Visit 3: Aughust 2007

After speaking to some people on 28DL, I found out that the cellar in the Nurses Accommodation is an entrance into the vast service tunnel network that runs beneath Whittingham. Ben sorted me out with maps, and a brief rundown of where the tunnels went. So armed with some wellies, and a couple of torches we headed back.

The tunnels were strange, they varied in depth and the temperature varied dramatically in there. At some points it felt too warm and stuffy, and at other points I could see my breath. The tunnels were cramped, and there were many pipes and fittings to hit me head on. They stank, were partially flooded a full of asbestos clad pipes. We had to be careful not to disturb these pipes - there was enough of it already in the air. Respirators should be used in places like this.

After a wrong turn, we ended up heading toward St Margaret’s which was demolished years earlier. The tunnels become more flooded as we got toward the demolished block. We stopped to let my friend put plastic bags on his feet (I did tell him to bring wellies!). Whilst he was doing that, I started playing with the camera and the torch. Then I dropped the torch in the water, it drowned. I had a spare though, so it wasn't the end of the world - just a bit irritating! We headed back on ourselves, and out toward the laundry complex. This section of the tunnel stank of acid, possibly from discarded batteries. Whatever it was, it wasn't pleasant.

Out of the tunnels and into a vast room, with glossy tiled bricks from floor to ceiling and hoisting gear on the walls and ceiling. Passing some seriously heavy switch gear, various switches and dials, all showing 'off'. Labels pertaining to parts of the hospital which are still standing but long since closed, and some parts that are no longer standing.

We carefully headed out of this section, and stealthily through an open section and into the laundry complex. No machines left in here, just a network of pipes and some funky looking ducting hanging from the ceiling. Vast emptiness, huge rooms - with just.. well, nothingness in them. A wheelchair, a typewriter, a pool table and a copy of the Daily Star from 1995. Not a lot left in this bit. After a brief look into some other tunnels - over into the cellar of Cameron House, we headed back out of the tunnels and off home again.