‘Roundhay Park is one of the most popular parks in Leeds due to its size, grandeur and array of things to see and do. Three miles north of Leeds city centre, Roundhay Park covers over 700 acres of rolling parkland, lakes, woodlands, formal gardens and contains several cafes, two playgrounds, the popular visitor attraction Tropical World and much more.’
Source: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/Roundhay-Park.aspx
These tunnels form the overflow from the lake in the park.
'Thomas Nicholson, who acquired the land in the early 19th century, filled the disused quarries to form two lakes. He recruited unemployed veteran soldiers from the Napoleonic Wars to help him build and fill the lakes, earning him a reputation as saintly figure within Leeds.Nicholson later named one of the lakes 'Waterloo Lake' after the battle of Waterloo in which the soldiers had fought to thank them for their efforts.'
Source: https://www.timeout.com/leeds/blog/nine-things-you-didnt-know-about-roundhay-park
The Explore
Another drain visit with @Esoteric Eric . I arrived first, noting the typical presence of a load of builders working on the property directly next to the entrance to the tunnels. We soon worked out a way to circumnavigate them, perhaps pointlessly as it’s unlikely they would have given a shit. Either way: stealth…
The first and oldest tunnel to the right was visited first.
Met by a ‘danger, slippy floors’ sign…. Safety First...
Eric drew the short straw and checked the depth with his welly on, finding that we did indeed need to change into waders for this bit afterall.
Following the deep silty bit, and a standard hike along a standard RCP...
my favourite bit was seeing this thing appear from around the corner... Wait for it…
A nine-holed visual treat + ladder situation...
Leaving the first tunnel the way we came, we next entered the stoopy pipes towards the spillway...
Cue much moaning about bad backs etc…
Until the welcome opening…
And, finally, a close up view of the overflow which, a few minutes after we left, began to overflow in the forecast downpour I’d managed to forget about.
Taking photos of @Esoteric Eric taking photos of tunnels...
Reflecting in tunnels...
Climbing out, I later found I’d managed to snag a hole in my waders on the wall, which have now been securely patched up again using a handy bicycle punctutre repair kit.
Full set here
Source: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/Roundhay-Park.aspx
These tunnels form the overflow from the lake in the park.
'Thomas Nicholson, who acquired the land in the early 19th century, filled the disused quarries to form two lakes. He recruited unemployed veteran soldiers from the Napoleonic Wars to help him build and fill the lakes, earning him a reputation as saintly figure within Leeds.Nicholson later named one of the lakes 'Waterloo Lake' after the battle of Waterloo in which the soldiers had fought to thank them for their efforts.'
Source: https://www.timeout.com/leeds/blog/nine-things-you-didnt-know-about-roundhay-park
The Explore
Another drain visit with @Esoteric Eric . I arrived first, noting the typical presence of a load of builders working on the property directly next to the entrance to the tunnels. We soon worked out a way to circumnavigate them, perhaps pointlessly as it’s unlikely they would have given a shit. Either way: stealth…
The first and oldest tunnel to the right was visited first.
Met by a ‘danger, slippy floors’ sign…. Safety First...
Eric drew the short straw and checked the depth with his welly on, finding that we did indeed need to change into waders for this bit afterall.
Following the deep silty bit, and a standard hike along a standard RCP...
my favourite bit was seeing this thing appear from around the corner... Wait for it…
A nine-holed visual treat + ladder situation...
Leaving the first tunnel the way we came, we next entered the stoopy pipes towards the spillway...
Cue much moaning about bad backs etc…
Until the welcome opening…
And, finally, a close up view of the overflow which, a few minutes after we left, began to overflow in the forecast downpour I’d managed to forget about.
Taking photos of @Esoteric Eric taking photos of tunnels...
Reflecting in tunnels...
Climbing out, I later found I’d managed to snag a hole in my waders on the wall, which have now been securely patched up again using a handy bicycle punctutre repair kit.
Full set here
. Removing said sock was not pleasant!
