Victoria Tunnel - Newcastle

Completed in 1842, The Victoria Tunnel extends for about two and a half miles under the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, from the site of a coal mine to a loading point on the river Tyne adjacent to where the Ouseburn joins the river.

The tunnel was built to serve a colliery at Spital Tongues, to the North West of Newcastle. It worked successfully as a rope hauled waggonway for 18 years, but then the coal mine fell upon hard times and operation ceased.

The tunnel was used during the second world war as an air raid shelter, and a section of it is now employed to carry various pipes across the city.

Guided tours of the southerly section of the tunnel are available. Our guide was very informative and presented the information in an interesting way - highly recommended.

For more details see http://www.ouseburntrust.org.uk/

The tunnel was cut through boulder clay and then lined with stone and brick. During WW2 the floor of the tunnel was concreted over and the walls white washed to enable it to be used as a shelter. There is a series of concrete blast walls at the entrance to the tunnel, intended to protect people within the shelter from a direct hit where the tunnel is near to the surface.

There are no lights within the main section of the tunnel and visitors have to rely upon torches for illumination. Hard hats are also supplied to visitors, essential given the limited clearance!

A steep stairway leads down into the tunnel from one of the entrances cut during WW2, this now forms an emergency exit.

Crude chemical toilets were provided for use within the air raid shelter, there are no working loos within the tunnel for visitors.

Visitors emerging into the light after an interesting subterranean experience.

If you wish to visit the tunnel you need to book in advance, see the web site posted above.

Spring Flowers around Durham Castle

University College Durham, is housed within the the castle or keep.

Canon 5D

Daffodils in Washington

Holy Trinity Church, the church on the hill. Washington village.

Alongside is Washington Old Hall, the ancestral home of George Washington's family, now owned by the National Trust. The gardeners have produced a fine floral display and an American eagle, fashioned using topiary.

Canon 5D

Red Nose Day in Newcastle

Th Swing Bridge temporarily acquired a red nose.

Easedale from Grasmere - English Lake District

The walk up Easedale to Easedale Tarn from Grasmere is not particularly demanding and features an attractive waterfall en route.

Th stream flowing from Easedale Tarn has the picturesque name of Sourmilk Gill.

Looking back towards Grasmere

Easesale tarn

If you are daft enough to climb onto the crag high above the tarn this is what you see. It had the merit of being peaceful - you are rarely alone at the side of the tarn itself - just me, a couple of crows, and what sounded like a croaking frog or toad! If you click on this photo to get an enlarged view you should be able to make out lake Grasmere in the background.

An alternative route back follows the Far Easedale Gill. This view is looking away from Grasmere. I happened to glance back along the track and saw what turned out to be the best shot of the day! Worth clicking on to see large IMNHO.

Canon 5D

First signs of spring

Crocuses at Saltwell park - Gateshead

Horse chestnut buds

Mallard with amorous intentions!

Penshaw Monument - Again

I've more photos of Penshaw Monument than you can shake a stick at, but I've not seen this particular cloud formation, matching the hill below, before and I couldn't resist yet another photo.

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