Williamson's Tunnels, Underground sandstone tunnels in Edge Hill, England
Williamson's Tunnels form a network of hand-carved passages running beneath Edge Hill, with brick-lined chambers, curved arches, and sections at different depths. The pathways connect various locations underground and continue to reveal new areas as excavation work progresses.
Joseph Williamson, a prosperous tobacco merchant, initiated the excavation around 1810 and employed many workers to dig these passages for three decades. The true purpose of the undertaking remains unclear, but it provided crucial income during Liverpool's economic troubles.
The tunnels show how a wealthy merchant of the 1800s felt responsible for helping his community survive hard times. They reveal attitudes about business and social care that shaped Victorian Liverpool.
Tours depart from the Heritage Centre, which displays findings and explains the ongoing excavation work taking place beneath the city. Wear sturdy shoes with good grip, as the ground is uneven and sections can be damp or slippery underfoot.
Thousands of artifacts from different periods have been uncovered during excavation work, ranging from pottery to everyday household items and personal belongings. These discoveries offer windows into the lives of people who spent time in the passages centuries ago.
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This collection showcases Liverpool's main monuments, museums, and cultural sites, a busy port in the northwest of England. The city grew from maritime trade and still shows this history in its renovated docks, maritime museums, and Victorian buildings along the Mersey River. Liverpool also has art...
St Anne's Church, Edge Hill
117 m
Church of Saint Mary
326 m
Edge Hill War Memorial at St Mary's Church
303 m
1, 1A, and 1B, Church Mount
298 m
8, Church Mount
271 m
Lamp Standard On Triangular Island
271 m
Memorial in yard of Church of St Anne
104 m
Saint Mary's Vicarage
359 m
134-170, Smithdown Lane
234 m
The Spine, Liverpool
492 m
Presbytery to Church of Saint Anne
94 m
24, Marmaduke Street
244 m6 And 7, North View
402 m
Numbers 41 And 43 And Garden Wall
355 m
1-7, Wavertree Road
221 mNumber 45 And Garden Wall
338 m26, Marmaduke Street
234 m28, Marmaduke Street
229 mNumbers 35 And 37 And Garden Wall
373 m8 And 9, North View
398 m13, Towerlands Street
306 m4, Church Mount
277 mNumber 39 And Garden Wall
364 mNumber 33 And Garden Wall
377 m2 and 2A, Church Mount
277 mWilliamson Tunnels Heritage Centre
200 mNumber 47 And Garden Wall
331 mWilliamson Tunnels
219 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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