Winterbourne Tunnel 1
Not abandoned or derelict but it still fits under the urbex umbrella. This is the tunnel that takes the Winterbourne (Winter Stream) for around 500 yards under the streets of Lewes in Sussex. Originally it was a brick lined tunnel until a collapse in the 1960s forced a rebuild with concrete sections.
During the wet season it carries at least three very fast flowing streams and the storms drains will also empty into it and will fill it to capacity. It is about 6ft square inside and it is tidal which will make it a very dangerous place to be in as there is only one access point, So please make sure you do your homework if you decide to visit.
This mooch took around three months of patience, planning, four flybys and watching before finally one of the streams had run dry, it hasn’t rained for a few days, full bright sunlight for the duration of the visit was to be had along with a super low tide at a sensible time of the day.
So on the appointed day we went to the access point wearing wellies and shorts, Then it was Fook! This water is deeper and colder than we thought and it was lapping just below my meat n two veg! Wellies were useless and my feet and legs were already going numb with the cold.
The tunnel curves to the left for about 100 yards then straightens out to a roughly 300 yard pitch black straight with other tunnels feeding streams into it about halfway before curving to the right for about another 100 yards.
The water level dropped gradually the further we went in and there was some nice old brickwork and tunnel work at the halfway point. We had given ourselves 60 minutes to get in and out, We were out in 65 and I am sure the water was already deeper by an inch.
It just left us to turn our wellies upside down and to wring our socks out Lol. But it had been a ball! We had come across loads of bricks, eeIs, fish, logs, padlocks, phones and plates along the way and I apologise profoundly for the lacklustre quality of my snaps but I had dreadful problems with condensation, experience, focusing, lighting and the water vapour (Mist) from our breathing plus it was about 24c outside but only about 14c inside. Hey Ho, I will try again one day but till then enjoy the snaps.
England Abandoned Derelict Britain Uk Place Location Shoot Video Urbex Urban Exploration UE Scene Scenes Image Images Photograph Photographs Lewes Based Photographer In Sussex South Downs National Park Photography by Nikon Camera
