• About
  • Services
  • Advertise
  • Membership
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • Weather
  • Directory Login
  • COVID
Menu
  • About
  • Services
  • Advertise
  • Membership
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • Weather
  • Directory Login
  • COVID

Businesses offering Delivery and Click & Collect

  • WHAT’S ON
    • COVID-19 NEWS
    • Across Liverpool
    • Sefton
    • St George’s Hall
  • THINGS TO DO
  • OFFERS
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • JOBS
  • SHOP
  • READ
    • Matt Jacobson
    • News
    • Events
    • Sport
    • Food & Drink
    • Business
    • People
    • Blogs
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Competitions
    • Things To Do
  • LISTEN
    • RADIO
    • PODCASTS
  • DIRECTORY
Menu
  • WHAT’S ON
    • COVID-19 NEWS
    • Across Liverpool
    • Sefton
    • St George’s Hall
  • THINGS TO DO
  • OFFERS
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • JOBS
  • SHOP
  • READ
    • Matt Jacobson
    • News
    • Events
    • Sport
    • Food & Drink
    • Business
    • People
    • Blogs
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Competitions
    • Things To Do
  • LISTEN
    • RADIO
    • PODCASTS
  • DIRECTORY
Search
Close

BOOK NOW

Williamson Tunnels

March 19, 2018

The Williamson Tunnels are a labyrinth of tunnels in the Edge Hill area of Liverpool, England, which were built under the direction of Joseph Williamson between 1810 and 1840. Joseph Williamson was an eccentric, businessman, property owner and a philanthropist whose philanthropy earned him the nickname the King of Edge Hill, whilst his tunnel-building activity earned him posthumous nicknames, including the Mole of Edge Hill and the Mad Mole.

The Williamson Tunnels had remained derelict, filled with rubble and refuse, until archaeological investigations were carried out in 1995. Since then excavations have been carried out and part of the labyrinth of tunnels has been opened to the public as a heritage centre.

The Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre provides an insight into the fascinating underground world created by Joseph Williamson in the early 19th Century. Take a guided tour through a section of the network of tunnels and view exhibitions which depict the life and times of one of Liverpool’s most eccentric characters.

The Centre is owned and operated by the Joseph Williamson Society, which is a registered charity which receives no public funding, therefore, the Society relies entirely on visitor income and donations to maintain and develop the Heritage Centre. People of the public can help the Society in its work, by coming and visiting or by donating.

The Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels, look after two sections – Paddington and Joseph Williamson’s House site, The Friends emptied this site in just under four years and 159 skips. All brought out by hand by volunteers.

So how did the history of the Tunnels begin? In 1805 Joseph Williamson acquired an area of land in Mason Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool, which was then a largely undeveloped outcrop of sandstone with a scattering of scars from small-scale quarrying. He started to build houses on the site. These houses were eccentric in design “of the strangest description” without any rational plans. The ground behind the houses dropped sharply and in order to provide large gardens, which was the fashion at the time, Williamson built arches over some of the quarrying, and arched terraces over which the gardens could be extended. When these were complete he continued to employ his workmen, sometimes to carry out apparently pointless tasks, such as moving rubble from one place to another, then back again. His major project was to build a labyrinth of brick-arched tunnels in various directions and over various lengths within the sandstone. This tunnel-building continued until Williamson’s death in 1840.

The tunnels are in an area to the east of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in a rectangle bordered by Mason Street, Grinfield Street, Smithdown Lane and Paddington. Their full extent is not known and many of them are still blocked by rubble. They vary in size from the “banqueting hall”, which is about 70 feet long, between 20 feet and 25 feet wide and 20 feet high, while the smaller tunnels are 4 feet wide and 6 feet high. The reasons for building the tunnels have been widely discussed. According to Stonehouse, Williamson was secretive about his motives. This has led to speculation that he was a member of an extremist religious sect fearing that the end of the world was near and that the tunnels were built to provide refuge for himself and his friends.

Williamson’s own explanation was reputed to be that his workers “all received a weekly wage and were thus enabled to enjoy the blessing of charity without the attendant curse of stifled self respect”, his prime motive being “the employment of the poor”.

The Joseph Williamson Society was founded in 1989. It was incorporated as a private limited company in 1996 and acquired charitable status in 1997. Its aim is to promote interest in the life and philanthropic achievements of Joseph Williamson and takes the form of talks, tours, publications and educational visits. In autumn 2002, after much excavation, removal of rubble and renovation, one of the three sections of the site, the Stable Yard section, was opened to the public as the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre under the trusteeship of the Joseph Williamson Society. Visitors are taken on a guided tour which includes the south tunnel and the double tunnel and various artefacts are on view including some of the items which have been uncovered in the excavations. A programme of events and entertainments is organised on the site. The entry to the heritage centre was formerly part of the Lord Mayor’s Stable Yard which closed in 1993.

READ MORE: Hidden Wirral – Secret WW2 Tunnels of New Brighton Tours

BOOK NOW

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
PrevPrevious ARTICLEMagical Mystery Tour Liverpool
Next ArticleLiverpool Explorer CruiseNext

What's On

The best events across Liverpool brought to your screens!

Cream & Circus present Camelphat...

3 April

Creamfields 2021

26 August

Reminisce Festival 2021

11 September

David Gray White Ladder Tour

19 March

DMA'S - The Glow UK...

9 April

PAW Patrol Live! Race to...

10 July

Red Rum Club

17 April

Sonny Fodera Solotoko Tour

20 March

JLS ‘Beat Again’ UK &...

13 July

Rick Astley Greatest Hits Tour...

13 May

Stay in the loop

Stay up to date with all the latest news, articles, events and offers from across Liverpool!

We never share your information with anyone.

  • What’s On
  • Latest Offers
  • Things To Do
  • Jobs in Liverpool
  • Reads
  • Book Accommodation
  • Business Directory
Menu
  • What’s On
  • Latest Offers
  • Things To Do
  • Jobs in Liverpool
  • Reads
  • Book Accommodation
  • Business Directory
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Advertise With Us
  • Email Sign Up
  • Contact
  • COVID
Menu
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Advertise With Us
  • Email Sign Up
  • Contact
  • COVID

At Explore Liverpool we are all about bringing you everything the Liverpool City Region has to offer and more!

© 2020 Explore Liverpool

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Menu
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
SettingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Explore Liverpool With Us!

Enjoy a weekly round up of everything that's happening across Liverpool, and subscribe to regular updates on events and offers as well as staying up to date with all the news and happenings of the Liverpool City Region.