Skip to main content

Charmouth Tunnel

Beaminster Tunnel is said to be the oldest pre-railway road tunnel still in use in Britain. It opened with great ceremony on 29th June 1832. Yet not too far away there was another even earlier tunnel. This opened in January 1832 with equally resplendent ceremony. This was Charmouth Tunnel built by the Bridport Turnpike Trust through Thistle Hill which eased the climb over the ridge on the road from Charmouth to Axminster.


On the centenary of Charmouth Tunnel’s opening, the Western Gazette of January 8th 1932 reproduced  a 100 years-old report from the Hants Advertiser:

‘The opening of the tunnel between Charmouth and Axminster took place on Monday last. It was arranged that His Majesty’s royal mail should first traverse the tunnel. About one o’clock both coaches were seen approaching the tunnel in opposite directions the one from London was first to pass through, and was almost instantly succeeded by the other from Exeter, amidst the loud cheers and congratulations of a delighted multitude; these could not have been less than 1,200 to 1,300 persons present. Sumptuous dinners were provided at the Mail Coach and George Inns where large and respectable parties partook of them.’

‘An excellent band from Bridport attended and enlivened the scene.’

Upon its opening, it was claimed that Charmouth Tunnel avoided the steepest hill between Exeter and London. The tunnel closed in 1990 when a bypass was built. It then became a shooting centre which would have been quite a surprise to the men who built it.


The George Inn, Charmouth provided ‘sumptuous dinners’.










Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Panda Pops

Panda  Blue Rasperry Ade, Strawberry Jelly & Ice Cream and Casper Ghostly Limeade were all unique soft drink flavours produced by the Panda Pops brand owned by Badger Beers. Panda Pops were often sold in small bottles of fizzy drink that were as sweet and sticky as it was as possible for them to be. Other popular Panda Pop flavours were Cherry Ade and Bright Green Cola. Even more singular blends could be concocted by mixing two or more flavours in a Panda Pops mixing bowl. Panda Cola achieved a sort of cult status and there is even a song, ‘ Warm Panda Cola’ . While among Panda aficionados there was even the spoof blend of Princess Diana Memorial flavour! The Blandford drink competed remarkably well against American giants Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola. Panda Pops date back to the 1960s when the Blandford brewer dropped the name of Sunparlor for its soft drink brands. Sunparlor had also been the name of a winning race horse owned by a member of the Woodhouse family. Cream soda was...
3 comments
Read more

Blandford Races

It might not have been Ascot, Epsom or Aintree but Blandford Races was once quite an important event in the county’s social calendar. Blandford Races date back to 1603 and were held on the downs which today would be part of Blandford Camp. Meetings continued until the middle of the 19 th  century with few breaks in between. The longest interruption was when Oliver Cromwell was Head of State and Government. As Lord Protector he was not amused by such events. Apart from horse racing, there were other entertainments. These included wrestling matches, cock fighting and dancing. Much feasting took place which was highly lucrative for the town. In 1780, cudgel playing was advertised and resulted in a Shaftebury man losing his left eye. This was then replaced by a sword and dagger contest between the gentlemen of Dorset and Somerset. One of the race patrons was Lord Palmerston who was later to be Prime Minister. In 1824, he had had a winner, Luzborough in the Dorsetshire Gold Cup. No...
2 comments
Read more

Dorset History with an Aussie Flavour.

  From Dorset Gallows to Van Diemen’s Land is the unlikely but true story of political corruption, hangings and transportation in the small market town of Blandford in Southern England.  It is available as a paperback from  Amazon in the United Kingdom, Australia and the USA. The book uncovers the extraordinary tale of two ordinary men, George Long a shoemaker and Richard Bleathman a butcher. Driven by belief and dissatisfaction they are swept along by events. Sentenced to be hanged in Dorchester Gaol for their protests against political corruption they are instead, following clemency appeals,  transported to Van Diemen’s Land -  on the other side of the world. ‘A fascinatingly  good read.  This book entirely complements the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs - also transported to Australia.’ (Richard Holledge, newspaper editor, freelance journalist - London. As read in the Independent, New York Times & Financial Times. Author of   Voices of the M...
Post a Comment
Read more