Inspired to visit after seeing many lovely photos of this site, headed out in the early hours on a Sunday morning and found access surprisingly simple. Lots of information readily available elsewhere, but briefly Norwich has been mined for chalk since the 12th century. Not sure when these ones were started, but have certainly been there since the early 19th century. They have also been used as an air raid shelter during the second world war, and as factory storage for Thompsons Tin & Metal works.
There are two entrances to the mine within a few yards of each other. The easiest to enter is simply a doorless doorway in the side of a hill. The first 20ft or so inside are a bricks & mortar tunnel, beyond which lie the raw hewn chalk tunnels.
Just to the right of the inner end of the brick tunnel is a small gap
which opens into a largeish chamber that the brick entrance has been built through.
Further in we came across this green glass ampoule (sorry about the blur) still intact and containing a clear fluid. we guessed something toxic and or corrosive from the days of the metal works, can anyone shed any light?
and there are many metal forms scattered about the place
Several of the tunnels are half backfilled and a bit of a crawl to get through, all dead ends after not much distance
and halfway through a connecting tunnel another brick & mortar reinforcement
The second entrance
One of the beds from it's time as an air raid shelter
and the toilets
I really enjoyed this trip, not as claustrophobic as I'd thought it may feel and really close to the city centre. The site of the mine entrances is due for redevelopment very soon, so if you're thinking of going there is probably a very limited time before these become inaccessable.
There are two entrances to the mine within a few yards of each other. The easiest to enter is simply a doorless doorway in the side of a hill. The first 20ft or so inside are a bricks & mortar tunnel, beyond which lie the raw hewn chalk tunnels.
Just to the right of the inner end of the brick tunnel is a small gap
which opens into a largeish chamber that the brick entrance has been built through.
Further in we came across this green glass ampoule (sorry about the blur) still intact and containing a clear fluid. we guessed something toxic and or corrosive from the days of the metal works, can anyone shed any light?
and there are many metal forms scattered about the place
Several of the tunnels are half backfilled and a bit of a crawl to get through, all dead ends after not much distance
and halfway through a connecting tunnel another brick & mortar reinforcement
The second entrance
One of the beds from it's time as an air raid shelter
and the toilets
I really enjoyed this trip, not as claustrophobic as I'd thought it may feel and really close to the city centre. The site of the mine entrances is due for redevelopment very soon, so if you're thinking of going there is probably a very limited time before these become inaccessable.
