The whole area of the Island of Poole has a water table that goes up and down with the Tides - tunnels were only any good as "drains", and the cellars were not used for the storage of goods that would perish in the flood tides. Barclays House, built opposite Towngate, had deep Vaults, dug when it was built - the water table there went up and down with the tide, so much so that a huge "Coffer Dam" was piled around the foundations, which were "tanked" below ground level, in an attempt to stop water penetrating the Basements, with only limited success. A few basements in houses in the old town have pumps, linked to pipes that extract excess water that is pumped back into the Harbour. Great film, enjoyed it immensely.
There are tunnels under my school and one of my teachers has been down there. He said that he saw what looked like a separate tunnel but it was blocked up. Also, I have seen the tunnels for myself. There is a slab that is rumoured (not any more) to lead to the tunnels. I found the slab, and underneath you could see into the dark depths of the tunnels, although all I could see was the floor, this is enough to convince me that this tunnel rumour is true.
I recall stories of the tunnels from the quay to the churchyard. But as one of them has already said why smuggle goods at the docks when the revenue men were based on the quayside, dropping goods off before you came into poole bay would make more sense, like the headland where panarama road is wasn't built on at that time.
The whole area of the Island of Poole has a water table that goes up and down with the Tides - tunnels were only any good as "drains", and the cellars were not used for the storage of goods that would perish in the flood tides. Barclays House, built opposite Towngate, had deep Vaults, dug when it was built - the water table there went up and down with the tide, so much so that a huge "Coffer Dam" was piled around the foundations, which were "tanked" below ground level, in an attempt to stop water penetrating the Basements, with only limited success. A few basements in houses in the old town have pumps, linked to pipes that extract excess water that is pumped back into the Harbour. Great film, enjoyed it immensely.
I just love documentaries like this! Thanks!👍
My grandfather owned the Maltsters Arms in Lagland St. I was always told that a tunnel was found in the courtyard when it was demolished.
There are tunnels under my school and one of my teachers has been down there. He said that he saw what looked like a separate tunnel but it was blocked up. Also, I have seen the tunnels for myself. There is a slab that is rumoured (not any more) to lead to the tunnels. I found the slab, and underneath you could see into the dark depths of the tunnels, although all I could see was the floor, this is enough to convince me that this tunnel rumour is true.
some are still their well was in the 90s as a chid and use to be one in poole park
This was really interesting
i was told years ago that there is a tunnel from Blenheim house to the quay.
I recall stories of the tunnels from the quay to the churchyard. But as one of them has already said why smuggle goods at the docks when the revenue men were based on the quayside, dropping goods off before you came into poole bay would make more sense, like the headland where panarama road is wasn't built on at that time.
Amity lodge