Mystery of ancient tunnel under hotel
Last updated at 12:38, Friday, 04 December 2009
ONE of Haltwhistle’s hidden secrets is once more to be exposed to the public’s gaze.
For hotelier David Taylor is set to re-open the mysterious tunnel he discovered when he developed the Centre of Britain Hotel 13 years ago.
During extensive renovation work at the dilapidated Red Lion Hotel, a boarded up door attracted the attention of David and co-owner Grethe Kirkebjerg.
Loose rubble behind the hidden door was ex-cavated, and significant lengths of a tunnel, with several branches, were unearthed.
But as this was found directly underneath the rear entrance to the hotel, it was again boarded up to allow the hotel to be opened in 1997.
Some believe the tunnel dates back to Border Reiver days, but where it leads, people can only guess.
Some suggest it goes to the Old Vicarage, while others claim it leads to the site of Musgrave Tower, in Castle Hill.
Others boldly state that the subterranean highway runs as far away as Bellister Castle.
Now David is using his skills as a water dowser in a bid to divine the direction the tunnel takes.
Through the art of dowsing, he plotted the route from the hotel across Main Street to the Manor House Hotel, and beyond.
He said: “I tried dowsing some years ago and found it worked for me, so I have used the technique on many occasions.
“It doesn’t always tell you what’s there but, if you want to locate a suspected underground feature, it gives a reliable indication of the route.
“Some Haltwhistle residents have told me about exploring the tunnel in their childhood and the main conclusion is that it at least goes to the Old Vicarage, and, who knows, possibly from there to Bellister Castle!”
After refacing the tunnel’s walls and illuminating the entrance, the finishing touches to transform the tunnel into a tourist attraction will take place on Tuesday.
A glass floor is being installed in the rear entrance of the hotel to allow all passing through to marvel at Haltwhistle’s latest find.
Two directions in the tunnel are blocked up, with one of the routes leading to house cellars and the other connecting the hotel to other parts of the town.
David said: “I think there will be a lot of interest in the archaeological side of the building, and the whole idea of it being in the hotel, and Haltwhistle itself, is fitting because it is a historic place.
“It will be nice to bring a part of the town’s history back to life and show that the building was in use in the time of the Border Reivers.”
In addition to finding the boarded up tunnel in 1996, a number of further historical features were discovered in the renovation project.
Included in the find was a ‘secret’ intramural staircase from the first floor to the ground floor, which is purposely narrow to prevent enemy access.
A large baking oven was discovered in the first floor lounge, as was a Jacobean stone mullioned window in the first floor landing.
Evidence proving that the building was initially built as a pele tower was found through the discovery of a fireplace and entrance to the tower.
David said: “We were exposing surprise discoveries every day.
“It was a very exciting period, so much so that the original design concepts for the rebuilding soon had to be rethought.
“The result was a unique combination of modern styles with ancient archaeological and architectural features.”
However, the mystery surrounding the tunnel’s direction may forever remain as further excavation is not possible without endangering the stability of the hotel floors.
First published at 09:39, Friday, 04 December 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk
There's no evidence to suggest that there's more to dowsing than chance and the Ideomotor effect. Mr Taylor already had a good indication of where the tunnel running, and it's likely that his dowsing just unconsciously confirmed his existing knowledge.
Have your say
As an experienced dowser of over 16 years, I have to say that James is totally wrong. Chance has nothing to do with it. After repeated experiments ove nearly two decades, I have personally found (and as I later discovered, so have studies) that roughly 85% to 95% of ALL individuals are able to dowse. It matters not whether they believe in dowsing or not. Sadly, the people who make incorrect comments about dowsing often speak from ignorance of the subject. One generally finds that they have never seen dowsing working, or watched it working, or even, possibly, know of ALL its uses (Dowsing is NOT, as many suggest, just used for finding water) and so speak from a total lack of knowledge on the subject. I am more than happy to demonstrate dowsing to anyone in my area and often do. It is not always possible to prove the existence of "finds", but often it is.
Posted by Jeff on 25 December 2009 at 14:06