Page 30 • The HERALD • 7th March 2024 v THE HERALD - YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE v NEW FOREST PLUMBING AND MAINTENANCE 24/7 LTD *YOUR LOCAL 24 HOUR EMERGENCY CALL OUT PLUMBER* We provide a wide range of plumbing services, with an established reputation for quality, service and customer satisfaction. www.newforestplumbing247.com Contact us on 07912 092557 or 023 8194 0237 newforestplumbing@yahoo.com Wet clean or Dry clean • Carpets • Rugs • Upholstery • Cushions • Mattresses • Caravans & Motor Homes Contact Chris for a free estimate and advice. We have full liability insurance 023 8104 0185 07770 792361 clean-u-up@hotmail.com We provide one of the best professional Carpet & Fabric cleaning Systems FREE ESTIMATES • 10 YEAR GUARANTEE HYTHE: office.atlaswindows@gmail.com FAX/PHONE 023 8084 0441 Unit 2, Hardley Ind Est, Southampton ESTABLISHED FOR 30 YEARS THE LOCAL WINDOW COMPANY WITH THE BIG REPUTATION SUPPLY & INSTALL • Windows • Porches • Conservatories in PVCu • Doors • Choice of Colours & Woodgrain • Re-Skimming • Rendering • Coving • Dry Lining • Tacking • Artex Covered • Floor Screeding www.tbrownplastering.co.uk Call: 07919 183989 Friendly • Reliable • Professional • Free Estimates would never get to realise his dream of a tunnel to the Isle of Wight. And it’s the point of Vignoles’ death in 1875 where things appear to go quiet. ere are no further press references to the Solent Tunnel until 1881 when another engineer named Hamilton Fulton attempted to resurrect the project. He again had the backing of rail company shareholders but, just as before, it appears that the project never really took o . ere were other plans and press reports of tunnels being proposed from sites including Stokes Bay near Gosport and Keyhaven. But as we know, there is no tunnel that connects mainland England to the Isle of Wight. Which brings me back to the start of the article, and that story about the boy in Lepe who claimed to have found a tunnel entrance leading under the Beaulieu River. Maybe he did nd the start of a tunnel, but perhaps it was the result of an abandoned test by Vignoles? Who can say. But as with many legends, there will o en be a small kernel of truth in there somewhere, which is how stories of secret passages and tunnels can develop and morph over time. Do I believe there are tunnels in the Waterside and New Forest area? I think there could be. In fact, I used to live in an old house in Hythe which was said to have tunnels connecting it to the other side of the road for smuggling purposes. Did I ever nd them? No. But there were some odd bricked up patches in the basement walls and a depression in the garden lawn which led me to believe it just could be true… tunnel through the earth and under the Solent, should the project get the go-ahead. Vignoles project managed the whole operation from his home in Hythe. He’d moved to the village in 1867, taking up residence in Villa Amalthea. e large property would later become known as Knightons (this grand home no longer exists, as it was demolished to make way for Waitrose). Sadly, in November 1875, Vignoles died at Villa Amalthea at the age of eighty three a er su ering a stroke. He from Langdown Lawn to a long-lost location near Hythe Pier, or a passage connecting the cellars of the Drummond Arms to Hythe waterfront. ey all have one thing in common: I have never seen proof that they exist. But I really want them to be true. So, when I heard about the boy from Lepe and his tale of a tunnel, it led me down a path (some might say passage) of research to see what evidence of local tunnels I could nd. At this point, I should admit that I didn’t nd any secret smuggling tunnels or mysterious passages. But please read on, as I did discover a fascinating story about a man named Charles Blacker Vignoles who lived in Hythe. He was involved in a very real tunnel project in the area. We need to go back to the 1800’s. Vignoles was a celebrated and in uential British railway engineer who made important contributions to the growing rail network and other civil engineering projects. One of his visions was to connect the Isle of Wight to the mainland rail system… via a tunnel. In 1871 he proposed that one could run from Stone Point at Lepe, underneath the Solent, emerging at Cowes on the Island. Rail companies gave him the backing to investigate how feasible the idea was, and in February 1874, testing commenced. Under the instruction and guidance of Vignoles, a team of men brought drilling equipment to Lepe. ey were granted permission to sink an exploratory sha into the earth, which resulted in a one hundred and y foot deep hole in Pits Copse being bored. Pits Copse is a small wood about three hundred metres from the coastline. is let them better understand how possible it would be to From Folklore to Fact: What’s the Truth Behind Local Tunnel Tales? by Marc Heighway Marc hosts monthly local history talks, visit: nfhwa.org/events for details I was once told a story about a boy who lived in Lepe during the 1960’s. He claimed to have discovered the entrance to a secret tunnel which ran beneath the Beaulieu River. However, upon trying to nd the entrance again many years later, he was unable to do so. Mysterious tunnels and secret passages like this are o en used as storytelling elements in folklore. I can think of several local legends of a similar ilk you may also know. Examples are tales of smuggler tunnels in Lymington and Sway, one in Romsey connecting the Abbey to the White Horse pub, a tunnel said to run Volunteer For The Evergreen Club from The Evergreen Club e Evergreen Club in Hythe has been active for 57 years and caters for over 60’s who can socialise and engage in some fun activities. e twice monthly meetings are held at St. John’s Hall, New Road on the rst and third ursday of the month from 1.45pm until 4pm and are run by Royal Voluntary Service volunteers. Our very popular Leader of 20 years is now nearing retirement so our current team is looking for a friendly person to assist with some of the tasks he does. ese include printing programmes and quizzes and booking speakers. Could YOU be the person to keep our happy club functioning? If interested please contact Peter on: 023 8089 1721.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=