Alderney is the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. It is 3 miles long and 1 and a 1⁄2 miles wide with a population of just 2000.
This reports follows on from my coverage of the Hohlgangsanlage tunnels on the island of Jersey in 2019. Report here
GERMAN OCCUPATION DURING WW2
In June 1940, almost the entire then population of Alderney of 1400 was evacuated to Britain. Most went on the official evacuation boats sent from mainland Britain. Some, however, decided to make their own way, mostly via Guernsey, but due to the impending occupation many found themselves unable to leave and were forced to stay on Guernsey for the duration of the war. Eighteen Alderney people elected not to leave with the general evacuation. The Germans arrived to a nearly deserted island, and began to follow their orders to fortify Alderney as part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall. In January 1942, they built four camps in Alderney: two work camps, Lager Helgoland and Lager Borkum, and two concentration camps, Lager Sylt and Lager Norderney. The four camps on the island had a total inmate population that fluctuated but is estimated at about 6000 with the occupants mostly being Eastern Europeans. More than 700 camp inmates lost their lives before the camps were closed and the remaining inmates transferred to France in 1944. The Germans surrendered Alderney on the 16 May 1945, eight days after the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe, and seven days after the liberation of Guernsey and Jersey.
Ho1 MANNEZ QUARRY MUNITIONS STORE
During WW2 seven tunnels were planned by the Germans for Alderney but only four of them were built; the most easterly is at Mannez Quarry. The tunnel, which was intended as a munitions and ration store was probably never completed. As built it consists of a horseshoe shaped tunnel with two entrances in the quarry face. At the western end of the quarry is a large derelict travelling crane with a number of ballast wagons behind it. Behind the crane is the open western entrance to the tunnel, below the German naval direction finding tower on the cliff top. It is wide open and safe to enter although rubbish has been dumped just inside the entrance, including a number of old tube train seats.
The eastern entrance was close to a modern railway engine shed at the eastern end of the quarry but this has now been obliterated by later quarrying although it is still possible to climb over a rock fall into the tunnel. The 300 foot tunnel is unlined throughout and generally dry and in good internal condition with no roof falls.
The quarry is the eastern terminus of the island’s railway system. At the end of the line is a two car set of ex Northern line 1959 tube stock, this has been restored and repainted. The two car train came to the island in 2001 replacing the 1938 tube stock that was acquired from the Historic Chatham Dockyard in 1987. The motive power is provided by a two small diesel locos (Elizabeth and Molly) which are stored in a locked engine shed at the end of the line. The line, which only runs in the summer, terminates at the harbour at St. Anne two miles away. This is the only working railway on any of the Channel Islands It was inaugurated by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and celebrated its 150th birthday in 1997.
The tunnel has no junctions and is just one continuous passage. Having said that, if this was in Wiltshire, I’m sure that some moron would had by now spray painted arrows all over the place.
Ho2 ESSEX HILL MUNITIONS STORE
The western entrance to the Essex Hill munitions storage tunnel (Ho2) is located at the bottom of a quarry face at the back of a wooded quarry to the north of Essex Castle. The tunnel is about 400 yards in length and runs in a semi circle to the partially blocked and overgrown eastern entrance. The tunnel is unlined throughout as are three short munitions storage chambers close to the middle of the tunnel.
There is also a short section of 60cm tramway in place towards the centre of the tunnel. The tunnel is dry and safe to enter with a small roof fall in the centre that is easily passed. The chassis of a railway truck is buried beneath a minor roof fall at the eastern end.
Ho5 WATER LANE FUEL STORAGE AND POWER STATION
The southern entrance to Ho 5 is on the east side of Water Lane, it is overgrown with soil mounded in front of it although access is still possible. The tunnel is now largely unlined although it was originally lined with timber which has now fallen away and lies rotting on the floor. The tunnel is wet throughout with deep mud in places and several roof falls which can be climbed over. After about 50 yards the tunnel bends to the right and a branch comes in from the left. The branch is about 100 yards long with a large roof fall near the end.
Back in the main tunnel after a further 75 yards there are two concrete lined storage chambers one on either side of the tunnel. The chamber on the west side is about 8 feet in height and 60 feet long while the second chamber, 30 feet beyond is about 15 feet high and 55 feet long. There is a 60cm tramway laid throughout much of the tunnel including the branches and chambers and at the junction with one of the chambers is the remains of a turntable.
After a further 75 yards the tunnel turns to the right towards the southern entrance. At this point there is a second branch curving to the left.
Although there is a large amount of debris on the floor making passage through the tunnel slow and difficult at times, the walls appear reasonably sound. The tunnel was built to house an electricity generating station and a fuel store although no evidence remains. There is some wiring and light fittings in one of the chambers.
Ho6 WATER LANE MUNITIONS STORE
Didn’t even knew that this one existed until I had flown home. Umm opps. It lies on the west side of Water Lane.
This reports follows on from my coverage of the Hohlgangsanlage tunnels on the island of Jersey in 2019. Report here
GERMAN OCCUPATION DURING WW2
In June 1940, almost the entire then population of Alderney of 1400 was evacuated to Britain. Most went on the official evacuation boats sent from mainland Britain. Some, however, decided to make their own way, mostly via Guernsey, but due to the impending occupation many found themselves unable to leave and were forced to stay on Guernsey for the duration of the war. Eighteen Alderney people elected not to leave with the general evacuation. The Germans arrived to a nearly deserted island, and began to follow their orders to fortify Alderney as part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall. In January 1942, they built four camps in Alderney: two work camps, Lager Helgoland and Lager Borkum, and two concentration camps, Lager Sylt and Lager Norderney. The four camps on the island had a total inmate population that fluctuated but is estimated at about 6000 with the occupants mostly being Eastern Europeans. More than 700 camp inmates lost their lives before the camps were closed and the remaining inmates transferred to France in 1944. The Germans surrendered Alderney on the 16 May 1945, eight days after the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe, and seven days after the liberation of Guernsey and Jersey.
Ho1 MANNEZ QUARRY MUNITIONS STORE
During WW2 seven tunnels were planned by the Germans for Alderney but only four of them were built; the most easterly is at Mannez Quarry. The tunnel, which was intended as a munitions and ration store was probably never completed. As built it consists of a horseshoe shaped tunnel with two entrances in the quarry face. At the western end of the quarry is a large derelict travelling crane with a number of ballast wagons behind it. Behind the crane is the open western entrance to the tunnel, below the German naval direction finding tower on the cliff top. It is wide open and safe to enter although rubbish has been dumped just inside the entrance, including a number of old tube train seats.
The eastern entrance was close to a modern railway engine shed at the eastern end of the quarry but this has now been obliterated by later quarrying although it is still possible to climb over a rock fall into the tunnel. The 300 foot tunnel is unlined throughout and generally dry and in good internal condition with no roof falls.
The quarry is the eastern terminus of the island’s railway system. At the end of the line is a two car set of ex Northern line 1959 tube stock, this has been restored and repainted. The two car train came to the island in 2001 replacing the 1938 tube stock that was acquired from the Historic Chatham Dockyard in 1987. The motive power is provided by a two small diesel locos (Elizabeth and Molly) which are stored in a locked engine shed at the end of the line. The line, which only runs in the summer, terminates at the harbour at St. Anne two miles away. This is the only working railway on any of the Channel Islands It was inaugurated by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and celebrated its 150th birthday in 1997.
The tunnel has no junctions and is just one continuous passage. Having said that, if this was in Wiltshire, I’m sure that some moron would had by now spray painted arrows all over the place.
Ho2 ESSEX HILL MUNITIONS STORE
The western entrance to the Essex Hill munitions storage tunnel (Ho2) is located at the bottom of a quarry face at the back of a wooded quarry to the north of Essex Castle. The tunnel is about 400 yards in length and runs in a semi circle to the partially blocked and overgrown eastern entrance. The tunnel is unlined throughout as are three short munitions storage chambers close to the middle of the tunnel.
There is also a short section of 60cm tramway in place towards the centre of the tunnel. The tunnel is dry and safe to enter with a small roof fall in the centre that is easily passed. The chassis of a railway truck is buried beneath a minor roof fall at the eastern end.
Ho5 WATER LANE FUEL STORAGE AND POWER STATION
The southern entrance to Ho 5 is on the east side of Water Lane, it is overgrown with soil mounded in front of it although access is still possible. The tunnel is now largely unlined although it was originally lined with timber which has now fallen away and lies rotting on the floor. The tunnel is wet throughout with deep mud in places and several roof falls which can be climbed over. After about 50 yards the tunnel bends to the right and a branch comes in from the left. The branch is about 100 yards long with a large roof fall near the end.
Back in the main tunnel after a further 75 yards there are two concrete lined storage chambers one on either side of the tunnel. The chamber on the west side is about 8 feet in height and 60 feet long while the second chamber, 30 feet beyond is about 15 feet high and 55 feet long. There is a 60cm tramway laid throughout much of the tunnel including the branches and chambers and at the junction with one of the chambers is the remains of a turntable.
After a further 75 yards the tunnel turns to the right towards the southern entrance. At this point there is a second branch curving to the left.
Although there is a large amount of debris on the floor making passage through the tunnel slow and difficult at times, the walls appear reasonably sound. The tunnel was built to house an electricity generating station and a fuel store although no evidence remains. There is some wiring and light fittings in one of the chambers.
Ho6 WATER LANE MUNITIONS STORE
Didn’t even knew that this one existed until I had flown home. Umm opps. It lies on the west side of Water Lane.
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