The Story of Horspath Railway Tunnel. Can you help?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2024
- We recently chatted to Stuart Mabbutt who told us of the plight of Horspath Abandoned Railway Tunnel. Its not completely Abandoned these days as it has some inhabitants. Perhaps you can help?
Since making the film we have been told a few stories but those that walked it back in the early 1990's who have confirmed that there are some areas of bulging.
We hope you enjoy this little story. Links for Stuart can be found here:
www.wildmaninspires.co.uk/
/ stuartmabbuttgardeningltd
Twitter: @StuartMabbutt
Environmental Podcast: anchor.fm/thepeoplescountrysi...
Other noteworthy background reading links as follows:
www.horspath.org.uk/common/hwl...
www.shotover.clara.net//horspa...
www.shotover.clara.net//horspa...
Our links
www.paulwhitewick.co.uk/
/ everydisusedstation
Once again thanks to Stuart Mabbutt for his help with the Story or Horspath Tunnel - บันเทิง
Bats, Cycle Routes, Paths..... Aside the obvious what do you think should be done with our old trackbeds?
Don't forget to check out the description for Stuart's links.
Around congested areas trams is the obvious idea but that would need an oyster style system to work in conjunction with other modes of transport but maybe that's too logical 😜
I think the most important thing to do with our old tunnels is avoid building on them, just in case they need to be re-opened....
Paul and Rebecca, another really interesting video, have subscribed as instructed!
My only irritation is; Paul, don't fall foul of abuses against the English language whilst 'on air.' It is 'Three' not 'Free' In the above video we hear you saying " Free, Free inch pipes" whereas what you meant was "Three, Three inch pipes"
I'm not a teacher (before you ask), and I love the work you do - keep going!
@@richard1342 thank you for the subscription. It's either the Londoner in me or my mild speech impediment!
Our old trackbeds should be reopened as railways to ease the terrible congestion on the roads.
It’s wonderful that a couple like yourselves can enjoy such a great hobby together. Your videos are fascinating.
Yes, they bring a smile to my face too... Remind me of when me and my SO used to do much the same... [sigh].
I located the Eastern Portal some years ago,before the bat project.I entered the tunnel and walked a short distance but stupidly I had forgotten my torch,so I gave up as it was pitch black in there.Some years later I returned only to find the bat project had stopped access.The eastern portal wasn’t filled in at that time and the western portal was as you saw it.Moral of story,always keep a torch in the car.
I was just map scanning (is that a term?) and saw a tunnel at the end of the Cowley Branch (talk of reopening it). Quick Bing search led me to 28 Days Later website. Again, someone has broken unauthorised.
Then, I watched your lovely video which Bing also provided, and I saw that it was protected for bats and had received grant funding for this too.
I know nothing of the Wycombe area, so it was great to get a fuller understanding of the history of this line.
Brilliant!
Cheers Paul & Rebecca,
Paul
Interesting video as always. Your videos are well made whit lot of information and history of the tunnels and railways. Looking already forward to the next one.
Thank you Thomas. Much appreciated. Next one we are back on the #EveryDisusedStation trail.
hi..back in the sixties I worked in Cowley and lived in Wheatley..on several occasions I had to walk home from work...One day I had the mad thought to walk home through the tunnel !...back then the tracks were still intact...got a couple of hundred yards inside not knowing there was a curve to the tunnel...not one to turn back I managed to edge along a rail til I could see daylight at the other end...probably around 50 yards are in complete darkness...that was my one and only time in the tunnel....would love to see it returned to its former glory if only to walk it again!
Nice little video here and I love rebbecas enthusiasm on all of your videos.
Another very interesting video! It's a great pity the funds haven't been raised to support this important worthwhile project. Thank you for highlighting it in such an informative way.
Thank you Richard. Hopefully there are some wheels in motion already with the Forgotten Relics team!
I've only just seen this video and had no idea you'd covered it. Not long after discovering your channel, last year, I happened to comment about this place, and wondered if you had any plans to go there. As you were traveling the country, visiting all abandoned railways, I guessed, at some point, you would. Although I now live in London, I grew up in that area, and, as a teenager, lived just up the road in Wheatley. I only went there once, around 97/98, with a few mates, and I can't believe the difference, as it took us around half an hour to get from the bridge you walked under, to the tunnel entrance, as it was unbelievably overgrown, but you could still see all the stonework, and although bricked up, you could still get in, as the service gates had been ripped off. Back then you could walk all the way through, out the other side, but again, very overgrown, with mostly brambles. I certainly don't remember seeing any bulges or having the impression it was, by any means, unsafe, so it's a shame, after all that work, some good use could have come from it. Although I missed it, I do remember the rave too! Also, you were pronouncing Horspath correctly. Cheers.
Great video, your channel is excellent, wish I could walk some of those paths and check out the tunnels. Keep it up!
Very interesting indeed. Thank you for making and posting.
Thanks David. 👍👍
Luckily, i am sure the bats that do live in there do not give two figs about the lack of a surveyors report. (Secretly the bats will be happy not to have intrusions from the conservationists). But seriously, £4k seems such a small amount of money for such an important project to continue. If they were to relaunch the kickstarter i for one would be happy to donate to the cause. If they did ever relaunch it maybe you could do another video to raise awareness.
Haha.... Agreed Steve. Yup we would gladly help if that was of consideration for them. As you say 4k isn't too much for what is potentially a very important project.
#me too 100SteveB, I will gladly donate a tenner
Very interesting - thanks. Enjoy the videos -
Great work guys and extremely interesting - yet again -thanx
Cheers Robin, much appreciated.
Another great video!
Thanks again I have so enjoyed your videos
Thanks for watching Terry. 👍👍
You certainly picked the right part of the country to visit. It's been like Waterworld round here for the last few weeks. Hardly ever stopped raining.
Sunshine for a change! Really enjoyable and informative as ever.
Thanks Trevor. Yup, that's at least twice now in November!!
Lovely interesting story, would be nice to take a peep inside, thank you both for some wonderful videos. xx
Thanks Colin. Tempting though it was we thought better of it.
Fascinating! What a shame the survey still hasn't been done. Great video guys
Awwwwww lovely for the bats. Such a beautiful area. Thanks for taking me along
Thanks Linda, really pleased you enjoyed it.
Another one of those railway lines I've traced as I've driven around that area. My first memory of it was when the A40 was widened (pre M40) and a new bridge installed, just before they closed the line!
I lived in Oxfordshire for a number of years, I even worked with a guy who, as a child, used to sit on the railway embankment watching aircraft made in the Morris works taking off. The line was still partially open as a branch line to the Morris factory for many years.
Thanks for doing this. The issue needs keeping in the public eye.
A complete pleasure. Really hope it helps.
Good on you guys for helping to raise awareness
Cheers Chris. Let's hope it does some good.
Great video Paul and Rebecca, very interesting 👍😀👌
Thanks Shaun. 👍👍
Fascinating. Love bats and any conservation endeavours addressing their needs. What a lovely little ecosystem. The bats have got a larder right outside their tunnel portal - All those midges and flying critters... yum, yum batfood!
I'm even liking the incidental music in your vids...
Keep it up YouTwo
Thanks Deebz, much appreciated. Yes, quite the perfect habitat for them, thats for sure.
A worthy cause ! thanks for the video bit different to the usual
Always want to mix things up a bit
I did enjoy that video. Despite the financial constraints, I do hope bats are still making use of the tunnel (and I think I shall be contributing to the fundraiser).
Do keep the videos coming. You both come across well, and I do find your videos to be well-made and interesting. Thanks.
Thanks Nigel, very kind. I am pretty sure that they will still be using it, which is good. Just a shame its no longer a monitored site.
Great video folks looking forward to your next installment from mark in Cornwall
Thanks Mark from Cornwall. We are hoping to be in that neck of the woods next spring!
Really enjoyed it
So good, thanks 🐶,
Thanks Steve.
Yet another fascinating & well put-together video guys - many thanks.
Just a though I've meant to mention before. Have you ever calculated how much extra walking you do with the shots when you are both walking away from or towards the camera (which are a good feature BTW) ? Must be many extra miles !! 😎
Haha... Never calculated it at all. I am sure it adds up though! Last week's video was a 21 mile walk.... PLUS..
Nice video! Love a good explore 😀👍
Cheers Retro. 👍👍🙏👍👍
Walked the line earlier this year very interesting to find out about the history and the bats, its very bogey down there even in the summer!
Yes we had to tread carefully for sure.
My neck of the woods. I used to run near this tunnel quite often.
I am now subscribed 👍. Are you guys likely to be coming to East Sussex? I live along the old abandoned Lewes to East Grinstead line. Some interesting little relics about.
Thank you and most Definitely yes
Are you sure about the eastern portal being filled in? There's a picture on the internet showing it with another bat gate - admittedly from a few years ago - and recent aerial photographs suggest the cutting is still there, albeit full if vegetation.
Thats a very good point. Not sure why we had assumed it was collapsed.
Nice that a tunnel has been upcycled if that is possible rather than been shut to keep us plebs out that can't do a personal risk assessment. Keep up the good work chaps..
Cheers Owen. Yup if we can't get inside any it's nice to know that something good is being done instead.
I remember the 'Bat' debate and project. It seemed to end any chance of the branch ever being reopned. We worked car trains too and from Morris Cowley from the 60s ad they still run today and always hoped the line would reopen throughout. The route via Princess Riceborough from Oxford to Paddington was approx. 8 miles shorter than ia Didcot and Reading which would have made it an ideal divergence route.
However, passenger services are planned to return to Morris Cowley in the near future.
Thanks for an interesting update on the Horspath Tunnel. There was also a Horspath Halt near by.
We had loads of information ready on the Halt and completely forgot it!
1948-ish, the family had a day out in Oxford, from High Wycombe, using this line. The motive powere was an ex GWR 0-4-2 tank and one coach; an autocar. We were the only passengers, there and back!
Brilliant, and also not brilliant. I am not sure of the history of this line so presume Beeching?
@@pwhitewick The line closed to passengers in 1963. To freight, from Thame westward also in 1963, and from Princes Risbouough to Thame in 1991.
Nice vid and very interesting, thank you both. I love bats and we occasionally get them in our house. Not a railway tunnel but the disused Greywell tunnel on the old Basingstoke Canal is/was a home to many bats. Part of the roof collasped in 1932 and a pond on Greywell hill above the tunnel emptied into it taking the small island on the pond and also the tree on the island with it.
Oddly I was speaking to a friend about that yesterday!
That is odd, maybe it's fate (synchronicity and all that). It's not too far from where you live too. I think we used to park on Eastrop Bridge and walk through the woods to see the collapsed section but it's been around 30yrs so it's hard to remember.
Species diversity is extremely important. I can only speak firsthand of plants. What are the major problems with flower gardens is if you only have one Species in an area any disease will quickly wipe out the entire area.
I would like to confirm that the Eastern tunnel is NOT filled in it is bricked up but you can see inside as the bricks only go up a meter hope that helps : )
Ooooh thanks, we best take a look!
Interesting, now I can see why you did the video of Horspath Tunnel to help someone out! Now the Wycombe Railway, that from High Wycombe towards Bourne End is it or it it on the route to Oxford? but a great short video!
Cheers Simon. This was right at the Oxford end. Around 3/4 miles.
Great Video Paul and Rebecca... *Insert witty joke here as I am full of cold and can't think of anything at the moment*
Acceptable.
Bats are great, hope it gets going 👍🏼
I understand that the tunnel sometimes echoes to the sound of Meatloaf's "Bat Out Of Hell" at night and this is probably where the structural damage has come from!!
I am sure the bats are using it anyway!
Fascinating.
Thanks Geoff.
Very nice Video ! What I Like about The UK . > 11. The Hollies - When Your Lights Turned On (1967) 2:38 (Fagner Fi)
Ah The Hollies take me back. One of their first gigs was at the school my mother taught at and she thought they were amazing.
When you think of all the wealthy persons who live in Oxfordshire, Jeremy Clarkson, David Cameron. (plus countless more)..... Why don't they give their small change towards it? Love the videos by the way!
A very good point William.
I been inside the tunnel through the other portal side which is a lot more preserved and you can see inside as the wall is one meters high the the rest is metal fencing I went in the summer as bats hibernate through the winter so not to disturb them very nice to have such a nice gem so close to home
Interesting - if the tunnel; could cave in surely could cause problems on the land above it. Looking at the OS map there is a track above it. If the tunnel caves in then it could cause problems on the road. An organisation must be responsible for the tunnel. I can't understand why their insurance company doesn't insist on a survey.
Yup all very true. A little beyond my understanding
Whoever goes in there needs to tread very carefully. Google "Penmanshiel tunnel" to see the potential dangers.
When I went to school in Wheatley in the 80s we would go up there on that track on bikes and it stunk as was a pig farm up there. Don't know if still there, but surprised they filled in the littleworth side portal. Next time I drive down there (from Lancashire) I might have a nostalgic walk to where it once was.
Interesting little film, a bit unusual too. I bet that's a very different place at night.🦇🦇🦇
Lol..... A very beautiful place I am sure. You first.....
@@pwhitewick Rebecca's there to hold your hand.😱
Brilliant content just wondering ive lived in oxford my whole life and didnt know about this place can you please let me know how to get there as it would be amazing to see! 😊
Can u please let me know how 2 get there im only 15 mins from horsepath and id love 2 see it in person! 😊
nuff ta send ya batty... nice and informative. ta
Definitely Batty Keith!
I grew up near this tunnel and explored it as a boy when it was fairly easy to access. The cutting east of the tunnel was filled in and buried the portal that end quite some years ago now.
Thanks John. I'm getting conflicting views on this now because someone sent us a picture of it!
According to forgotten relics website, the eastern portal still exists. Maybe out of date though. Would have to find out when they last visited the site for their information.
TBF I’ve not visited the tunnel for a long time so maybe the portal survives despite the cutting being filled. Don’t know if it is accessible though. Worth a try maybe!
The eastern portal isn't filled in, it has a high wall with a grill on the upper half. The tunnel looks absolutely fine inside (got this from 28 days later. Some guys were in there in September.) Interestingly, or maybe sadly they saw absolutely no signs of bat habitation in there.
I actually did click subscribe after you said in the beginning. I've watched a couple of other vids and just began on this, defo a sub 👍 Lovely production, don't know if you'd consider this a compliment, but at times I felt like I was watching something on Springwatch, on the BBC 😃 Excellent production, lovely audio, well done to you both, very interesting stuff. PS Question...Do you also fish magnet, you are very familiar ? Cheers 😊
Ah thank you, thats really kind, glad you enjoy the productions. We have not tried magnet fishing, but that could be a lot of fun right!
@@pwhitewick Oh gosh ha ha It's my mistake then, you just reminded me of another you tuber. It does yield some fascinating finds from what I've seen magnet fishing, MGs from WW2 German bombers in France to rifles in canals in Britain. Anyway, thanks very much for the heart and reply, love the vids, especially the Battle of the Nile connection video 😘
Certainly interesting. Thanks for the info. Q: Are bats still very active in the tunnel do you know?
Stuart and the gang are sure there is. Sadly the essential part of the project is assessing the numbers and species types. Without access and assessments in place this can't happen.
Very interesting video. I didn't know the story behind the bats but I did visit the site myself a few years ago and gathered it was a nature reserve. I did walk as much of the line as I could between Princes Risborough and the railhead near the Mini factory in Oxford. It was pre Henry's Adventures day so I didn't make any videos but I did find other end of the tunnel. I remember it to be only partially filled it. I'll try and dig out the pictures!
Cheers Henry and cheers for the pic on Facebook. We actually thought the other end was filled!
@@pwhitewick I took the picture in 2015 so there's a change they could have filled in since but I somehow doubt it.
@@HenrysAdventures apparently it's still there but difficult to find!
Interesting video
Thanks Caroline.
Are the bats still in residence? That should be easy to determine just by taking a few observations during roosting time at the right times of year. If they are, at least the project has produced lasting conservation results.
A little bit further afield for me, but I had an aunt who lived in Woodstock, and I visited this tunnel in 1979. It was open at both ends then, and my diary records that there was a "great deal of echo" inside the middle section :-) No mention of bulges though.
Brilliant thank you Bill. Indeed conflicting reports on the bulging!
Are you sure this is England in November? Where’s the rain/mud/puddles etc:?
Another great informative vid, and slightly different from your usual historical background 👍
Good point. It's been quite changeable hasn't it. Yup bit of a break from the normal in this one. Back to #EveryDisusedStation
lol capncol...how true
Really? You are wondering about the British mild weather. What with global temperature rising each year?
These past two years, are the only years where I've not had to use so much heating in my home, through the depths of winter...
... And I live in a 35 foot caravan!
Deebz270 No. I was merely remarking that they managed to find a dry day between the heavy rain we’ve had this November. Sorry if you missed my attempt at humour
I meant full "of" vegetation!
Used to play in there in the mid 80s as a kid. :D
A very nice playground I'm sure.
Great...! It's amazing how close this is to the huge Cowley factory...
Yup we actually thought we were going further into the country.
It is only a Mini distance to it!!!
It is only a Mini distance to it!!!
@@johnhealy8513 boom
Thank you. Although it would require the repair of the tunnel as well as rehoming the bats and demolishing some of the houses which stand in the way track could be relaid as far as Wheatley where a station could be provided once Chiltern Railways have established services to Cowley Business Park.
Subscribed friends x
It is all to do with the bats and the wild parties they have in the tunnel. On a more serious note the route from Princes Risborough to Oxford via Bicester is probably faster than the one via Thame used to be.
What a shame, hopefully they can get it surveyed and back in action soon
Absolutely Wills. It would be nice if this raises the profile of the project just a little to start the ball rolling again. You never know.
Excellent vid. and worthy project. Sidestepping here, but can the national lottery not help with funding? Have seen them fund less worthy projects.
Yup I suspect that could be an option. I wouldn't think about ranking projects if I was in the lottery grant business, perhaps a diverse range would be better for society as a whole.
3:25 XD you are like David attenborough..
20kilovolt only not as posh and more relevant lol
hey paul and rebecca , another great video , i hope they can find the funding from somewhere , rebecca are you growing your hair long again , oh please say you are :)
Thanks Davie. Erm..... Watch this space for hair updates.
@@pwhitewick oh ok :)
You travel to and through so many delightful villages in your searches - how about adding in your pub lunch venues - maybe telling us if you enjoyed the stop or not.
Ah we tend to make lunch before we go and snack on sarnies instead. True though lots of lovely villages.
Set up outside in the evening and count the bats coming out. Do this a couple of times, and you get an idea of how many there are using the tunnel. Probably not that difficult to determine the type of bats. If needed, net a few, examine them, let them go. Surely not that difficult.
Indeed there are specific statistical analysis to determine sample size, however that only gives you one factor. Size. What this unique area was set up to do was offer a habitat for a wide range of species including extremely rare one. The habitats created inside the tunnel allow species identification without disturbance unlike other areas. Its not a hugely complicated project and needs around 4-5k to get off the ground again.
On a technical note, your music and voice levels are so far apart it is necessary to keep adjusting the sound levels. It would be nice if you could balance the sound levels so that they are much closer, -12dB is the norm for video, thus making your videos much more enjoyable. I've now subscribed to your Patreon account.
Thank you and thank you. Yep we are still learning every day it seems. Appreciate your patronage.
Think I may move to England. The weather seems so much nicer than here!
Don't panic. It rained the next day and then for two weeks.
LOL! :-)
Awesome as always guys, very informative. Lovely trails to get to the locations and good for the nature conservation too. It’s good they looked after the bats because they are lovely creatures.
Cheers, much appreciated. We are two videos behind on your channel!... Catching up tonight.
That's right next to my house!
Even though I like the earlier New Wave music. I was more into the Stone Roses than the Techno music scene in the 90's, so I like the idea of getting people more kick starter oriented and less bulgier for the easy button.😏😁
Sooo, you can't go in the tunnel because it's a refuge for bats? Amazing.
Essentially yes. But most are. The difference with this one is that its home to some very rare species. Very rare.
Done subbed
Nice one Mick.
Great videos, keep it up. Love the leggings ❤
Thanks. Rebecca's are nice too!
@@pwhitewick 😆😆😆😆
04:30 - Chicken of The Wood - delicious mushroom that like the name suggests, tastes like chicken.
Fantastic. Thank you.
The two of you are so lucky to live were you live. Back in 1864 the only people that lived where I now live were indians and a hand full of Europeans.
We are certainly grateful for living in an area with Rich history.
Any chance of more mapping?(in general)
cheers
Yup. Genuinely I always forget! Every intention.
thanks
Sir David Attenborough. Eat your heart out. lol
That is going to be a bit of a nuisance when the government re-opens all the ‘Beeching cuts’ railways in the interests of reducing road traffic and pollution as the politicians say they are going to do!
Might be a tad more expensive than the 500 million they suggested!
Corona Virus from Bats , this video was put on here at about the same time it was kicking off in China !!
Just keep the England cricket team away from bats at the moment! Seriously, would be nice if tunnel could get surveyed, and reopened, sounds a fascinating one
Haha yes indeed on all counts.
The bat cave lol
Rebecca looks younger than usual in this one, or is it me? (For the sake of clarity, that was meant as a compliment.) Not too far from here in the dunes by the sea there used to be a very haunted-looking old hospital, complete with an empty swimming-pool, just like the one in the Natalie Portman film Annihilation. In the end it was demolished and we were told the old elevator shafts were going to be used to 'house' bats. Eventually the grounds were sold to a building promotor who got rid of the furry fliers. For shame!
Yup, the issue is that the UK has some very rare species, this place has the perfect habitat for them, it's a real shame. Rebecca will be pleased I'm sure. 😁
Hubert, the way to handle that initial problem is to say that Rebecca looks EVEN younger than usual.
@@Coltnz1 Right!
How is it when I walk in the country there are not cameras waiting for me but there always are for you chaps?🤔
😂😂..... Now that's a very good point!
You didn't do the kissing gate thing at the end.. Every time we go through the kissing gate into the top field we have to give each other a kiss.. George insists on it.
My wife thinks it's a bit strange, but I keep telling her it makes George happy. He's getting on a bit and I think he's lonely. He always smells of diesel. I don't really like it tbh.
😂😂😂😂😘😂😂😂
To the Batcave Robin!
I’m next
Hi ..is it okay to share this with a FB oxford site I'm on ..maybe gather some interesting information for you ..Good vid
Yes please. That would be great.
Any update on this?
Safly nothing that we know of
I know some International Bat Conservation peeps who are from the UK (in NZ at mo) - I'll see if they know anything about this tunnel?
Thank you that would be great.
I've suddenly got a craving for liquorice...
Erm.....
@@pwhitewick It dawned on me later, it was the leggings!
👍😊
😁👍