Portsdown Tunnels - Fort Southwick UGHQ - modern photos

Fort Southwick UGHQ

Modern

Created 25-08-2001 Last update 20-08-2004

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Access to the UGHQ from outside the Fort (1)

On the southern slope of Portsdown directly below the fort are three adits which lead into the UGHQ. All three could be used for escape purposes but number 1 and 2 had additional functions. No1 tunnel (when counting from the west) was for some unknown reason called 'B Adit' and acted as an air intake for the environmental plant. No2 tunnel splits into two with the west section used as an escape tunnel, and the east section carrying the diesel exhausts and waste plant heat out of the UGHQ. This east section of tunnel No2 splits again as it enters the UGHQ so there are 3 external portals but 5 internal. All three tunnels were extensively blast trapped and had 'pinch points' where final blast and gas proof doors were fitted.

Plan of the southern part of the UGHQ showing the layout and relative position of the escape tunnels. No3 tunnel is the only one that survives intact.

Spoil heap created by the Southwick tunnel

The chalk slope just above the rooftops is the spoil from the construction of the Victorian Forts during the 1860s, and is a well known Portsmouth landmark The escape tunnel access road can just be made out 1/3 of the way down the photo. Beyond the top of the hill is Fort Southwick

On top of Portsdown looking East, at the top of the tunnel approach road (which is to the right of the camera). Fort Southwick is on the left. The modern building on the right sits directly over the tunnels. This was formerly the Flag Officer Fleet 3 (FOF3) building.

Access road to the tunnel below Fort Southwick

This is the access road to the tunnel entrances below Fort Southwick. It is a few hundred yards West of Fort Southwick itself. It leads to a high fenced enclosure, where just before this, buried in the undergrowth, is a partly demolished brick built guard house.

This is the No1 portal inside the compound (EE1 on the plan), when counting from West to East. It has been almost totally covered over with earth and chalk, but has become exposed due to settling and erosion.

No1 portal close-up. (EE1 on the plan) In the centre of the picture the spikes on top of the original gate can still be seen. This is the style of gate that I remember from the sixties.

This shows how the western escape adit (EE1 on the plan) has been blocked off. The doorways have been blocked-up and then concrete has been pumped into the tunnel via the pipe on the top right.

Portal No2, (EE2 on the plan) which again has been back-filled and covered over. Unlike portal No1 however, the gate is missing. The 2 tunnels have been rubble filled near the outer end and and pumped full of concrete further back.

No 2 portal close up. Someone has had a go at digging this out, but has soon realised that the entrance was sealed with concrete blocks reinforced with steel. The tunnel itself has also been pumped full of concrete.