Mystery Tunnels

Frome's darkish secret...

There are stacks of myths and legends about old tunnels in and around Frome, yet to date no-one seems to have tried to find out anything about them. That is, until now! SSS investigates...

On average these tunnels are 20ft below the surface. They are 4ft wide and 5ft high, are brick lined with slightly arched ceilings and have brick/flagstone floors. In places, it is said, they are high enough to home a group of pizza-eating teenage mutant ninja turtles and their oriental rat sensei.

One suggestion about their purpose was that they were built at the time of the Reformation for persecuted priests to evade detection by the Protestants. There are certainly connections to all the principle churches in the town. But there are also connections to many of the old inns and pubs! The tunnels are likely to be medieval or even earlier.

There are many natural spring wells in Frome. E.g. the manky trickle of water which emerges by the side of St John's church and runs down a drain in Cheap Street. Some folk say that the tunnels are the remains of a medieval water system.

The Olive Tree at Badcox, houses a 49 feet deep well over a bubbling spring. In the shaft, at depths of 20-30ft, are two entrances to the tunnel system. The Griffin has a similar well but with no apparent entrances to the tunnels.

Some local crazy people claim to know of people who have walked underground from Trinity to St Johns and even to beyond Orchardleigh. The tunnels might even connect with nearby towns like Bruton, Evercreech and Bradford-on-Avon.

The tunnels shown on the map (see above) are represented by arrows that show their direction. It has been accurately tracked and confirmed by many property owners living above it.

There has been gossip of large underground rooms and a large cavern beneath Selwood Print Works flooded with an underground lake.

Frome could be sitting on a major historical discovery! Frome could become more than an historic but neglected market town. It could become an historic but neglected market town with historic but neglected public tunnels!

An expedition to explore these tunnels and determine how safe they are is being planned by The Frome Time Tunnel Team, including Tony Robinson and that fat bloke off Time Team.

Editorial Comment:

We like this story. Yet again, SSS is pushing the boundaries of investigative journalism in the Frome area. If you suspect that you've got secret tunnels below your property then why not check them out and send us an email about it. Follow our handy exploration method:

1. Tie a long piece of rope to the family dog/cat/budgie etc. (if you don't have any pets then use the family's smallest child).

2. Send them down the tunnel/well with a lit match.

3. Tug the rope occasionally to check they are still alive.

4. Report your findings to SSS at webmaster@somersetsubstandard.co.uk

Visit our sponsors !
Want to know how to get FREE MONEY?!!! click here to find out!