak of war in September 1939 the railway ceased operations. Deep level shelters were not practicable in many areas but as Ramsgate was built on beds of upper chalk, tunneling would prove an easy and cheap task requiring no propping.
The town's borough engineer and surveyor R.D. Brimmell conceived and planned a scheme for tunneling galleries out of the chalk. This was similar to the only other known network of deep shelters in Barcelona that Spain built during the Spanish civil war.
Following Hitler's seizure of Austria in 1938 Brimmell put his proposals before the town council for submission to the Home Office for approval. The plan was rejected on the grounds that it was premature. Following Munich, the council approached the Home Office a second time but were again turned down. In the spring of 1939 when Hitler walked into Czechoslovakia, the council made a third appeal to the Home Office who relented and excavations began. By the outbreak of war, work was nearing completion on what was to become one of the most extensive network of deep air-raid shelters anywhere in the country. Plans were soon in hand to incorporate both the standard gauge and narrow gauge tunnels in to the shelter network. The tunnels would be linked to a further 3.25 miles of new tunnels skirting the town in a semi-circular route.
The contract for this immense undertaking was awarded to Francois Cementation Co. Ltd., at a cost of £40,383 with an additional £13,481 for seating, lighting, chemical toilets and the costs of converting the existing tunnels.
Work proceeded night and day and the first section of the network between West Harbour and Queen Street was opened by the Duke of Kent on 1st June 1939 with the contract due to be completed by the end of that year. As each new section of tunnel was opened it received it's allocation of local people with strict regulations enforced; smoking was forbidden and pets and prams were not allowed underground. The first section opened had batteries and a generator but the rest of the tunnels had to rely on the town supply, which was at times erratic. Eventually the council provided 200 hurricane lamps. There was also a system of loudspeakers to relay wireless programmes and announcements.
The tunnels ran at a depth of 50 to 90 feet, following the line of existing roads wherever possible. For most of its length they were unsupported and un-lined but the entrance tunnels close to the surface and a few short sections through unstable ground were lined with reinforced concrete. For most of their length the new tunnels were 6' wide by 7' high with toilet recesses fitted with curtains at 75 foot intervals and a first aid post every 1000 feet.
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Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century.
Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline, particularly Ramsgate Main Sands. Ramsgate has also developed a continental café style culture with bars and restaurants on its seafront parade.
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Music : Longing ~ Man Jack :
Arranged Composed Produced & Performed by Man Jack chopsueyjoint.com .
Ramsgate Port Abandoned Infrastructure 09th February 2019
Stock footage of the abandoned infrastructure of Ramsgate Port in Thanet, Kent, UK. This was recorded as part of a personal project.
The port closed in 2013 after the last ferry operator went bust. The company halted operations owing Thanet District Council, owners of the port, £3M.
Between 2013 and 2019 the council has carried out the minimum maintenance necessary to keep the facility 'ship ready', but is now looking to save that cost which amounts to over £750K per year.
In the meantime, the UK Government announced a package of £30M in funding to ferry operators to provide relief services from the UK ports to the continent in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Included in the plans were a new Ramsgate to Ostend service to be operated by Seaborne Freight – a company with no history of operating ferries and no ships.
UK Transport Minister, Chris Grayling has been lampooned for his decision to award the contract to Seaborne. Questions have been raised about due diligence. At one stage it was pointed out that the company's website terms and conditions were copied from a fast food delivery firm.
On February 9th the deal was cancelled though Grayling still has intentions to use Ramsgate Port. In the meantime the port buildings and infrastructure appear anything but ready to be a UK border entry point or a modern facility capable of handling thousands of lorries and cars each day.
The Ramsgate Tunnels Story
The Ramsgate Tunnels so far
Toby's Top 5 Places in Ramsgate
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Ramsgate tunnel
Ramsgate tunnel
RAMSGATE HIDDEN ENDLESS CHALK TUNNLES
TODAY i entered down the man hole into an amazing set of underground tunnels with my fellow explorers
TROUBLE ON RAMSGATE ROOFS!! *HE CALLED THE POLICE*
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JUST HOW BAD IS RAMSGATE?
Ohhhhh we all know Ramsgate, the quaint little sea side bum hole of the country is our home but, it's not great, this is just a little insight as to what makes it so bad?
(fuk ur opinions if you hate it)
Thank you for watching though! Give it a thumbs up, SUBSCRIBEEEEEEEE as many of you have been lately and i thank you a lot for that!
If you enjoyed this video, the first one in the 'series' (lol) is about student housing and can be found on my channel along with my weekly vlogs!
CHEERS!
Ramsgate Harbour Station: A Journey Through Time
Return to the Lost Station on Ramsgate Seafront! Credit to the Image Owners Featured.
Ramsgate Holidays 1968 - 75
This is a cine film of myself (as a toddler) and family, in Ramsgate, Kent from approx 1968 - 75. Ellington Park & just outside? Model Village from different years. Pleasurama - Merrie England amusement park. Donkey rides and train ride on the beach with shots of the Casino/ amusement arcade.
A Tour Of Ramsgate
Ever wondered what my home town is like?
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Places to see in ( Ramsgate - UK )
Places to see in ( Ramsgate - UK )
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. Ramsgate was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. Ramsgate’s main attraction is its coastline, and its main industries are tourism and fishing. The town has one of the largest marinas on the English south coast, and the Port of Ramsgate has provided cross-channel ferries for many years.
Ramsgate is located 78 miles from central London in an east south-easterly direction at one of the most easterly points of the United Kingdom (the furthest point east is Lowestoft in Suffolk). The town is an amalgamation of two settlements: a fishing community on the coast in the shallow valley between two chalk cliffs, and an inland farming community that is now the Parish of St Lawrence. The cliffs are known as the East Cliff and the West Cliff and are predominantly residential areas.
Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline, particularly Ramsgate Main Sands, which was awarded a Blue Flag in 2015. Ramsgate's wartime deep shelter tunnels are open to the public for tours, which have been running since 2014. The local council publishes a website specifically aimed at tourists visiting Ramsgate and neighbouring towns. There is an annual regatta event based at Ramsgate during the summer. Ramsgate has developed a continental café style culture with bars and restaurants on its seafront parade. Ramsgate carnival is an annual parade that takes place during the summer.
The Port of Ramsgate has a 700 berth marina, Royal Harbour Marina, and a ferry terminal built on reclaimed land. Ramsgate is connected to the national road network primarily through the A299 Thanet Way, which continues on to the M2/A2 for the M25 (approx 1 hour) and London. Ramsgate railway station is situated at the top of the town near the parish of St Lawrence.
Alot to see in ( Ramsgate - UK ) such as :
Ramsgate Maritime Museum
The Grange, Ramsgate
Dover Castle
Ramsgate Harbour railway station
Ramsgate Tunnels
King George VI Memorial Park
Government Acre
Sundowner
The Micro Museum
UpDown Gallery
Ramsgate Boulevard
Ellington Park
Ramsgate Bandstand
Royal Victoria Pavilion
West Pier Lighthouse
Winterstoke Gardens
Ramsgate Royal Harbour & Marina
Ramsgate Main Sands
Sailors Church
Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve
( Ramsgate - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Ramsgate . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Ramsgate - UK
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