Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Tram Tunnel Under Craylands Lane and the main railwayline. Built after 1892, shown on the 2nd-4th ED OS maps. The tunnel was bored through the chalk bedrock (not cut and fill) below the railway line and is brick-built using yellow bricks laid in Flemish bond. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• TRAMWAY TUNNEL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1862 AD? to 2050 AD (post))

Full description

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Tram Tunnel Under Craylands Lane and the main railwayline. Built after 182, shown on the 2nd-4th ED OS maps. (1-3) The tunnel was bored through the chalk bedrock (not cut and fill) below the railway line and is brick-built using yellow bricks laid in Flemish bond. Arch formed by a double row of headers, as is top border. Bottom metre of inner tunnel wall rendered with cement. Cast iron grille with central door at south end, north end blocked. Bottom of tunnel is bare chalk with central hunp-removed track? Wooden shoring holding back slope on the east side of southern entrance. Remains of a telegraph (?) system on south face. Graffitti present. The brickwork shows few signs of failure although areas are starting to spall. (4-5)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1893-7, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 2nd edition : 1893-1898 (Map). SWX11832.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1905-10, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912 (Map). SWX11833.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947 (Map). SKE12644.

<4> Essex County Council, 2003, Aggregates Levy Survey Industrial Sites, KN877/911 (Unpublished document). SKE12009.

<5> Wessex Archaeology, March 2004, Swanscombe Heritage Park and Craylands Gorge, Swanscombe, Kent. Archaeological and Geological Desk Based Assessment (Unpublished document). SWX12883.

Sources and further reading

Related records