Historic tunnel to get makeover

An historic tunnel on Tyneside is to be restored and opened to the public with the help of a £205,500 grant.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded the money to Newcastle City Council to open up the Victoria Tunnel in Lower Ouseburn, Newcastle.

The Grade II listed structure, a colliery waggonway, originally ran for almost three miles beneath the city from Spital Tongues to Lower Ouseburn.

It was also used as an air-raid shelter during World War II.

The HLF award will be used to repair the tunnel, which is in danger of collapsing, and to build a visitors' centre.

Colliery days

HLF regional manager, Dr Keith Bartlett, said: "We are used to seeing old buildings being given new uses, but the Victoria Tunnel is an example of a piece of heritage that has already served the people of Newcastle in important ways over the years.

"From being a crucial part of our industrial roots to providing protection for citizens in World War II, it has had a fascinating life.

"The visitor experience and education programme will invite people to share the stories of that life and see how it relates to the Newcastle we know today."

The centre will detail the history of the site from its colliery days up until the war and will also recreate the sounds of an air raid in progress including recording personal recollections from local, elderly people who remember using the tunnel to shelter.