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’.

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