While googling info for the underground Tamworth timehikes series , came across this very Lovecraftesque information about a desolute field somewhere in Staffordshire It just needs some ´race of half humans´ and Clhutlhu overtones and that’s it. It´s taken from a history of Staffordshire By Dr Plot written in the late 18th century, here´s the excerpt below:
A laborer who was in a desolate field digging a trench came upon a large iron plate that lay beneath the dirt. The hatch was described as being large and oval with an iron ring mounted upon it. This entrance according to those that investigated lead to a large selection of tunnels, the field in located in a valley that is surrounded at both sides with trees.
Great introduction for any budding novelists out there.
Glascote Reservoir
Glascote reservoir 1 is located next to the 1979 reservoir in Glascote in Tamworth. The post is about the first one as there exists the possibility that it’s a contender for the finest underground space in Tamworth.
The covered reservoir shown in the 1899 Ordnance map taken from Staffordshire Past track
It was built at the high point of Victorian engineering or ´overengineering´ where many of the public works, especially sanitary and drainage systems were spectacular constructions that together with the description from History of South Staffordshire Waterworks could mean that Glascote reservoir has the potential to be an impressive underground Victorian remnant. Below is the excerpt from the book concerning the reservoir
The original Glascote Reservoir, built in 1880, held sufficient water for one and a half days supply. Constructed entirely in brickwork and totally enclosed, the roof consisted of semicircular brick arches springing from arched traverse walls, stiffened by subsidiary flat arches spaced at 13 feet one inch centres. Dimensions of the receptacle are 32.0m. x 31.7m x 4.78m deep. Top water level is 364.6 A.O.D. Built in a mining area, close to the North Warwickshire Colliery, for some years cracks had been observed in the roof and walls of thestructure which were gradually spreading, subsequently the reservoir was taken out ofcommission until remedial work was carried out.
Built entirely of brickwork with semicircular brick arches it could be similar to the reservoirs at Papplewick Pumping station built 1882-1882 at same time. Papplewick is the finest Victorian pumping station in the UK according to their website. Papplewick has been turned into a successful tourist centre. This photo below is taken from their website, it could give an idea to what might lie covered at Glascote:
BrownhillBob has a great report of his explorations(with photos) in the archives and on the ground which do justice to the now demolished Shire Oak Reservoir here, and is in fact where I got the invaluable link to the History of South Staffordshire waterworks.
Tamworth Time Hikes 