The Frome Tunnel team has discovered three new tunnels under the town.
The tunnels were identified by people taking part in the tunnel tours during this year’s Frome Festival.
“As has happened before on the tours, some participants gave an account of a tunnel they could remember from their childhood or passed on reports from neighbours,” explained Robin Hill from the Tunnel Team.
“We were particularly delighted to hear of two tunnels in the Gentle Street area, that seem to be additional to the deep one they have been investigating for a couple of years, that reputedly runs there from Willow Vale.”
The first report is of a tunnel from an old property lower down Bath Street, which runs from their cellar and under the hillside towards St John’s Church. The festival-goer recalled playing in it as a child and described it as tall enough for him to stand up in at the time. The tunnel apparently ran for some 50 yards. The tunnel team plan to seek permission to investigate. The two new ones in Gentle Street appear to run east to west, but are not necessarily connected. Neighbours’ first hand accounts suggest they run for some 200 yards up into Vicarage Street one way, and across towards Bath Hill the other.
Having undertaken a preliminary site visit, the team are convinced enough that a site excavation should be organised in the autumn. The property owner is keen to help as access is safe, simple and the work is mostly in the garden area.
The tunnel team’s Facebook page will publish details of the digs when they are organised, as they will be seeking volunteers to help. Digs usually take place over consecutive weekends. Just follow the Facebook page to receive updates.
