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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
‘Eerie portal to a lost world' that lies beneath council estate – network of abandoned tunnels left to rot for 60 years
A body was discovered in the tunnels FROZEN IN TIME 'Eerie portal to a lost world' that lies beneath council estate – network of abandoned tunnels left to rot for 60 years A EERIE maze of tunnels left to rot under a council estate has been likened to a "portal to a lost world". They are buried deep beneath a quiet Greater Manchester housing estate, the 1,332-yard tunnel was closed over 60 years ago. 5 The tunnels run under a council estate in Manchester Credit: Facebook 5 One of the refuge points where workers would stand as the train passed Credit: Facebook Known as Lydgate Tunnel, this Victorian-era passage runs between Grotton and Grasscroft in Saddleworth, and was once part of the infamous Delph Donkey line on the London and North Western Railway. Opening in 1856, the tunnel was hailed as a triumph of engineering. The West Yorkshire Advertiser called it 'firmly built' with 'scarcely any vibration' as trains thundered through. But its construction came at a cost. Just a year before opening, labourer Luke Crossby, 31, tragically plunged to his death down an 85-yard shaft. In 1855, the Manchester Courier described how he 'missed the tub' and fell headfirst. His body was found 'much shattered' and the coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. For nearly a century, the tunnel echoed with the sound of steam engines, until the Delph Donkey line was axed in 1955, part of the controversial Beeching cuts that destroyed Britain's rail network. Freight trains rolled through for a few more years, but by 1964, Lydgate Tunnel was sealed off and left to the elements. Now, this creepy time capsule lies hidden beneath homes, fenced off from the public – but that hasn't stopped urban explorers from sneaking in and sharing spine-tingling photos online. Images posted to the Disused Railway Tunnels UK Facebook page show a haunting scene. Car graveyard with 300 classic vehicles abandoned in field goes up for sale – some can be driven straight from lot The tunnel's eastern entrance is bricked up, only accessible through a locked steel door or shuttered window. Despite six decades of abandonment, the brickwork inside is well-preserved. One explorer described it as 'a portal to another long-lost world', while another claimed mist 'hovered in layers… very eerie.' Comments flood in calling it 'spooky,' 'atmospheric,' and a 'forgotten gem.' Local residents shared memories of walking through the tunnel as children. One said: 'I was born just 30 yards from the Grotton end. "Walked it from the age of eight. The alcoves were there to shelter from oncoming trains.' Others slammed authorities for allowing such a 'stunning piece of Victorian craftsmanship' to fall into obscurity. 'All we had to do was maintain it, but instead we abandoned it,' wrote one user. Martin Zero, a content creator with a fascination with derelict buildings shared a video from the depths of the tunnels which has already been watched over 26,000 times. There are growing calls to bring Lydgate Tunnel back to life – not for trains, but for people. Martin pointed out the ventilation shafts and the refuges, which were where railway workers could hide for safety when a train passed through. Describing these refuges, Martin said: 'I think it's impressive. It's quite scary because when you look at that, you get the impression of what you're going through, what surrounds us, and what they've had to tunnel through to get here. 'You get the impression of what they were faced with when they were coming through the tunnel, just rock. I find it quite daunting, to be honest.' One YouTube user commented: 'I travelled on the Delph Donkey every day with my mum to Glodwick Road station in Oldham, where she worked. My dad also caught the train to Platts. "I was born in 1951, and on one occasion mice, bred in Delph for research, and dispatched by the Delph Donkey, escaped from their cages, and caused chaos amongst the passengers.' 5 It has become a hot spot for urban explorers Credit: Facebook 5 A body was discovered soon after the tunnels opened Credit: Facebook
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
‘Eerie portal to a lost world' that lies beneath council estate – network of abandoned tunnels left to rot for 60 years
A EERIE maze of tunnels left to rot under a council estate has been likened to a "portal to a lost world". They are buried deep beneath a quiet Greater Manchester housing estate, the 1,332-yard tunnel was closed over 60 years ago. Advertisement 5 The tunnels run under a council estate in Manchester Credit: Facebook 5 One of the refuge points where workers would stand as the train passed Credit: Facebook Known as Lydgate Tunnel, this Opening in 1856, the tunnel was hailed as a triumph of engineering. The West Yorkshire Advertiser called it 'firmly built' with 'scarcely any vibration' as trains thundered through. But its construction came at a cost. Just a year before opening, labourer Luke Crossby, 31, tragically plunged to his death down an 85-yard shaft. Advertisement read more on abandoned sites In 1855, the Manchester Courier described how he 'missed the tub' and fell headfirst. His body was found 'much shattered' and the coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. For nearly a century, the tunnel echoed with the sound of Freight trains rolled through for a few more years, but by 1964, Lydgate Tunnel was sealed off and left to the elements. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Now, this creepy time capsule lies hidden beneath homes, fenced off from the public – but that hasn't stopped urban explorers from sneaking in and sharing spine-tingling photos online. Images posted to the Disused Railway Tunnels UK Facebook page show a haunting scene. Car graveyard with 300 classic vehicles abandoned in field goes up for sale – some can be driven straight from lot The tunnel's eastern entrance is bricked up, only accessible through a locked steel door or shuttered window. Despite six decades of Advertisement One explorer described it as 'a portal to another long-lost world', while another claimed mist 'hovered in layers… very eerie.' Comments flood in calling it 'spooky,' 'atmospheric,' and a 'forgotten gem.' Local residents shared memories of walking through the tunnel as children. One said: 'I was born just 30 yards from the Grotton end. Advertisement "Walked it from the age of eight. The alcoves were there to shelter from oncoming trains.' Others slammed authorities for allowing such a 'stunning piece of Victorian craftsmanship' to fall into obscurity. 'All we had to do was maintain it, but instead we abandoned it,' wrote one user. Martin Zero, a content creator with a fascination with derelict buildings shared a video from the depths of the tunnels which has already been watched over 26,000 times. Advertisement There are growing calls to bring Lydgate Tunnel back to life – not for trains, but for people. Martin pointed out the ventilation shafts and the refuges, which were where railway workers could hide for safety when a train passed through. Describing these refuges, Martin said: 'I think it's impressive. It's quite scary because when you look at that, you get the impression of what you're going through, what surrounds us, and what they've had to tunnel through to get here. 'You get the impression of what they were faced with when they were coming through the tunnel, just rock. I find it quite daunting, to be honest.' Advertisement One YouTube user commented: 'I travelled on the Delph Donkey every day with my mum to Glodwick Road station in Oldham, where she worked. My dad also caught the train to Platts. "I was born in 1951, and on one occasion mice, bred in Delph for research, and dispatched by the Delph Donkey, escaped from their cages, and caused chaos amongst the passengers.' 5 It has become a hot spot for urban explorers Credit: Facebook 5 A body was discovered soon after the tunnels opened Credit: Facebook Advertisement 5 Local residents used to walk through the tunnels as children Credit: Facebook
STV News
25-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
Have you been eating your chocolate digestive wrong?
Since its creation in 1925, it's estimated that almost 5.8 billion packets of chocolate digestive biscuits have been sold in the UK alone, ITV News' Will Tullis reports The creators of the chocolate digestive biscuit, which has been made for the last 100 years, believes people been eating the biscuit wrong for decades. McVities, which makes one of Britain's most popular treats, says for 100 years people have eaten their digestive biscuits chocolate-side-up – when we should be eating them with the chocolate on the bottom. At their factory in Harlesden in north London, the company makes 13 million chocolate digestives each day – around 9,000 a minute. Mcvities says the biscuits should be eaten with the Chocolate side down. / Credit: ITV News Since its creation in 1925, it's estimated that almost 5.8 billion packets of chocolate digestive biscuits have been sold in the UK alone. Bill Bryson, an American author described the snack as a 'British Masterpiece'. On why people love the biscuit, Nina Sparks, Vice President of the supply chain for the UK and Ireland, said: 'It reminds you of coming home from school, the good times and the bad times, perfect with a cup of tea. It provides comfort for a lot of people.' 'In 100 years a lot has changed, but the chocolate digestive has stayed the same.' 'I've been doing it wrong all these years'. The biscuits are not just a British favourite as they are now enjoyed in around 50 countries. Nearly 10 million packets are exported from the UK each year, with Australia being the biggest market. The digestive name may not be the most appealing, but it comes from the belief that it had 'digestive' properties due to its use of baking soda in its original recipe. As early as 1829, an advert in the Manchester Courier newspaper claimed that digestives could 'keep the body in a regular state'. An advert in the Manchester Courier from 1829 said the biscuit was good for digestion. / Credit: McVities Fraiser, who has worked at the McVities factory for nearly three decades said the reason why the biscuit is such a favourite is due to its 'incredible taste, quality ingredients and the love from the British public.' 'The recipe hasn't changed in 100 years, it's just been refined and polished. 'It's a great ingredient, I don't know why people's tastes would change now. People love the chocolate digestive, and long may it continue.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
ITV News
24-04-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Have you been eating your chocolate digestive biscuit wrong?
The creators of the chocolate digestive biscuit, which has been made for the last 100 years, believes people been eating the biscuit wrong for decades. McVities, which makes one of Britain's most popular treats, says for 100 years people have eaten their digestive biscuits chocolate-side-up - when we should be eating them with the chocolate on the bottom. At their factory in Harlesden in north London, the company makes 13 million chocolate digestives each day - around 9,000 a minute. Since its creation in 1925, it's estimated that almost 5.8 billion packets of chocolate digestive biscuits have been sold in the UK alone. Bill Bryson, an American author described the snack as a "British Masterpiece". On why people love the biscuit, Nina Sparks, Vice President of the supply chain for the UK and Ireland, said: "It reminds you of coming home from school, the good times and the bad times, perfect with a cup of tea. It provides comfort for a lot of people." "In 100 years a lot has changed, but the chocolate digestive has stayed the same." "I've been doing it wrong all these years". The biscuits are not just a British favourite as they are now enjoyed in around 50 countries. Nearly 10 million packets are exported from the UK each year, with Australia being the biggest market. The digestive name may not be the most appealing, but it comes from the belief that it had 'digestive' properties due to its use of baking soda in its original recipe. As early as 1829, an advert in the Manchester Courier newspaper claimed that digestives could 'keep the body in a regular state'. Fraiser, who has worked at the McVities factory for nearly three decades said the reason why the biscuit is such a favourite is due to its "incredible taste, quality ingredients and the love from the British public." "The recipe hasn't changed in 100 years, it's just been refined and polished. "It's a great ingredient, I don't know why people's tastes would change now. People love the chocolate digestive, and long may it continue."
