Tuesday 19 March 2024

 

Tuesday 19th March, 2024

In ‘The Bridgnorth Ghost Book’ (Publ. 1989) authors Mark Hartley and Julie Wareing mention a strange experience involving the old railway tunnel at the North-East tip of the town.

They describe how, during the 2nd World War, members of the Home Guard were stationed at the entrances to the tunnel at night.  One evening, a young sentry is said to have become ‘rooted to the spot’, in absolute terror, when he saw (what is only described as) a ‘ghostly figure’ coming towards him from the tunnel…  He had managed to raise his rifle in initial response to the figure, but found he could only stand – statue-like – as the form drew closer… and finally disappeared!?

When the tunnel eventually became redundant and disused, it (naturally!) became a haunt for local children.  One Bonfire Night, a group of ne’er-do-wells were playing with fireworks in the subterranean channel, when they supposedly saw a brightly lit figure coming towards the, out of the gloom!  They are said to have ‘fled in terror’, vowing never to enter the tunnel again…!

Hartley and Wareing end by mentioning that, during the construction of the tunnel, a workman was killed and query whether it may be his ghost that haunts the scene?  (*Needless to say, in the annals of ‘Paranormal Think’, tying in a death is always a sure sign that a place is ‘probably haunted’, eh!?)

Many years ago now, the punk musician and ex-‘Black Country Paranormal Society’ member, Geoff Brown, kindly shared an undated radio broadcast with me, entitled ‘Bridgnorth Ghosts’.  In it, the story of the WWII sighting was repeated verbatim (to the best of my recollection, at least!)

Coincidentally, it was around that same time that I made my first visit to the Northern tunnel entrance, with members of the aforementioned ‘B.C.P.S.’  This was in early July, 2000, during a spur-of-the-moment, evening tour of the haunted sites around the town.  At this point in time, the tunnel was fairly ‘open to the curious’, insomuch as the entrance was covered by railings, but some enterprising soul had simply ‘cut a section out’, ensuring that even a tubby soul such as myself was able to ‘slip inside’ if wished…!

 

 
 
 

Interestingly, in the years that followed, a number of publications appeared that cover the topic of ‘Shropshire Ghosts’, but none have repeated the details on this this rather eerie-looking location… at least, none that I’ve come across, certainly!?

I suppose it could go without saying that, over the past 10 or so years, the railway tunnel has, inevitably, been reported on by a variety of self-professed paranormal groups… and, for that matter, other non-ghost parties too!  If you care to take a look on Youtube, for example, you will discover a host of related media pieces.

Coming forward to a very short while ago, my old friend, John Chance – of ‘GhostcallersUK’ – had mentioned to me that he intended to take a look at the site and, perhaps, carry out a little investigation at the same time?  While the topic has been raised sporadically, in the interim, unforeseen circumstances – including unsavoury weather conditions – conspired to ‘put off’ such an expedition, however!

This was until this past weekend, when John was finally able to ‘scratch an itch’ and – after almost a quarter of a century – I made my 2nd visit to the tunnel!

Unfortunately, recent, terrible weather made our visit somewhat ‘boggy underfoot’… coupled with the fact that my recollection of the location of the site itself was somewhat ‘off’, it appeared!?  (VERY sorry, John!!)  However, after a chance meeting with a local resident, we were soon ‘put on the right track’ (no pun intended!) and, through the trees, the tunnel entrance soon came into view!

Sadly, here came the BIG stinker of the day…  The entrance seemed to have the same railings that I recalled from my first visit – or at least, identical metalwork – but these had now been covered with metal sheeting, as an extra precaution!  In a fairly recent exploration video, this sheeting was also seen to be present… but someone had levered off a small section of the outer coat, revealing a gap below… thereby allowing access.  (We were told as much by our local resident guide!)

 


 

Lamentably, however, it seems that Bridgnorth Council are fairly ‘on the ball’ with such matters and – in the time since the footage was posted – the sheeting has been replaced… leaving no way of getting into the tunnel today!  Needless to say. It was great to be able to see the location again, after all of this time – and the initial visit for John – but just a shame that entry (albeit unauthorised, anyway) is no longer possible…

As always ‘Thank You Very Much’ to John Chance for including me in his travels!!