The Victoria Tunnel is one of Newcastle’s unique attractions – and now, new tour guides are needed at the historic location.
The subterranean marvel once ran two miles from the North of Newcastle, under the city streets, down to where the Ouseburn enters the Tyne.
Its history stretches back to April 7, 1842, when it opened as an underground waggonway, taking coal from the long-gone Spital Tongues Colliery to staiths and waiting colliers on the river.
In the middle of the last century, it was used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War.
Today, a stretch of the tunnel is open to the public, and regular guided tours are available on most days.
Back in the early years of the Victorian age when the tunnel became operational, its Northern entrance at the colliery was close to modern-day Ancrum Street in Spital Tongues.
And now, fittingly, at a popular nearby pub on Hunter’s Road, a new information board telling the story of the Victoria Tunnel has just been unveiled.
Clive Goodwin, who is the tunnel’s coordinator, says: “The Cosy Dove, formerly the Spital House in Spital Tongues, was recently taken over by Joe Loring, who has welcomed the link with his pub and the Victoria Tunnel and its history and heritage.”
The information board at the Cosy Dove contains an illustration of Spital Tongues Colliery, which had a short working life, running from 1842 to 1858. When the pit closed, the tunnel was forgotten about.
But the board tells the subsequent story of the tunnel which had a new lease of life during World War II, and which is today a city tourist attraction.
Clive adds: “The tunnel runs down Claremont Road, past the Hancock Museum and under Barras Bridge, then beneath Northumbria University City Campus, the central motorway, Shieldfield to St Dominic’s Church on the corner of Crawhall Road and New Bridge Street.
"From there it travels under St Ann’s Estate to Ouse St, and originally on to staiths on Mariner’s Wharf.”
The original tunnel, which was engineered by William E Gilhespie, was 2.5 miles long; had a height of 7ft 5ins; and a width of 6ft 3ins. At its deepest point, it was 85ft underground.
A programme of restoration in 2007-08 was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the TyneWear Partnership, and a 766-yard section of the tunnel is now open to the public.
In 2010, the Ouseburn Trust began operating guided tours in the tunnel.
Clive says: “Back then, in the first year, we had around 1,000 visitors. This year we’re expecting 15,000.
“The Victoria Tunnel is open throughout the year, with over 100 tours every month and on most days of the week.
“We are looking to recruit more guides and would like to hear from anyone who would be interested in joining the team.”
To find out more about being a tour guide at the Victoria Tunnel, email Clive Goodwin at clive.goodwin@ouseburntrust.org.uk
For more on the Victoria Tunnel: https://www.ouseburntrust.org.uk/buy-tour-tickets
