The
Portswood Tunnel 1860
Built in the 1860s, the tunnel
was used for builders to get stone quarried from what is now the V&A
Waterfront Marina to the other side of Portswood Ridge to build the breakwater.
The workers dug out a long
cutting, through which gangs of sweating convicts pushed cocopans full of stone
to where Quay 5, past where Ferryman’s, Mitchell’s Brewery and the Amphitheatre
are today.
Much later, the cutting was
roofed over and built on, and during World War II, was converted – without ever
being needed – for use as an air-raid shelter.
It is currently used as a Wine Cellar, as well as for Art exhibitions and who
knows it could be a Tunnel for growing Mushrooms.
There are plenty of other Tunnels
below such as Cape Town’s main sewer line, the Drydock pump station tunnels, the
breakwater tunnel, stormwater tunnels and all sorts of service tunnels to supply
the ships with fuel and water.
Comments: Visit by appointment only. Bring your Helmet.
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