Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Tunnel from Oxton T.A to Noctorum Dell?

I have been avidly reading about the Bidston Hill and Tranmere shelters on here and would like to know if anyone has heard about a tunnel from near the T.A base in Oxton which runs to Noctorum Dell?

I had some info on this from someone who claims to have been down there, he said the entrance is inside a small building in Oxton and exits inside someones house(!) in Noctorum Dell. Sorry about the lack of detail but I will try and find more information and post it here.

I know an ex army buddy who works there as a civilian storeman so i will ask him if he knows of anything

never heard anything but the girlfriends dad is quite high in the T.A and works there every tuesday evening so will get her to ask him if you want me to?

Just spoke to my mate and he siad there are big cellars but no tunnel that he is aware of but he is now on a mission and will let me know what he finds

Hi, thanks guys thanks for the response . Just to clarify a little - the person who told me about this tunnel said it was NEAR the T.A base he also mentioned Chetwyn(?, but I don't think he meant IN the base.

I do have doubts about the reliabilty of the person who told me this info, as the first time he told me this story he said he watched his friends go down the tunnel, while on second telling he says he went through it with them. So I hope nobody is on a wild goose chase with this one. Next time I see him i will try and get him to show me the entrances.

The name Chetwyn rings a bell with me. Is that one of the big houses that stand around there?

I know there are trenches in the grounds of Birkenhead School near the head's house under the trees - played there with my cousin when his dad was a caretaker there.

The T.A. centre, Chetwynd, is on the corner of Bidston Rd. & Wexford Rd., opposite the junction with Beresford Rd. I know the head's house in Beresford Rd. well; I went to Birkenhead School myself. Where exactly is Noctorum Dell?

Cheers, Chris.

The nearest "tunnel" to this area I know of is a water tunnel that runs from Flaybrick Waterworks to nr. Mere Hall, Oxton. The tunnel was driven as part of the Alwyn Aqueduct scheme. Unless you've got gills, access would be a no-no.

Confirmation of another tunnel would be VERY interesting !

I have just googled the two locations and if there is a tunnel one thing that springs to mind is WHY

It is part of the Alwyn pipeline. Brings water from Llyn Alwen in Denbighshire to Birkenhead. Pipeline most of the way. Tunneled section at Bwlch Tunnel (Clwyd Gate Hotel). Pipes to Connah's Quay. Tunnel under the Dee nr. old BSC steelworks. Pipes to Thingwall Reservoir. Pipes to Mere Hall Tunnel. Tunnel to Flaybrick.

That's the long-winded bit. The short answer to your question ... WATER !!

Wow Pinzgauer - you are a mine of information!

SO IS THERE A TUNNEL ?

I dont believe there is a tunnel there for a minute, i knocked around Oxton & the Nocy when i was a kid and never heard anything about that. In addition, the distance from the area of the T.A base to the dell is too far for an old man made tunnel.

Sorry Guys