Williamson Tunnels
The Williamson's tunnels in Edge Hill (a district of Liverpool, England) are a bizarre collection of seemingly pointless tunnels built by Joseph Williamson from 1806 to 1840.
The tunnels
The tunnels are in an area to the west of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in a rectangle bordered by Mason Street, Grinfield Street, Smithdown Lane and Paddington.
The reason for their creation is unknown, but the most common guess it that they were constructed to provide employment during the economic recession following the Napoleonic Wars. Other guesses include a refuge from "the end of the world", secret passageways for secret activities (slaves, smuggling, whatever), and lastly some think he was simply crazy.
Joseph Williamson
Joseph Williamson, a 19th Century philanthropist, tobacco merchant, property owner and pioneer of tunnels. He was born on 10th March 1769 possibly at Warrington, moved to Liverpool when he was eleven, where he found employment with Richard Tate - a tobacco merchant.
He become rich through the tobacco trade, married Elizabeth Tate, built houses and terraced gardens in the Edge Hill area of Liverpool and excavated a labyrinth of seemingly pointless tunnels and cellars underneath them. One suspected reason for the excavations was simply to provide work for unemployed ex-Napoleonic War veterans.
Williamson died, aged 71, on 1st May 1840, he had no children and so the tunnelling stopped immediately and was never continued.
The tourist attraction
The tunnels have become a popular tourist attraction and excavations are ongoing so they are constantly changing. The entrance to the 'Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre' is located at 'The Old Stableyard' on Smithdown Lane. The stableyard belonged to Liverpool Corporation who originally kept dust carts there, later it was used for the Lord Mayors coach and horses. It is now also the site of the Liverpool Stagecoach Company.
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