Eastern portal of Redcliffe Tunnel located!

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Eastern portal of Redcliffe Tunnel located!

Post by James »

I was in Bristol earlier today and had time to spare so I decided to have a wander and I just happened to stumble across the other end of Redcliffe tunnel...purely by chance of course ;)

if you go from Redcliffe Way, up Pump Lane (cobbled, next to church), then you come to a "weak bridge". on your left is the cutting, with a brick wall separating the remaining triangular section of trackbed from the back garden of what i think is a block of flats called Townsend House, whose entrance is on the left, halfway up Pump Lane before the bridge. If you can get into the garden you should be able to get great pictures.

Alternatively, on the other side of the bridge, there is a line of temporary fencing like you find on building sites, and strangely, sets of metal stairs going down the side of the cutting to the trackbed. I wasn't going to risk it, but it should be easy to squeeze past ;)

The tunnel mouth is bricked up, but there appears to be a window or some opening...it's a little hard to see from on top of the cutting!

Something strange I noticed about the bridge: On the west side (right when facing up the hill), you can clearly see a small section of the top of a brick arch in the stone wall, as if the bridge was built later, and butted up against the existing tunnel mouth and wall, instead of building a new parapet.

Wish I'd taken pictures now, but hey, that's your job :mrgreen:
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Re: Eastern portal of Redcliffe Tunnel located!

Post by madhattie »

James wrote:if you go from Redcliffe Way, up Pump Lane (cobbled, next to church), then you come to a "weak bridge". on your left is the cutting, with a brick wall separating the remaining triangular section of trackbed from the back garden of what i think is a block of flats called Townsend House, whose entrance is on the left, halfway up Pump Lane before the bridge. If you can get into the garden you should be able to get great pictures.
Hi James,

Well, you inspired me to go and have a look and I wandered around Townsend House but there was no way into the gardens. I did stick my camera above my head at one of the gates and got as good a pic of the portal as I'm going to get I think. It was a horrible cold and wet day though, so i don't know how the pics will turn out. (next update hopefully)
James wrote: Alternatively, on the other side of the bridge, there is a line of temporary fencing like you find on building sites, and strangely, sets of metal stairs going down the side of the cutting to the trackbed. I wasn't going to risk it, but it should be easy to squeeze past ;)
I saw that, but didn't fancy it much to be honest, it didn't look either very legal, or very safe :P

James wrote: Something strange I noticed about the bridge: On the west side (right when facing up the hill), you can clearly see a small section of the top of a brick arch in the stone wall, as if the bridge was built later, and butted up against the existing tunnel mouth and wall, instead of building a new parapet.
I forgot to look for that, which means I shall have to go back and take another look... doh! :oops:

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Re: Eastern portal of Redcliffe Tunnel located!

Post by James »

James wrote: Something strange I noticed about the bridge: On the west side (right when facing up the hill), you can clearly see a small section of the top of a brick arch in the stone wall, as if the bridge was built later, and butted up against the existing tunnel mouth and wall, instead of building a new parapet.
I forgot to look for that, which means I shall have to go back and take another look... doh! :oops:

Pete[/quote]

I had a few pics left on my camera and since I was in Bristol I decided to use them up, so if it comes out then I have a pic of this feature...I'll send it to you once I get the film developed...in about a week maybe.
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madhattie
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Re: Eastern portal of Redcliffe Tunnel located!

Post by madhattie »

James wrote:I had a few pics left on my camera and since I was in Bristol I decided to use them up, so if it comes out then I have a pic of this feature...I'll send it to you once I get the film developed...in about a week maybe.
Excellent stuff, thankyou :P
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