June 2007 - Tunnels Under City Station feed

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by Johnny39

Johnny39 — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:57:30 GMT

Don't know if this has been covered on an earlier thread but I once heard a story about an elephant being buried under the Empire Arcade. It was supposed to have died whilst appearing at the theatre. Am I alone in hearing this story?

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by Leodian

Leodian — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:30:55 GMT

greenhow302 wrote:

In the late 70's I worked for a short time in one the shops in the large block on the south side of Boar Lane, between Lower Briggate and what is Trevelyen Square.

The shop had a steep flight of steps leading down from the back of it into a cellar which had one of those metal lift type sliding doors at one end which was open. Through this led to a tunnel running in both directions parallel with Boar Lane with similar sliding doors on both sides. The light in our area only shone so far and as no one else would go down into the cellar I didn't look further. I seem to remember that the tunnel was certainly walking height and probably about 10ft across, with what appeared to be low pavements at each side.

Question is - what was it? I always assumed that the whole building had been some sort of factory and that this had something to do with it. As the tunnel runs in the general direction of the station I wonder if it was some sort of way to get good through?

That is fascinating. No doubt some of the Leeds Historical Exploration Society will soon be sniffing around the area if they don't already know. It reminds me of the passage/tunnel that is reported to run under Thornton's Arcade and which has doors leading off. I asked about this to assistants in one of the shops in the arcade some while back but they had never heard of it.

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by greenhow302

greenhow302 — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:14:14 GMT

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by Cardiarms

Cardiarms — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:55:01 GMT

Some on the swinegate side are open for parking as well.

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by Chrism

Chrism — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:51:10 GMT

Phill_d wrote:

Yeah great stuff there munki.. Nice shots too.. Did you notice the little drilled holes in the stonework as well? They were drilled by hand so they could be lifted into place by some sort of pulley they devised that wedged into the holes when there were lifted up. you can see them in this shot

They're called chain dogs Phill.

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by Phill_dvsn

Phill_dvsn — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:45:17 GMT

Donna1978 wrote:

Hi, I would be extremely interested in a tour of the underground tunnels. Any idea how I get this organised?
Thanks

You've no chance lol, Network rail don't entertain tours under there i'm afraid. The best you can hope for is the public area along what was Granary Wharf. You can see this area here ok.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/943360924/

And this area here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/2790897864/in/photostream/

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by Donna1978

Donna1978 — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:49:41 GMT

Hi, I would be extremely interested in a tour of the underground tunnels. Any idea how I get this organised?
Thanks

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by Phill_dvsn

Phill_dvsn — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:17:41 GMT

Hows csnosi doing with our little visit then?

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by stutterdog

stutterdog — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:55:54 GMT

Just seen the pics .Fantastic! I remember when I was a kid at school,one of our teachers told us about these tunnels and about 6 of us planned to go down to Leeds and find them.We went along to the garage under the dark arches but a guy there wouldn't let us go in.

Features - Tunnels Under City Station by Phill_dvsn

Phill_dvsn — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:20:56 GMT

Yeah she's a very class lady.
Champers for her lol
He'll need to be quite mad too.