Latest news with #JosephWilliamson
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Liverpool's Williamson Tunnels to stay open after £23k raised
An under-threat heritage centre dedicated to preserving a mysterious labyrinth of tunnels in Liverpool has raised cash to help secure its future after its rent was unexpectedly hiked city's Williamson Tunnels were built in the early 19th century for eccentric businessman Joseph Williamson and rediscovered by volunteers in the 1990s before opening to the public in last week, the Joseph Williamson Society, which manages access to the tunnels, revealed its annual ground rent was set to rise from a nominal fee to a commercial rate of £20,000 which was completely "beyond the means" of the David Bridson said the society now had "breathing space" after a fund-raising campaign gathered £23,000 - more than enough to pay for a further 12 months. The charity now wants to raise £275,000 to buy the freehold outright and secure its future. "We are over the first financial hurdle," Mr Bridson said."We've got some security for 12 months which hopefully gives us the time to raise the money to purchase the freehold."In the long term, the only way to ensure that the centre continues is to purchase the freehold on the site so we need to keep up the fundraising effort and try to reach the £275,000 asking price." The history of the tunnels is surrounded in mystery. Joseph Williamson was a rich tobacco merchant who lived in Liverpool in the early 19th he retired at 49 he spent a huge part of his fortune building tunnels in the Edge Hill district of are many theories surrounding why the tunnels were built, from simply a way of giving unemployed people a day's wages to creating arches over existing quarry pits to enable land above to be built suggestions include that they were originally created by the Knights Templar, due to their chapel-like structures, or they were a huge shelter to escape an oncoming disaster. Nobody knows for Williamson died in 1840, work on the tunnels stopped and they fell into disrepair. And, after being used as rubbish dumps, the local authority filled them in during the the 1990s, a group of volunteers set about excavating the tunnels and the Joseph Williamson Society was created. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Williamson Tunnels face closure after rent hike says volunteers
A heritage centre dedicated to preserving the legacy of Liverpool's mysterious labyrinth of underground tunnels could close forever "unless a miracle occurs", its manager has Williamson Tunnels, built by local people in the early 19th century for eccentric businessman Joseph Williamson, were rediscovered by volunteers in the 1990s and opened the public in David Bridson said the centre which manages visitor access has been told by the owners of the site that it must now pay a commercial rent after 25-years paying a nominal said the new demand had come form property receivers acting for Goldcrest Finance, which has been contacted for comment,. Mr Bridson said volunteers cannot raise the cash then centre "has to be out by 6 June". The heritage centre has said the site had been occupied by a freeholder who had defaulted on a payment, which meant Goldcrest had stepped in. 'Out of reach' Joseph Williamson was a rich tobacco merchant who lived in Liverpool in the early 19th he retired aged 49 he spent a huge part of his fortune building tunnels in the Edge Hill district of he died in 1840, work on the tunnels stopped and fell into disrepair and, after being used as rubbish dumps, the local authority filled them in during the the 1990s, a group of volunteers set about excavating the tunnels and the Joseph Williamson Society was created, with the tunnels opening to the public in Bridson said while the receivers had offered the society a new lease it would be at the commercial rate of £20,000 which he said "is way beyond the society's means" and the proposed cost of buying the freehold at £275,000 was "way out of our reach"."Unless a miracle occurs in the next few weeks, the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre will be closing for good," he said."So the last day we are going to be open to the public is going to be Sunday."He said if the society could raise the money needed for the annual rent it would give them a year potentially identify other means of funding. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
