The origin of the grotto is unknown. There is no doubt that these tunnels saved hundreds of innocent lives during the war years. These days the tunnels are a popular tourist attraction but due to their long and colourful history, are subject to ghost stories. 7 talking about this. Thanks to the quick work of labourers, the air raid shelter was constructed in just nine months. In the First World War the castle was used by the Navy to control ship movements in and out of Dover harbour. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Derelict Kent: Hauntingly stunning pictures show the abandoned landmarks left to rot. My goal is to showcase the obscure, sometimes historic, forgotten places I have visited across the Southeast. Saturday, August 24, 1940 is a date forever etched in the town's existence. It may not display this or other websites correctly. But what lurks behind a lot of them and the Greater London area is a bunch of disused and abandoned buildings that have either not kept up with the changing pace of the city or just simply been left behind… "After so many people were made homeless by the bombs they just moved into the tunnels permanently. The tunnel was eventually closed in July 1985. Our. Something went wrong, please try again later. A total of 31 civilians were killed. She said: "It was like one big family down there, everyone knew each other. The dark underground world which once existed is open to the public today, for people to explore and try and envisage exactly what life would have been like all those years ago. If anyone wishes to visit South Foreland Battery in St Margarets (2 x deep shelters and 2 x plotting rooms) Please feel free to PM Philip Holyer for access. The tunnels are believed to be more than 100 years old and were thought to have been used in both world wars. All images posted on the forum remain copyright of the original poster. . Nettleden is a massive resource of information on interesting and forgotten locations across the UK. 16 talking about this. Deep in the inky blackness of subterranean Ramsgate, there lies a network of tunnels which once housed up to 1,000 people during some of the most troubled years of the town's history. High streets are the backbone of Kent but they face a daily battle against major chains and the dangers of crime. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Hundreds of 'Little Ships' set sail for the trapped troops as they waited patiently for rescue. It is not a place for the faint-hearted however and only a few urban explorers dare to tread inside. ATTENTION PLEASE. The caves were opened as a tourist attraction in the 20 th century, telling the story of the Druids, Romans and Saxons. Vessels from all over the UK, including a seizable number from Kent, answered the call to rescue their stranded army. From secret Cold War hideouts to vast Victorian asylums, from deserted villages to lost settlements on the coast. In Ashford, a small underground cell exists beneath shops in the town centre. Tragically, around 1,200 houses were destroyed or damaged in the raid of 1940. There were barbers down there, greengrocers, everything. March 26, 2020 by William Kent Krueger I’ve driven Interstate 40, which follows historic Route 66, many times. Tunnels were dug beneath the castle's great towers to undermine them. 10. Atlas Obscura is your guide to the world's hidden wonders. When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. From ruined hill-top castles to floating hotels, Kent has its fair share of abandoned buildings - here we look at some of the most interesting. Dover Castle is considered Kent's most haunted castle and there are reports of Second World War soldiers sighted wandering around its endless tunnels. After falling on hard times Chippewa Lake went bankrupt and was left abandoned. You can unsubscribe at any time. In 2016, my obsession with the forgotten and abandoned inspired me to create this blog. My name is Leland Kent and I have had an interest in abandoned places ever since I was a kid.