Derbyshire's Secret Underground Fuel Tanks - Dove Holes

[@Ckearpf]

Fun Fact: if you're driving through Dove Holes, you can't stop your car or the residents will crawl out from the sewers and strip it for parts.

[@ParcBlondel]

When folks say that we can't put electric cables under the ground, it's worth remembering that the pipeline here was built during night-time and covered over during the day so taht any passing German reconnaissance aircraft wouldn't spot it! The things we "can't" do now ek?

[@Leock]

It’s amazing to think that was the case our country can’t even dig a 1 by 1 foot hole within a day now.

[@bongofury3176]

litter picking is for heroes. good man

[@Leock]

I wouldn’t go that far but thank you!

[@julianchambers8372]

A guy who worked for Esso told me about an underground pipeline from Southampton up to Nottingham. I guess this was installed during the war too. Also I live on the NE Derbyshire North Notts area. We had vast ammunition storage facilities in this area.

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

You're inspiring me to resume my litter-picking activities again. Liked the video.

[@Leock]

That’s wonderful to hear, thank you :)

[@sparkiegaz3613]

There are big underground fuel tanks in portsdown hill north or portsmouth apparently they were accessible for many years but blocked up now .

[@PhilbyFavourites]

I took a walk through those in the mid 80’s (was it really 40 years ago) They were under the authority of the Oil Fuel Depot Gosport and I got a guided tour as part of a role I held back in the day. The entrance was tucked up in deepest Paulsgrove with some access points that can still be seen to the north of the top of the hill road. My abiding memory was that I was participating in Dr Who episode. Very creepy…..

[@briancooper562]

There where rail sidings on the estate you mention across the road from the station. You would think Derbyshire council would know about the pipe across country but they dumped a lot of rock next to it when doing repairs at Burbage brook last year. I remember when the pipe was upgraded in the 60's and the 'this is not a footpath' signs which crossed the landscape at every wall crossing over the pipe.

[@t10694]

I believe Inchindown was naval fuel storage, supposedly supplied from Bowling, Glasgow using a pipeline (Britain's first major pipeline) built by American engineers and completed on the last day of WW1. It was reused for fuel in WW2, but only after it was extended out to Holy Loch (yes - the nuclear base) because the Americans said the Clyde was too narrow to reliably transport oil in tankers on, ie it was easily blocked by sunken ships.

[@Leock]

That’s really interesting I knew it was for naval fuel storage but anything else :)

[@mikeross5372]

Hi, I'm from near Inchindown and fully explored the tanks years ago. There's no long-distance pipeline associated with these tanks, and they weren't built until the 1930s - my dad knew some of the men who built them. They were purely 'reserve storage' for the large surface tank farm in Invergordon, a few miles down the hill from the tanks, which then supplied the fleet, and supplies came in by sea. Interestingly, the naval bunker oil was so viscous that the pipeline had to be heated at regular intervals to keep the stuff fluid enough to flow, and the tanks were heated too. The Invergordon tank farm is, finally, after decades of disuse, being demolished as I write this - but the underground tanks are very much still intact, and a local regularly conducts tours of the place. Google 'Corestore Inchindown' for my pics.

[@davedave6404]

Do any of you remember the Buncefield, Hertfordshire explosions 11th December 2005, disrupted fuel supplies to major airports and put NHS Data backup facility out of action.? Public knowledge and extensively reported. Apparently the bang was heard in France.

[@Leock]

I would have just turned 4 then so unfortunately not. However, it’s interesting and I’ve never heard of it before.

[@gringotom242]

Its great to learn about the local area from these videos!

[@Leock]

Thank you!

[@whyyoulidl]

Thx Leo, most interesting; you are my wombling explorer legend 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@Leock]

Aha wonderful, thank you!

[@BadGaming101]

in the year 2000 the pipe Government Pipelines and Storage System (GPSS) was burst in near by Furness vale by gas workers causing a mass evacuation covered by a live news broad cast .another thing that happened was when it was cloudy a helicopter used to travel over the pipes route daily till the satellites could see it again .

[@t10694]

I believe that it was fed by a pipeline spur from the E-W route from Backford to Misterton. I think the spur came off somewhere near the A6 / Hayfield Road junction - it was probably remodelled in that area when the dual carriageway was built. I have it on good authority that the small tunnel in the grounds of the Lodge Hall Care Home is 'pierced' by a pipeline - the obvious route (ready made !) to Dove Holes was probably along the High Peak Tramway.

[@Leock]

Smashing info I did wonder where the pipeline came through.

[@richardlilley6274]

Thank you for sharing

[@scopex2749]

Great video. You need to drop a go pro on a cord down that breather pipe - you will be surprised what you find! Ive seen an explorer on another site do something at a similar site WOW what a surprise he found. I served in the forces during the cold war and you will be pleased to know that pipelines STILL LINK the UK's major military bases direct from 'various places' We then connect hose trucks to 'hydrants' from those underground feed lines and pump fuel where we need it. I am not at liberty to say WHERE these run or to what bases - but they are there and very much still in use😉 I signed a piece of paper that says anyone who discloses it may be thrown in the Tower of London, torn apart by walking dead........... or worse.......😮 Also the UK's major airports also link into this system. This is generally known about.

[@Leock]

Thank you! I certainly like the idea of doing that if I could fit a go pro with a light on it down there. I can say it is a fascinating bit of our country’s infrastructure especially when so many other country’s are building or wanting to build the same thing we’ve had for 80 or so years.

[@westleymanc]

Good stuff, enjoyed that 👏

[@Leock]

Glad to hear!

[@Sterlingjob]

A map of some of the pipelines in the UK, doesn't include the ex GPSS.

[@melvance7281]

Jeezuz get these tanks back into operation. Add to the national reserve

[@harbourwoodlandvisitor2445]

I remember the fuel tanks next to the rail station in dove holes. i can remember the site changing its purpose from being a fuel storage site to being changed into a residential housing area. i used to vist a relative there. the house was cold and bleak just like the town itslf. it wasn't such a great place to see to be honest.

[@Leock]

Don’t think much has changed there Dove is still a bleak place.

[@m60kaf]

I remember the little area of the land on the left as the train from Stockport goes under the road bridge was a siding into there and as you walked from the bridge the whole area of new houses looked just like the other area that hasnt been built on. I presume they were connected and the railway one was to take fuel on tanker trains.

[@t10694]

The tanks beside the station were for lubricating oil, used 1939 to 1986.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

UK has a huge pipeline system and it is, of course, a secret. No trains of tank cars go to Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton et al, do they . . . ?

[@Brian3989]

The pipeline system is still operational. Though most storage sites have disappeared.

[@Leock]

Indeed.

[@Brian3989]

@@Leock The pipelines carry several different grades of fuels.

[@Pesmog]

A lot of the storage sites still exist, but they are no longer connected to the network. They would be very expensive to remediate so have been left and just have periodic safety inspections.

[@sidewaysaction9983]

Top man cleaning up.

[@Leock]

Thank you!

[@sidewaysaction9983]

@@Leock no seriously sir I take my hat off. Respect where its due.

[@fasthracing]

well you live and learn.

[@julianchambers8372]

OK thanks. J

[@buzzabuzza3494]

Informative video many thx and a special thank you for the litter pick has our country has become a filthy litter strewn embarrassment.👏👏

[@Leock]

Thank you, it does feel like I’m fighting a losing battle with the amount we have here but I try :)

[@Sarge084]

Now do the ones, still in active use, in Worcestershire, fed by the Avonmouth to Kingsford pipeline.

[@Leock]

Hopefully in the future :)

[@Brian3989]

Actually location is Kingsbury, near Tamworth. Busy site used by quite a few fuel companies for Midlands distribution.

[@julianchambers8372]

Hi brilliant information. I don`t live far away from this area. Could you please send me a copy of the map of the pipe lines and tec. as its not very clear on my lap top. Thanks J.

[@Leock]

media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D22AQH_LE5eEWuJmA/feedshare-shrink_800/0/1548832145422?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=W0qkUhzU9WX_UJIsauikOs-MkixjcO1yU_Fv2CTkNNA Unfortunately it’s not a very high resolution but there are others online new and old :)

[@brian.7966]

it's not a secret anymore, is it?

[@ONFGAMING]

HAHA LOL

[@davidculmer1520]

Well they are not secret now!

[@Leock]

Very true aha

[@arandonmusicvenue9431]

The photos of inchindown are of a naval depot, not part of this system.

[@Leock]

I suppose I should have given it a better description, I just wanted media of a fuel tank and there’s no better than Inchindown.

[@arandonmusicvenue9431]

@@Leock it is a great site, worth a visit to see inside if you get a chance.

[@Leock]

I’d love to if I ever ended up there

[@t10694]

Inchindown was hacked out of rock, a monstrous size, most fuel tanks were surface built and covered over. We live near Backford. If you send me your email address, I can send a google earth kmz and a few interesting pdfs. @@Leock

[@Blagger3000]

Not a secret anymore is it!

[@sidscrote7570]

Well its not a secret any more is it !!

[@Oligodendrocyte139]

Privated owned by a Spanish company😠

[@barryfoster453]

I have what I believe to be a great sense of humour, but I really don't think calling WW2 a "disagreement" is at all respectful of the fact that 75 million people died in it. It's frivolity. You can joke about it, all these years on, but actually using that term just doesn't sit right. And no, I'm not even Jewish. It's like saying someone with cerebral palsy has a tick. I realise you are young, but I think you shouldn't have said that.

[@Leock]

I do apologise and fully understand.

[@ElThomsono]

It's just classic British understatement; we're all students of history here, we know what happened, the subject doesn't always have to sombre.

[@andyn6266]

@@LeockDon’t apologise Leo,we know what you were referring to and although it was no laughing matter,not being so deep and dark by referring to it as a disagreement was fine. If Barry is so hung up about it,he should be annoyed at such programmes as “Dads Army” or “It ain’t half hot mum”,these and other comedy’s really extracted the ur**E out of the disagreement.

[@henrywildin]

Get a grip Barry.

[@aw-daf]

Get a grip man dude doesn’t deserve hate making good docs about ww2.