The Blisworth Tunnel Mystery

Hey folks. If you like what we do please consider contributing via the following link:
/ everydisusedstation
www.paulwhitewick.co.uk
ko-fi.com/everydisusedstation
In this weeks video we take a look at Blisworth Tunnel and the original intended routes / alignment to see if we can find any evidence of their existence. There is a lot here to see if you walk over the top of the tunnel including a few of Outrams relics from the railway that went between the portals. The website we used and therefore credit for this story and information is here: www.blisworth.org.uk/images/T...
Thanks for watching.
Music: epidemicsound.com - Paid license.

[@NickBR57]

Just found your channel yesterday and I must have watched at least a dozen videos so far. Very interesting and made even more enjoyable by the presence of the lovely Rebecca ..

[@davywavy2141]

For those non - Northamptonians, "Cobblers" is the nickname for our local league one football team, which derived from our pre-eminence as a shoe and boot making town. Very interesting vid.

[@charliejames9698]

I remember back in the the 80s Northampton shoe company going back and get in second-hand top of the range shoes after price that's why I call memories thanks James

[@RichardWatt]

Padders shoes are still in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

[@gchampi2]

That's something I've never quite understood. Northampton is/was a centre for shoe/boot MAKING, not shoe/boot repairing. Cobblers are shoe repairers. Shoe MAKERS are Cordwainers. Surely, the team should be the Cordwainers, not the Cobblers???

[@Lichfeldian--Suttonian]

I once said to my (step) dad, who's family are Northamptonians (and Leicester), "Our family are full of cobblers", and he replied with a smile, "No, they are full of shoemakers", and he wasn't wrong; my late (step) grandfather could make a pair of "half pairs" from animal skin to finish product! Great video as usual.

[@adrianbryan5941]

Great vid guys....I've only just discovered your channel, via Wessex Ways. I'm Blisworth born and bred, spent my childhood playing around by the tunnel. Thought I knew most of the canal and tunnel history, but I've learnt lots there. Tony Marsh has written a wealth of historical stuff on Blisworth's History website....I shall tell his daughter about your video, I'm certain she'd take great interest. Ps although unpowered boats aren't allowed through the tunnel, my late partner Laura was part of the Blisworth Subterranean Canoe Club that used to paddle through after dark.....or rather paddle through after 'last orders'!

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

If you have just filmed that recently, it is a shame I did not know you were going to do it, as I am currently in that general area, and I would have happily given you a ride on my narrowboat through the current tunnel. Nice video.

[@pwhitewick]

Now that would have been ace!!

[@Bender24k]

Very interesting - thanks! Rebecca is too stylish to be forgotten anyway!

[@pwhitewick]

I agree

[@dilwyn1]

@@pwhitewick LOL!!! Fishing for "Brownie points" Paul?? Can't fault you though as I would do he same. Great vid too!! keep them coming, love the quality of research and information.

[@bugman293371]

I can see another channel name change to Rebecca & Paul to make up for forgetting to mention Rebecca at the end of this one!!

[@playwithmeinsecondlife6129]

I am of the opinion that Rebecca is the brains of this outfit.

[@malcolmsmith6615]

I passed through the tunnel for the very first time last year. We visited Stoke Bruerne museum while on the trip and discovered the story of the multiple attempts to build the tunnel. It sounds like one of the failed attempts actually got substantially built before they gave up. This was all news to me! Didn’t have time to explore as we had a tight schedule to keep and so this video is really interesting. I always love to see the physical evidence. It’s possible of course that the abandoned portals were never properly finished in brick or stone and were just shored-up workings. Even if it was finished it would be very likely they would have recovered the bricks for reuse. If so then there would be very little to see now. Who knows, there are so few records. Another brill video, thank you.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks malcolm. By the amount of abandoned shafts we definately assume they made quite a few headways.

[@neilbain8736]

I think what I like about these vids is it's some naturally curious people out for a ramble, taking a keen interest and suspicion in what they see; you actually get out there and do the legwork to find the archaeology. Three attempts plus a railway. That's determination. It would have been great to be a fly on the wall at all the boardroom meetings especially when the geologists got involved. Not only could the Egyptians build straight shafts, they never lost their portals either. Wonky shafts and a bloke back every year looking for a portal...

[@pwhitewick]

Whats more to love! Thanks Neil, thats exactly how we try and come across.

[@sheilastallard]

Poor Rebecca.........being forgotten by Paul, shame on you!!!!. Excellent video again. Keep Safe!

[@pwhitewick]

😬😬😬😬

[@stephenphillip5656]

Forget once... and you'll *always* be reminded!

[@billyruss]

Love this kind of detective work... I remember, years ago, using a very old 10" OS map to trace the line of an original tramway alignment that was later used in part by the GWR in the Forest of Dean - little bits of the original alignment remained but they would have been almost impossible to find without that old map - and they're probably all gone now. Great video guys!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Bill, we love making this type of video!

[@HoxieDan5369]

Well presented video. You two are fun to watch and what you document is so interesting. I lived in Northamptonshire from 1992 to 2018 and love Blisworth Tunnel area. I have seen and learned so much more than I thought i knew. Thanks. And Rebecca I am inspired to watch your channel seeing you in the background trying to get the camera operators/audience attention.

[@davidife597]

Poor Rebecca, how could you miss her out.

[@nicklowe536]

I bet Paul is reminded about forgetting Rebecca at every argument

[@JohnDoe-ox5ni]

@@nicklowe536 totally .She should launch her own channel .I'd watch it.

[@stevie-ray2020]

Shame on you Paul!

[@yclepe]

Let's hear more from Rebecca, she seems to have a lot of information and presents it well

[@minchmoorramblers6856]

She should have an Only Fans page.

[@mkendallpk4321]

Another great video! I learn a lot about your tunnels and canals from you two. And Paul you need to get a cue card so you don't forget Rebecca. I live only a few miles from a canal here in the USA called the Delaware and Raritan, which is a park as well as a water supply source for many towns. It is a very interesting walk too.

[@dickiedollop]

You both make such a fabulous partnership with your videos the chemistry couldn’t be better just like peas and carrots. Another Bobby dazzler info packed story of lost heritage.

[@bryan3550]

Another fascinating video! I'm not surprised that there were failures before the current tunnel was completed... Got an unwelcome shock when navigating the tunnel (both ways) in 1972. No-one warned me I would get drenched passing under each ventilation shaft by a shower of ground water!

[@pwhitewick]

Oooh. I wasnt aware it was that bad!

[@richardpettet9996]

Widebeams can pass through the tunnel but only before 8am and must be pre-booked. CRT staff have to attend both ends of the tunnel to stop any boats coming in the opposite direction.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Richard.

[@grahamhall8249]

Hi both, you are right in saying there were two more tunnels at Blisworth, I believe the first two were abandoned because of quicksand, then finally a third tunnel was built. Great video as usual, well put over.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Graham

[@RobertJohnDavis]

Just a quick note from the states to say how much I love your videos. It’s been 8 months since my last visit to England and I am missing it. If you are in Facebook, please feel free to post your videos on my railroad and industry preservation group Ahead of the Torch. They crew there will love what you do. We need a version of you two in the USA.

[@pwhitewick]

Robert thank you. Thats very kind. Feel free to post out videos in your group. Or at least the links to them.

[@robinnicholson4009]

Have been under Blisworth quite a few times ( and the gushing roof vent 200 metres in from the south, all over my crew) but never knew about the other potential tunnel alignments.

[@pwhitewick]

Fascinating little story when we started digging into it!... right up my street!

[@steveburbidge875]

My family had a coffin and chicken house making company there by the tunnel in the 1890s, it caught on fire one night and when the fireman turned up the hoses had holes drilled in them, true story, Burbidge Blisworth Coffin and chicken house makers.

[@pwhitewick]

We need to talk about this one day Steve.

[@RedFathom]

if you look at it from google earth you can view older satellite images and you can see some really interesting stuff in that field near the "north portal". in fact there is a sunken spot you can see now on google maps south west of the bend in the canal. the images from 2006 are incredible the angle of the light makes every bump stand out.

[@michaelpilling9659]

Brilliant! What a fabulous video. I doubt if many people who travel the GU canal know the history of the 3 tunnels. Now your film has brought the history to life. Many thanks.

[@pwhitewick]

Many thanks!

[@patrickjmorgan]

These tunnel and waterway explorations of yours are so enjoyable. We were on a motor home holiday with one of our kids and he plus me on our bike found the one at Chirk.

[@timleach3177]

Come on Paul don't forget your glamorous assistant 😁😁 , another great vid cheers guys

[@darrenpickering247]

Paul,Rebecca........and Matt, very interesting video, i love stuff like this

[@autisticlife]

This is very intresting. I have been there lots, traced out the route of Outrams tramway but knew nothing of the other tunnel allignments.

[@pwhitewick]

If we had a more time we would have tried more on the route. Saw a few bits but probably a lot more.

[@Transit_Biker]

Fascinating stuff!! Sounds like those tunnels and shafts should be stabilised somehow and blocked off for safety.

[@pwhitewick]

I couldn't agree more!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Very interesting as always. Best of luck to Tony on finding the tunnel portal oneday!

[@KGsPhotography]

Living not too far from Blisworth and regularly driving through, it is great to hear this insight into the tunnel. Excellent video both. Cheers Keith

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks keith.

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Fascinating - enjoyed that...

[@pwhitewick]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Haha I was born in Northamptonshire, many many years ago. Really enjoyed that, shame you didn’t find your portals but it was great anyways. Thanks so much for taking me along, please stay safe

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Linda, lets hope Tony keeps going back!

[@MrGig2010]

As always very interesting. I though the steeple of Stoke Bruerne church was used as one node for the alignment. My little boat (nearly) in one of your shots !

[@pwhitewick]

Ah yes, we heard this too. But the question is.... which alignment.

[@chrisoddy8744]

From what I can see on a map, the church tower lines up pretty well (almost perfectly, actually) with the current (in use) tunnel - not sure how they planned to link the previous efforts given that they used a different alignment without a similar reference point...

[@andrewholloway231]

The Grand Union is an amalgamation of several separate canals, the Grand Junction being one of them.

[@andyhill242]

I think this highlights the difficulties that these early navigation engineers faced and the sad cost in lives that the lack of surveying technology caused. Great video Rebecca oh and Paul. :-D

[@pwhitewick]

Yup, thankfully we have come a long way since!

[@buckieloon]

Another great video Paul & Rebecca.

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you.

[@simonballard6413]

Marvellous video, as always. Northamptonshire has some great tunnels, both canal and live railway: Braunston, Kilsby, Stowe Hill, Hunsbury Hill etc. I think Husbands Bosworth is just into Leicestershire. Then, of course there are Kelmarsh and Oxendon!

[@pwhitewick]

Yup we need to come back and do a few more!

[@barbhenderson4867]

Great video guys thanks Rebecca xx😂

[@shauntodd7123]

Rebecca and Paul great video. Made my monday night.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Shaun, a pleasure.

[@flinthillsmodelrailway]

I love Blisworth Tunnel, had many fun days on the canal there having lived in Milton Keynes . really enjoy watching your videos . Learn a lot.. nice you both have a hobby to share in

[@Sim0nTrains]

Lovely Video, and very interesting indeed, Can't believe you forgot Rebecca at the end lol Also during the BR Days the Cobbler was also known as the London Euston to Northampton service when they were loco hauled trains.

[@pwhitewick]

Ah brilliant, didn't know that Simon!

[@stevie-ray2020]

This is where LIDAR could be very useful in mapping al the anomalies in the landscape over the tunnels!

[@TrumpCardMAGA]

Too bad a local University couldn't get involved with some ground radar equipment considering how interesting this really is. Oh and PS thank goodness for The Tim Traveler giving you guys a shout out, I've been quite engaged with your content since I found it that way.

[@pwhitewick]

We loooove Tim. Glad you are enjoying the channel.

[@mikejames8951]

Enjoyed this most interesting video as usual. We travelled through the Blisworth tunnel on a widebeam canal boat in October 2018. Very early start as widebeams are only allowed through early in the morning with CRT staff in attendance to stop any other boats going through in the opposite direction. Can't remember the shafts but do recall the concrete ring type segments lining part of the tunnel which I understand are similar to those used on the channel tunnel.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup, I am sure they were used here as a trial first!

[@robinjones6999]

Top work guys - very educational as always - thanks

[@williamwelbourn7932]

Another great vid. Took me away from stage 4 lockdown for a quarter of an hour. Wonderful!

[@2H80vids]

Another excellent video guys. On these rare occasions when you get an 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 canal tunnel, how about trying to get a lift through the tunnel on a boat? Do both of you drive? One could film the journey, while the other moves the car to the other portal. With all your YT contacts, you could probably organise something before you went. Just a thought.😁

[@pwhitewick]

Not a bad idea at all. Unfortunately we had too much filming on top on this occasion so had to drive bck and forth to various bits to cram it all in.

[@2H80vids]

@@pwhitewick Maybe something for a future episode. Like I said, just a thought. I've been through quite a few of the remaining active tunnels on narrowboats but, I would imagine, the majority of folks will never have seen the inside of one. Have you ever seen any of the "Nicolson Guides"? They publish one for each of the canal systems, detailing bridges, tunnels, locks and canalside "businesses"🍻 - all set on excellent maps. The thing I like is that the canals run top-bottom on the page, rather than following the actual, directional course of the cut. They might be a handy aid to your research.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

very, very interesting indeed. i've walke the footpath over the canal tunnell where they used to walk the horses. Very close to the railway in places yet I never heard a train. keep searching folks.. sooo interesting. thank you

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Keith.

[@PurpleVision23]

litterally went here the other day to film the museum up to blisworth portal, we met the blacksmith and he took my camera and showed it around, if you dont mind id like to place a link in my video to your knowledge on these abandoned tunnel. This is my local area and more knowledge the better..

[@pwhitewick]

Very welcome, thank you.

[@tomasn3]

Just found your channel via Tim the traveller. And I love it! Can’t wait to binge watch all episodes

[@pwhitewick]

Wonderful Tomas, welcome to the channel.

[@ALWResearchTeam]

Brilliant video. Interesting that they had three goes at building a tunnel. The channel tunnel piece is very interesting too

[@stephenquinn6485]

Very intrigueing excellent vid Tunnel Detectives

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Stephen.

[@robin_marriott]

Don’t know if there’s anything worthy of a video but (fairly) local to here is a place called Helmdon where there’s a viaduct crossing another railway, both disused, a few bridges and some massive landscaping for all the railways. I drove through the other day and it looks cool but like I say, I’m not sure there’s any story there.

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely Robin. Interestingly we have filmed here in the last month and a video will follow shortly.

[@felixthecleaner8843]

way back in the early 60's me and other lads from St Johns School (near Tiffield) Towcester used to go down there on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon to smoke cigarettes - ah, the Good Old Days!

[@biggles50405]

Another very informative video guys Rebecca rocking a sixties vibe today.👍🙂

[@derricklewis5397]

absolute legends ! what a fantastic team

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Jimmey

[@rockhamstertactical9851]

Interesting and intriguing. 👍

[@andrewholloway231]

Wonderful video, thank you very much.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Andrew

[@TIMMEH19991]

I lived in Northamptonshire for several years and not only did I never have a cobbler, I never even knew they existed!

[@pwhitewick]

Cobblers....

[@TIMMEH19991]

@@pwhitewick seriously I didn't!!!

[@a11csc]

another super vid thanks and stay safe

[@yorgle]

You totally need to rent some Ground Penetrating Radar machinery for these quests. :D

[@pwhitewick]

That would be cool

[@Bolivar2012able]

DON'T FORGET YOUR SIDEKICK PAUL WHEN DOING YOUR OUTRO! ;)

[@carolinegray3150]

Interesting finding the hidden parts

[@chrisb012]

Wow, brilliant video.

[@nilo70]

Good morning guys , Cheers from California !

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Olin

[@LoveBristol]

To make up for forgetting Rebecca at the end, she should be given the microphone for most of the next video.

[@pwhitewick]

She is very much against this notion.... sorry. She does have a chanel of her own though.

[@LoveBristol]

@@pwhitewick Fair enough, although there's an idea for the next April 1st - just swap channels.

[@pwhitewick]

@@LoveBristol oooooh like it

[@saltleywsc]

Great Video I expected the mystery to be a bloke in a suit in the middle of the tunnel !

[@pwhitewick]

Hahaha....

[@TheLowerman]

New channel name, same great content and hosts. Been around since Every Disused Station.

[@pwhitewick]

Ahhh thanks.

[@mileshigh1321]

Very interesting history! Maybe you could meet up with Tony and try to find the portal together!

[@pwhitewick]

I would love that!

[@martdebs222]

Great vid you guys, Damn shame you didn't manage to find that portal!!!! Keep up the fantastic work 👍 👍👍👍

[@pwhitewick]

Let's hope Tony keeps visiting.

[@richardjellis9186]

Another great video guys. Keep'em coming. Rich😘

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Rich

[@carlwilson1772]

Very interesting as always.

[@pwhitewick]

Glad you think so!

[@prodiver7]

Great stuff! Thanks!

[@stephenharper9961]

I love this video thanks for sharing

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Stephen. Much appreciated

[@stephenpegum9776]

I don't understand what the mystery element was all about - at 4:45 I can quite clearly see a tunnel entrance and Paul even points to it !! Ha ha !!

[@charliejames9698]

Very very good and interesting

[@t.vanoosterhout233]

Another fine video. The mystery endures.... untill someone shows up with some equipment to cut away those hedges and do a bit of digging.

[@pwhitewick]

Might be one for the winter

[@charliejames9698]

I lived up there for a few years I can tell you a little history of Northampton Tower the towels built by a lift company which tested the lifts and now it's stands as tall as nelson column can you investigate that thanks James

[@imranzazai7404]

Beautiful.

[@davie941]

hey paul and rebecca , oh and matt , another really interesting one , ever thought about entering the backwords race paul ? , awwwww poor rebecca at the end there , how could you paul lol :)

[@BigSmellyRangey]

Wife: "Oh look, Rebecca's in a skirt" Me: "Hadn't noticed"... Another awesome video, informative and great to watch.

[@dalem1140]

Another Quality video folks👌

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers DM

[@hairyairey]

You were near me! Those unguarded shafts are scary and people are stupid enough to walk on them.

[@hanskniezand2049]

You might get a broadbeam boat through the tunnel but if there's a standard 7ft wide lock down the canal you would be stuffed!

[@jacquesblaque7728]

Just more evidence for Charles Darwin's "survival of the fittest" downside. "chlorinating the gene-pool"

[@bryan3550]

@@hanskniezand2049 All the locks in that area are wide...

[@bullettube9863]

Interesting walk about plus some excellent detective work! Question: Why do you walk so fast Rebecka can't keep up?

[@pwhitewick]

She deliberately stays back to get us lots of overlay. Her choice.

[@peterbradburn9115]

Fascinating

[@peebee143]

That innocuous flat-topped stone in the ground was once a block supporting Outram's original plate-way. A fore-runner to today's ubiquitous railway sleeper.

[@SergeiJonovich]

Guys, you really need to speak with Santa and get a GPSr! Great explore - tempted to go for a butchers mesen!

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

No lidar scans of the area of the portal? Might get a slight depression.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup and they show the southern end fairly well, sadly nothing fornthe north.

[@carolinegray3150]

Good video

[@Karlinski73]

2:45 Top-rate mappery, sir!

[@pwhitewick]

It wasn't bad was it!

[@Tinatortoise]

I think the "You are here" maps are amazing! How do they know!?!?

[@pwhitewick]

I know right

[@andrewince8824]

Just looking at the shape of the canal I thought there must have been an earlier planned tunnel. Those kinks are hideously inconvenient for a major highway and offer more digging with shovels. No one wants to dig more with a shovel.

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

Rebecca in a skirt! Now I can die a contented man. 😂 Do you think it's possible for a shaft to be so cluttered up by greenery it becomes totally invisible?

[@pwhitewick]

100% yes

[@JuliaHopewell]

Great video once again. Did you manage to have a chat with Tony Marsh? Perhaps you could head out together if he is up for it??

[@richardsmith2122]

If you want to go through in a wide beam boat you need to book with CRT, and they stop traffic coming in the opposite direction. I think you can only go at 0800 or 0830 or something

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Richard, I think a few have said the same.

[@josephkerley363]

That was interesting.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Joseph

[@Pasha_90]

Woooow

[@glennwhittaker197]

Aweeee poor Becca, you should disown him for missing you out, hahaha

[@Mldy291]

Not far from me, just a couple of miles: not been to the tunnel since i was a kid though

[@pwhitewick]

A lovely walk over the top