The photo (right) shows the southern portal of Tyler Hill tunnel as it was on 21st April 1951.
The tunnel aroused much comment and criticism. Many suggested it had been built because it had been proclaimed that 'every good railway must have a tunnel'.This view is supported by Mike's Railway History who gives the following account:- "The surveyor of the line was John Dixon, who was associated with George Stephenson in overcoming the difficulties of taking the Liverpool and Manchester Railway over Chat Moss. Dixon chose "an easy, suitable route through Blean." But when this route was discussed by the Canterbury Committee, one of them, so the story goes, asked "What ! No tunnel ?" The surveyor's answer was, "No, sir. I am pleased to say no tunnelling is necessary, and the line is practically level. Then other members of the committee objected. "No tunnel! We must have a tunnel." And since the Canterbury people insisted on a tunnel, Dixon's plans were rejected, and Stephenson was asked to journey to Canterbury in person and plan out a route with a nice tunnel in it. As altered, the route was undulating enough and picturesque enough to please anyone who did not mind paying for it, and it contained everything no complete railroad should be without."
The tunnel made its presence felt as recently as 1974 when a subsidence damaged some of the college buildings. It ran under the Cornwallis building and collapsed during a long hot spell, when much of the ground dried up, creating large fissures. The collapse also brought down a bridge linking parts of the university with it. The tunnel was filled in to prevent further damage and a new Cornwallis building erected on top.
Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at elliottsimpson@hotmail.com
Dec 2005