Inside 200-year-old abandoned tunnel network discovered under UK village after being ‘LOST’ for decades

A ‘LOST’ tunnel from nearly 200 years ago has been discovered under a UK village.

The tunnel has been out of use since the 1960s, but it was recently uncovered in a “fantastic” discovery.

R.K. Walton/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum WalesThe discovery was made by Disused Railway Tunnels UK[/caption] Disused Railway Tunnels UKThe tunnel was used to carry slate from the local quarry[/caption] AlamyIt was built in 1843 and has been disused since 1861[/caption]

Port Dinorwic Tunnel in North Wales was uncovered by Disused Railway Tunnels UK after a failed attempt last year.

The tunnel, built in 1824, was once an integral part of the slate trade.

Part of the wider Padarn Railway, the almost 100 yard tunnel connected the quarries at Llanberis to Port Dinowic.

Further developments were made in 1843 when a rope-worked incline and a 92 yard tunnel between Port Dinorwic and Penscoins were built.

This addition served to transport slate from the quarries to the waterside before it was carried around the UK via boats and trains.

It also served as a kind of commuter route for workers before a more formalised service was introduced.

The tunnel ceased use in 1861 and was blocked off before being infilled and becoming overgrown.

In a trip to the area last year, Vince from Disused Railway Tunnels UK was unable to locate the tunnel.

He told North Wales Live: “I couldn’t see any evidence of the portal, even the shaft wasn’t visible so possibly the tunnel may well be totally lost.”

The difficulty in finding the tunnel was caused by it having been bricked up until recently which left it “very well hidden from view.”

Vince later returned to the village after the owners of a commercial property at the tunnel’s entrance at Port Dinorwic contacted him.

Speaking about the successful find, he said: “A massive thank you to Robert for the invitation to visit Port Dinorwic Tunnel and also to Iwan for showing us the way on the day and displaying patience while we mooched about in the tunnel.

“What a fantastic day.

Vince was shown around by Iwan Rees-Jones who said: “It’s a privilege to work in what used to be the vital link for Welsh slate.

Vince took photographs of the discovery which was appreciated by locals whose family history is intertwined with the tunnel.

Locals either have direct or ancestral links to the tunnel and its trains including the Amalthaea, a steam locomotive that ran on the railway.

One resident said: “My husband’s great grandfather was one of Amalthaea’s drivers.

“We have his grandfather’s old train tokens also, which he used to get to and from work as a slate splitter and dresser in Dinorwig.

“What a stunning set of photographs, a real treat.”

Another local reminisced on earlier memories with friends when they would follow the disused narrow gauge lines in the 1960s.

He said: “There were many tunnels leading into the mines but we never ventued into them.