4 August: Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Greenwich Foot Tunnel opened on this date in 1902. Here are ten facts about the tunnel:

Photo: Mike Peel

1. The tunnel links the Royal Borough of Greenwich with the Isle of Dogs.
2. It is 1,215 feet (370.2m) long and 50 feet (15.2m) deep, and has an internal diameter of about 9 feet (2.74m). The northern end is even narrower, due to repairs carried out after the tunnel was damaged by bombs in the second world war.
3. It has been nicknamed "The Pipe" by locals.
4. It was built for workers living south of the river to get to work in the docks. Before the tunnel was there, they had to rely on an expensive and unreliable ferry service.
5. The tunnel was designed by civil engineer Sir Alexander Binnie and built by John Cochrane & Co. It cost £127,000 to build.
6. It is constructed from cast Iron rings covered in concrete which in turn has been covered with about 200,000 white glazed tiles.
7. At either end there is an entrance shaft under a glazed dome and a helical staircase with 100 steps. There is also a Lift but the lift may be unavailable at night, weekends and bank holidays as there is a lift operator.
8. The tunnel is classed as a public highway and therefore by law is kept open 24 hours a day. It's also part of the UK's National Cycle Route 1 linking Inverness and Dover.
9. The tunnel has been used as a filming location for the movies 28 Weeks Later, Dorian Gray and Bronco Bullfrog, and the TV series Original Sin.
10. Walking through the tunnel can feel quite unsettling. For one thing the tiles and the shape distort perspective so while you are walking uphill your eyes see a level path. If that's not weird enough, there are rumours the tunnel is haunted. Some visitors say they feel a strong presence and the feeling of being followed until reaching the other side. A few claim to have seen the ghosts of a Victorian couple out for a stroll. They are seen walking towards the visitor from the opposite direction, but fade away as they approach.