Joseph Williamson.
Joseph Williamson was an eccentric, businessman, property owner and a philanthropist whose philanthropy earned him the nickname the King of Edge Hill, whilst his tunnel-building activity earned him posthumous nicknames, including the Mole of Edge Hill and the Mad Mole.
What did Joseph Williamson do?
Sir Joseph Williamson, PRS (25 July 1633 – 3 October 1701) was an English civil servant, diplomat and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England variously between 1665 and 1701 and in the Irish House of Commons between 1692 and 1699. He was Secretary of State for the Northern Department from 1674 to 1679.
Who built tunnels under Liverpool?
Joseph Williamson
Under the streets of Liverpool, England’s Edge Hill district tunnels stretch for miles. The residents know they were built between 1810 and 1840 by eccentric local business man, Joseph Williamson, but no one knows their true purpose, reports Chris Baraniuk for BBC.
Why were the Williamson Tunnels built?
Williamson therefore built the tunnels as a place into which he and his fellow believers could escape to avoid the catastrophe and emerge later to build a new city.
Why are there tunnels under Liverpool?
The Williamson Tunnels are a series of extensive subterranean excavations, of unknown purpose, in the Edge Hill area of Liverpool, England. They are thought to have been created under the direction of tobacco merchant, landowner and philanthropist Joseph Williamson between 1810 and 1840.
How big are the Williamson Tunnels?
The excavations have uncovered tunnels in various sizes from the so called ‘banqueting hall’ that is about 64 feet long, 14 feet wide and 27 feet high to tunnels that are 4 feet wide and 6 feet tall.
Who is Williamson Square in Liverpool named after?
Williamson Square is in the city centre of Liverpool, England. It was initially laid out as a residential square in the 1745 by Mr Williamson.
What did Toxteth used to be called?
Stochestede, Dom. Bk.; Tokestat, 1207; Toxstake, 1228; Tokstad, 1257; Toxstath, 1297; Toxsteth, 1447 (VCH Lancs, III). Origins of the name: May be Old English – Stochestede (in the Domesday Book) means the stockaded place.
How many people died building the Mersey tunnel?
Over 1700 men worked on the building of the Queensway Tunnel, with 17 sadly killed during the construction. Teams started work on both the Wirral and Liverpool sides of the Mersey.
What is the oldest tunnel in the UK?
Fritchley Tunnel is a disused railway tunnel at Fritchley in Derbyshire, England, which is believed to be the oldest surviving example in the world. The tunnel was constructed in 1793 by Benjamin Outram as part of the Butterley Gangroad, altered in the 1840s, and remained in use until the railway closed in 1933.
Is the Williams tunnel underwater?
The Ted Williams Tunnel
Named for the Boston Red Sox Legend, the tunnel doubles Boston’s cross-harbor tunnel capacity from four lanes to eight. The . 75-mile underwater part of the 1.6 mile tunnel used a dozen steel tube sections, each longer than a football field.
What was the nickname given to an American soldier who had to go into the tunnels once they were discovered?
The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War.
Are Williamson Tunnels open to public?
The Centre is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tours run every hour at 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 1.30, 2,30, and 3.30. All tours must be booked in advance by telephoning 0151 709 6868 between 10.00am and 3.00pm on the three days that we are open.
What are the poor areas of Liverpool?
Deprivation in the Liverpool City Region
Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool and St. Helens are all in the worst 20% of local authorities in England. Sefton has the lowest IMD score in LCR (27.0), but deprivation scores in all LCR local authorities are significantly higher than the national average of 21.7 (Table 1).
Can you walk under the Mersey?
Please Note: You cannot walk through either of the Mersey Tunnels. You may cycle through the Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel at certain times.
What is Liverpool famous for?
Its main claim to fame is that Liverpool is the hometown of the rock group, The Beatles. However, the city has many other attractions, including its waterfront with ferry trips, its iconic architecture, the Liverpool Cathedral, the city’s museum, and the famous Royal Albert Dock.
What is the deepest tunnel on earth?
In terms of depth below the surface, the Kola Superdeep Borehole SG-3 retains the world record at 12,262 metres (40,230 ft) reached in 1989 and is still the deepest artificial point on Earth.
What is the deepest tunnel in the world?
Gotthard Base Tunnel, Switzerland
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest and deepest tunnel. It runs under the Swiss alps between the towns of Erstfeld in the north and Bodio in the south. The tunnel is 57 km long and reaches a depth of 2,300 meters.
What are the 5 longest tunnels in the world?
- Lærdal Tunnel. The longest road tunnel in the world: Lærdal tunnel in Norway.
- Jinpingshan Tunnel. The Jinpingshan Tunnel is China’s deepest transportation tunnel.
- Gotthard Road Tunnel. Gotthard Road Tunnel.
- Arlberg Road Tunnel.
- Mount Erlang Tunnel.
- Yamate Tunnel.
- Zhongnanshan Tunnel.
- Ryfylke Tunnel.
What is the most common surname in Liverpool?
Most Common Last Names In Merseyside
| Rank | Surname | Percent of Parent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jones | 6.05% |
| 2 | Smith | 2.57% |
| 3 | Williams | 5.15% |
| 4 | Davies | 5.77% |
What is a native of Liverpool called?
Liverpudlian (plural Liverpudlians) A native or resident of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.