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Secret tunnel between Leicester hospital and prison revealed Secret tunnel between Leicester hospital and prison revealed
(5 days later)
The tunnel runs from a cellar under an Edwardian hospital buildingThe tunnel runs from a cellar under an Edwardian hospital building
The existence of a subterranean part of a city's history - a tunnel linking a prison to a nearby hospital - has been unveiled.The existence of a subterranean part of a city's history - a tunnel linking a prison to a nearby hospital - has been unveiled.
Senior engineers at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) said the underground passage leading to the jail on the other side of Welford Road had been kept "hush hush" for years.Senior engineers at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) said the underground passage leading to the jail on the other side of Welford Road had been kept "hush hush" for years.
The tunnel was built in 1907 so inmates could be safely and discretely transported to the hospital, but it was bricked up and filled in the late 1980s or early 1990s.The tunnel was built in 1907 so inmates could be safely and discretely transported to the hospital, but it was bricked up and filled in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
"Officially, it doesn't exist," said Paul Lewis, who has worked in the hospital's estate team for 45 years."Officially, it doesn't exist," said Paul Lewis, who has worked in the hospital's estate team for 45 years.
"You search for it and there will be no evidence of it."You search for it and there will be no evidence of it.
"It was probably hush hush to stop prisoners trying to use it to escape."It was probably hush hush to stop prisoners trying to use it to escape.
"But it has long since been bricked up on both sides.""But it has long since been bricked up on both sides."
Stone steps lead to the former tunnelStone steps lead to the former tunnel
Mr Lewis said only the hospital's estates team could access the area leading to the former tunnel Paul Lewis said only the hospital's estates team could access the area leading to the former tunnel
Mr Lewis said the tunnel, built in 1907, formerly ran from a basement under the LRI's Victoria Building to the jail.Mr Lewis said the tunnel, built in 1907, formerly ran from a basement under the LRI's Victoria Building to the jail.
He added: "It was only used for 20 or 30 years. We don't know the exact dates.He added: "It was only used for 20 or 30 years. We don't know the exact dates.
"I have spoken to people who have been in the tunnel."I have spoken to people who have been in the tunnel.
"The builder who was contracted to brick it up in the late 1980s or early 1990s confirmed he went in and walked it as far as he could, and he said he could hear the road noise [above]. "The builder who was contracted to brick it up in the late 1980s or early 1990s confirmed he went in and walked it as far as he could, and he said he could hear the road noise [above]."
Mr Lewis, who showed the BBC the cellar leading to the closed-off tunnel, said the area was off limits to everyone beyond the hospital's estates team. Mr Lewis, who showed the BBC the cellar leading to the closed-off tunnel, said the area was off-limits to everyone beyond the hospital's estates team.
Leicester's prison opened in 1828 and remains in use as a Category B jail for male prisoners.Leicester's prison opened in 1828 and remains in use as a Category B jail for male prisoners.
The infirmary was established in 1771 with 40 beds and was run by a surgeon, matron, two nurses, a laundry maid, labourer, porter and cook.The infirmary was established in 1771 with 40 beds and was run by a surgeon, matron, two nurses, a laundry maid, labourer, porter and cook.
Today it is one of the busiest hospitals in the country with 1,000 beds and 15,000 members of staff. Today, it is one of the busiest hospitals in the country with 1,000 beds and 15,000 members of staff.
Additional reporting by Ben Jackson
The tunnel runs under Welford Road between the hospital on the left and the prison on the rightThe tunnel runs under Welford Road between the hospital on the left and the prison on the right
Additional reporting by Ben Jackson
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