Blisworth Tunnel 25 years on

There will be special guided tunnel trips between Blisworth and Stoke Bruerne on trip boats Charlie and Indian Chief with the opportunity to make the return journey by vintage bus, exhibitions of rare archive material related to the tunnel and an opportunity to hear from the original engineers and construction workers at first hand about how the work was carried out. It all happens on Saturday 22nd August, twenty five years to the day since we saw huge crowds at both ends of the tunnel to celebrate the tunnel's re-opening.

Cheering crowds celebrate re-opening

In the late 1970s monitoring of the tunnel had shown problems with ground water forcing sections of the brick invert (bottom) upwards and causing obstructions to navigation. In 1979 this worsened and the tunnel closed for temporary remedial measures, opening up again briefly in the summer of 1980 only, but with boats being crewed through by British Waterways staff.

Inspections in 1980/81 showed that large lengths of the invert had been forced up, the side walls were no longer supported and there were large voids behind the brickwork. A full engineering study was needed and funding had to be found which meant that progress was slow. Meanwhile the tunnel remained closed.

In 1982 a large scale campaign rally led by the local branch of the Inland Waterways Association was held at both ends of the tunnel to raise awareness. Eventually in 1983/84 government funding of £4.3 million enabled the complete removal of the centre section of the tunnel and it's complete re-boring and lining with pre-cast concrete sections. This required the complete draining of the tunnel, the construction of dams at each end and a road to be laid into the tunnel. The work was carried out for British Waterways by contractors John Mowlem under the direction of engineers Mott, Hay and Anderson and the tunnel re-opened for business witnessed by huge cheering crowds and costumed villagers on 22nd August 1984.

During the course of the works local Blisworth historian, George Freeston walked into the tunnel everyday recording the day-to-day progress of the complex engineering task and material from his archive will form the basis of a new temporary exhibition put together for the occasion. The National Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne also unveiled a new tunnel exhibition entitled 'Through the Hill' earlier this year and this will also form part of the day's attractions.