Stodhart Tunnel

Stodhart Tunnel is a railway passage through the hillside near Chapel-en-le-Frith, built with curved gritstone walls forming an elliptical shape that extends about 90 meters. The south opening remains visible within Stodhart House grounds, though the north entrance has been obscured by later road construction.

Built between 1795 and 1796 by engineer Benjamin Outram, this passage formed part of the Peak Forest Tramway for transporting limestone from nearby quarries to the canal network. The project marked an important phase in early railway engineering when such routes served industrial rather than passenger needs.

The tunnel represents early industrial transportation infrastructure and maintains Grade II* listed status for its architectural and historical value in British railway development.

You can view the south opening from Stodhart House grounds, which provides straightforward access to see this structure. The location is easy to reach on foot and requires no special preparation for a visit.

This tunnel ranks among the oldest surviving railway tunnels in Britain and was built purely for cargo movement rather than passenger travel. Its construction displays early engineering methods that became standard practice in later tunnel building.

Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith

Part of: Peak Forest Tramway

GPS coordinates: 53.33200,-1.91700

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:47