A quick post based on a quick fun explore today in Derby. Hope this works!
Near the site of the old Nottingham Road Station in Derby, which I rarely had a reason to walk past until lockdown, is a patch of unused ground between the railway and the council depot. Round New Year time I first noticed, through a rare gap in the undergrowth, the brick tunnel that runs directly parallel to the railway. A stream issues from it and sinks into a culvert close to the gate which separates the waste ground from Nottingham Road. At the time, despite the wall from the bridge nearby being tantalizingly easy to climb, there was too much traffic - and too many pedestrians - nearby to take advantage...
Today, however, not only could I see that the foliage had been extremely cut back, revealing the tunnel properly, but thanks to lockdown the area was traffic and grockle free. Seemed too good an opportunity to waste... Only had my phone with me and wasn't sure if I'd been spotted, so didn't hang about too long. The tunnel is about 70 metres long from portal to its end wall, and there's little to no tagging, and a stream runs down the centre. The brickwork seems to be in pretty good condition!
Looking at some OS maps of the area. the stream that is now diverted through the tunnel was possibly on the surface as late as 1913, but was almost certainly underground by the 1930s. This may have been part of the Derby tram system depots, though I couldn't see any evidence of rails near this entrance. I need to do more research, but this was definitely a fun little find! Would also like a crawl up this grotty looking little tunnel, and I wonder if it has anything to do with the drainage for the Derby Canal.
The stream flows on under the concrete in the middle of the picture and drops into a smaller culvert that channels it under the road, and presumably down to the Derwent. Somebody was walking past as I tried to look at this so need to
Literally a ten minute, spur of the moment explore. But a very interesting little place, and some lovely brick work. Hope to be able to make a discreet return visit here at some point soon! Thanks for looking!
Near the site of the old Nottingham Road Station in Derby, which I rarely had a reason to walk past until lockdown, is a patch of unused ground between the railway and the council depot. Round New Year time I first noticed, through a rare gap in the undergrowth, the brick tunnel that runs directly parallel to the railway. A stream issues from it and sinks into a culvert close to the gate which separates the waste ground from Nottingham Road. At the time, despite the wall from the bridge nearby being tantalizingly easy to climb, there was too much traffic - and too many pedestrians - nearby to take advantage...
Today, however, not only could I see that the foliage had been extremely cut back, revealing the tunnel properly, but thanks to lockdown the area was traffic and grockle free. Seemed too good an opportunity to waste... Only had my phone with me and wasn't sure if I'd been spotted, so didn't hang about too long. The tunnel is about 70 metres long from portal to its end wall, and there's little to no tagging, and a stream runs down the centre. The brickwork seems to be in pretty good condition!
Looking at some OS maps of the area. the stream that is now diverted through the tunnel was possibly on the surface as late as 1913, but was almost certainly underground by the 1930s. This may have been part of the Derby tram system depots, though I couldn't see any evidence of rails near this entrance. I need to do more research, but this was definitely a fun little find! Would also like a crawl up this grotty looking little tunnel, and I wonder if it has anything to do with the drainage for the Derby Canal.
The stream flows on under the concrete in the middle of the picture and drops into a smaller culvert that channels it under the road, and presumably down to the Derwent. Somebody was walking past as I tried to look at this so need to
Literally a ten minute, spur of the moment explore. But a very interesting little place, and some lovely brick work. Hope to be able to make a discreet return visit here at some point soon! Thanks for looking!
