During the Victorian era the Health
and Safety standards, whilst not completely absent, did leave room
for improvement, and it is probable that during the construction
of the Palmerston Forts accidents were frequent and serious. In
the 1860s during the digging of the tunnels which give access to
the magazine and Caponiers under Fort Widley, one such fatal
accident occurred. A roof fall caused the death of one of the
miners, and a little memorial to him can still be seen carved into
the chalk tunnel by his colleagues.
The
symbol of a headstone and cross carved into the chalk with the
letters NH inscribed on it.. Further along this
tunnel is a cold war Civil
Defence Bunker
Photo supplied and interpreted by Ian Spivey
Along
the tunnel, between the Barracks and the northern Flanking
Gallery, is this Freemasons symbol. It is carved high up in
the in the chalk, and is protected by a Perspex cover.
