Visit drakelow tunnels on your trip to kidderminster or. Tunnels was critically well received, although some complaints about its lengthy, slow start were recorded. By taking the reader through a brief introduction and history to a comprehensive discussion of how the geological factors affect tunneling, the author covers the stages and technology that are common today without using. The ghosts and spirits that haunt drakelow tunnels are thought to be those people that have died tragically here. The name tunnel book probably came from the fact that many of these types of books were created to celebrate the building of the tunnel under the thames river in london in the mid19 th century.
Near birmingham, england three and a half miles of topsecret tunnels housed a world war ii shadow factory and a cold war nuclear bunker. Their tragic deaths and believed to account for most of the activity in tunnels 14 and legend has it that their names were carved into the sandstone. Drakelow tunnels, which were built in 1941, cover some 280,000 square feet beneath the ground of kingsford park. Sunday wanders this week i ventured to the outskirts of kidderminster, to explore drakelow tunnels.
Drakelow tunnels kidderminster 2020 all you need to know. The tunnels were used by the rover group and became known as. Father and son dig notquitelegal tunnels around london, unearthing victorian jars, codswallop bottles, 18thcentury nails and other detritus of the citys history. Old, dark places are prime candidates for ghostly tales. Feb 27, 2018 drakelow tunnels, which were built in 1941, cover some 280,000 square feet beneath the ground of kingsford park. This newly excavated underground tunnel reveals how 83. For years we have heard talk of turning the abandoned railroad tracks of the reading viaduct north of center city into park space that would showcase philadelphias rich industrial past.
If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Hardcover january 1, 1972 by patrick beaver author visit amazons patrick beaver page. If the title tunnels seems vaguely familiar, it may be because youve. This first book in the tunnels series boasts an intriguing premise.
Discover drakelow tunnels in cookley, united kingdom. Buy a cheap copy of tunnels book by roderick gordon. Found it difficult to hear the guide who took us round, he was very quietly spoken. Roderick selfpublished a book in 2005 called the highfield mole that caught the eye of barry cunningham, founder of chicken house, a publisher of childrens books. Drakelow tunnels cookley, united kingdom atlas obscura. A thrilling cold war narrative of superpower showdowns, media suppression, and two escape tunnels beneath the berlin wall in the summer of 1962, the year after the rise of the berlin wall, a group of young west germans risked prison, stasi torture, and even death to liberate friends, lovers, and strangers in east berlin by digging tunnels under the wall. Nov 20, 2016 the tunnels escapes under the berlin wall and the historic films the jfk white house tried to kill by greg mitchell illustrated. Tunnels by roderick gordon and brian williams books. During the construction of drakelow tunnels several tragic accidents occured, resulting in the deaths of six men and one woman. The story follows will burrows, a 14yearold archaeologist, who stumbles upon an underground civilization called the colony. Journalist mitchell atomic coverup illuminates a halfforgotten but nasty episode in the annals of cold war history. Drkelow tunnels were designed in 1939 and took 2000 men until 1943 to complete.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. View all hotels near drakelow tunnels on tripadvisor. It was subsequently rereleased as tunnels in july 2007 and, after a degree of med. It is the first book in the tunnels series, and was followed by deeper 2008, freefall 2009, closer 2010, spiral 2011 and. The drakelow tunnels were constructed during the 2nd world war as a secret factory for rover, who made engines for the raf during the war. The drakelow tunnels are a former underground military complex beneath the blakeshall estate north of kidderminster, worcestershire, covering 280,000 sq ft 26,000 m2, with a total length of around 3. Drakelow tunnels ghost hunts, kidderminster ghost hunts. What started as wishful thinking, developing both the underground city branch and the elevated viaduct, has become more hopeful with funding from foundations and organizations. The drakelow tunnels are a former underground military complex beneath the blakeshall estate north of kidderminster, worcestershire, covering 280,000 sq ft 26,000 m 2, with a total length of around 3.
Formerly known as drakelow underground dispersal factory the facility was also to be used as one of rover back up factories should any of there normal above ground facilities be destroyed. In august 1961, infuriated by the exodus of its citizens, sovietbacked. They also have a good understanding of the history of that time to for the drakelow story into what was happening in the world at the time and how it. Includes photos and info on other underground sites. This is an exlibrary book and may have the usual libraryusedbook markings inside. The book placed on the new york times childrens chapter books bestseller list in february and march 2008. The tunnels were used by the rover group and became known as the rover shadow factory, it was used to build parts. The placename means dragons mound, indicating a burial place with a. The drakelow tunnels are a former underground military complex beneath the blakeshall estate north of kidderminster, worcestershire, covering 280,000 sq ft 26,000 m2. The first and most traumatic series of deaths occured on the 31st october 1941, as a roof collapsed in tunnel 1, this is documented in rovers archives. The story of desperate east germans crossing over, digging under, and crashing through the berlin wall.
Buy tunnels tunnels 1 1 by roderick gordon, brian williams isbn. When wills father vanishes, will and new friend chester follow his trail into an underground city, the colony. Nov 23, 2010 the drakelow tunnels were excavated into a wooded hillside near kinver in staffordshire between 1941 and 1943. The network was initially built as an underground facility by the british government in which the rover car factory, which turned its capacities to help the war effort, was to manufacture engines for the bristol aeroplane company. The only modern guide to all aspects of practical tunnel construction practical tunnel construction fills a void in the literature for a practical guide to tunnel construction. Drakelow is first recorded as dracan hlawe in a grant of land made by king edward in 942 a. Using interviews, recently declassified state department files, unreleased film footage, and stasi archives, mitchell atomic coverup. They were originally dug as an underground shadow factory for rover, who were at the time producing aircraft engines for the war.
The tunnels escapes under the berlin wall and the historic films the jfk white house tried to kill by greg mitchell illustrated. The placename means dragons mound, indicating a burial place with a guardian spirit. Gr 59roderick gordon and brian williams fantasy chicken house, 2007 is an exciting story about two 14yearold boys, will and chester, who discover, while digging a tunnel, a strange and dangerous civilization underneath modern london. Drakelow tunnels is the only publicly accessible wwii shadow factory and cold war bunker in the uk. The tunnels were built between 19411942 as a shadow factory for the rover car company. However, the station was actually located in the county of derbyshire, in the east midlands. The film, based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the story of how british commonwealth prisoners escaped from stalag luft iii in sagan now zagan, poland, in nazi germany. Throughout history, tunnel books have often been used to commemorate certain events. The bunker is not open to the public without booking. Drakelow tunnels are a former top secret underground military complex beneath kingsford country park north of. Hidden away in beneath kingsford country park near kinver in staffordshire, these terrifying tunnels are 3. Drakelow power station refers to a series of three now demolished coalfired power stations located 2.
While the looming moral decisions make this book intense, it tends to drag in certain areas. The tunnels is a gripping tale about heroic individuals defying an authoritarian state at a critical moment in the cold war. If the title tunnels seems vaguely familiar, it may be because youve seen or heard some of the hype surrounding this book. Mar 22, 2017 drkelow tunnels were designed in 1939 and took 2000 men until 1943 to complete. We went on a group tour of the tunnels, it is fascinating and full of history. Drakelow tunnels are a former top secret underground military complex beneath kingsford country park north of kidderminster, worcestershire. It was initially selfpublished as the highfield mole in 2005, and rereleased as tunnels by chicken house in 2007. Theres just something about underground caverns and civilizations thats almost automatically appealing, and this is a particularly rich and nasty one, with cultish overtones and hints of an ancient history. This information has been broken down into four subsections located on the left. History we have gathered historical information, documents and articles from various sources, which relate to the subject matter of our presentations and moose jaw in general. Thus far in regards to the book weve tunnels feedback people have never but left. Oct 08, 2017 sunday wanders this week i ventured to the outskirts of kidderminster, to explore drakelow tunnels.
Oct 18, 2016 a thrilling cold war narrative of superpower showdowns, media suppression, and two escape tunnels beneath the berlin wall in the summer of 1962, the year after the rise of the berlin wall, a group of young west germans risked prison, stasi torture, and even death to liberate friends, lovers, and strangers in east berlin by digging tunnels under the wall. The guided tour round drakelow tunnels was very well presented and the volunteers all very knowledgeable and keen to discuss the history and features of drakelow tunnels and the surrounding area. During the history of drakelow tunnels there were 6 rumoured deaths as a result of a roof collapse, another following an impact with a truck and 2 men apparently died while riding the conveyors. The story of an outcast boy, his eccentric dad, and the scary underground world they discover through secret tunnels. Capturing the chilling reach of the stasi secret police, u. Definitely a location for all ghost hunters to experience. Humans have been digging through things for a long time, so the world isnt short of tunnels with more history than lighting. Jul 14, 2007 tunnels by roderick gordon and brian williams 464pp, chicken house. Kai bird, author of the good spy when you have read the last page of greg mitchells the tunnels you will close the book but not. Tunnels by roderick gordon and brian williams is a very long book. They were originally built as a second world war shadow factory, and were developed during the cold war to be a fallback. Drakelow tunnels kidderminster 2020 all you need to. Tunnels is a subterranean fiction novel by british authors roderick gordon and brian williams. People have often spoken of seeing figures that dart behind walls and footsteps that follow them as they make their way through the vast amount of rooms here.
The drakelow tunnels were excavated into a wooded hillside near kinver in staffordshire between 1941 and 1943. Burrows, has recently disappeared, and the boy has reason to believe that his dad may have discovered the entrance to this underground. Although not open all year round, the bunker is open when various events take place that include history tours, paranormal tours and airsoft games. The power station was a distinguishable landmark of burton, which is most famous for its. Please note the image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item. Exploring the abandoned tracks of reading viaduct underground.
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