I Have actually experienced a timewarp, in real life. When studying Electronic Engineering, at The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, in 1988, I used to attend a Maths lecture in The Sir William Duncan Building every Wednesday. I noticed a strange phenomenon; the Maths lecture lasted for about six hours, but when I came out of the Sir William Duncan Building, at the end of this six hour long maths lecture, only one hour had past. No one has ever been able to explain this.
I had a chemistry course similar to that. I swear that out the window I saw the sun set and rise again every lecture and yet outside people insisted that merely 90 minutes had passed. What's even weirder is that the only memory besides seeing the sun set and rise is that the prof had at some point worked with Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker, a fact that surely can't have been mentioned more than a couple dozen times per lecture.
I've been working this case for _many_ years, _obviously,_ and I would like to thank Steve for coming forward to 'fess up', even after all this time has passed. This brave action will count in your favour when this finally goes to court. What's counting against you is the fact that you cost me my marriage, opportunities for promotion, much of my hair, and my _sanity!_
Timewarps are a very common phenomenon when dealing with council workmen. An old neighbour of mine used to work for the council and claimed he worked from 8am until 6pm. But his time travelling secret was uncovered when we saw that his car was back outside his house by mid afternoon nearly every day of the week
I used to work for my local council. I can confirm this is accurate. I only saw someone get fired once and that only happened after he was caught coming to work drunk (repeatedly) and passing out on park benches.
When I was a toddler in the early 70's my mum use to let me run down that foot tunnel on the way to the market in Woolwich - I was always afraid it would burst and water would run in, there were always leaking water dripping from the ceiling. The lifts use to have old fellas who sat in the lifts and press the buttons, I remember the old boy use to allow me to push the button. He had a cap and he smoked a roll up, the other fella used a pipe and he would never let you press the button. Many a time we had to climb the stairs, lift was out or something, why not use the ferry, we did but many a time they were either broken down or the crew were on strike. Last time I used this was last year, brought back memories of the "echo" and the weird way it dipped down. ~trooper
Marvelous. I had the same childhood fears that the roof would collapse in and anyone in the tunnel would be drowned, also late 69s early 70s. I can remember the old boys who operated the lifts too. I'm off out for a ride over the river and back tomorrow. This has got me a bit nostalgic.
You might have heard of West Wickham? East Wickham was part of Woolwich originally part of the old gunnery ranges of old, I loved being based at Woolwich and every day I used to run the 5 miles to me mums for a cheeky fry up and mug of char then run back in time for ablutions and breakfast proper (we had huge steak platters for our brekkers which involved many sausages, eggs, bacon, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, kidneys, hash browns, fried slice, many slices of toast AND usually three or four of them variety little boxes of cereal in a big bowl and of course British Army tea brown as creosote, strong as an ox) and by time lunchtime had come along you were ready for the steak lunch and tea was curry as Woolwich cooks did the best curry in the army then knocking off duty to go get soppy in the NAAFI bar. Ironically, when my daughter was due, we found ourselves homeless and council put us in the old NCO's flats next to the pub that got bombed, whilst we waited for our flat in Thamesmead to be ready and it was spooky living there in my old sgt's flat, I had a small army flat over Shooters Hill side.
@@honeysucklecat we called our barge "Amelia Pond", she's white and blue... TARDIS blue. My husband got the paint codes and it is a clean version of the current TARDIS.
Well, a one-word answer in the end, but it was a very entertaining way to find out. That London Council engineer was busy; 3 tunnels under the Thames in little over a decade (Rotherhithe, Greenwich, Woolwich). We could do with someone like him today!
1:15 on your right, behind those railings used to be a rail museum, the building is still there. Behind the building there is still a length of rail and a platform, but the trains and turntable are gone... You turn into Pier road from Albert road, you go past the police station on your left, the museum is/was the boarded up building on your right as you round the corner and head towards the tunnel/ferry. It was part of the rail network that ran through the area between Albert Road and Factory Road, disappearing underground at Hartman Road (the road into City Airport) South of Albert Dock and re-emerging on the North side of Victoria Dock on Victoria Dock Road along side the DLR rails near Prince Regent Station... That section of railway was recently being re-introduced as part of (or used as access to dig new tunnels for) Crossrail, bringing with it other stories of strange occurances and things being dug out the ground. Further along Pier road, past the tunnel entrance, on your right used to be (what was known as) London Teleport officially named British Telecom, Earth Station when it was opened, where there were all kinds of enormous satellite dishes... I wonder if the former "Teleport" had anything to do with the (blog) story of a portal? Maybe the other locations in the blog were also former sites with significant history relating to time, travel and technology? North Woolwich and SIlvertown are almost an island, and used to be an "island" when there was a tidal basin at the West end of Victoria Dock. Where the basin was is now refered to as The Beach on the dock side and the site of Euromix Concrete on the river side... Seperated by the docks to the North and surrounded by the river to the South the area always had strange feel to it and the locals all knew each other. Quite a unique part of London but the community isn't what it was and the pubs on every corner are long gone.
Lovely little read. I'm going to ride to N Woolwich on the bike from Charlton tomorrow. Its been decades since I was last over there and, since making good use of the Thames path recently, have cast my eye over the river and reminisced of the days my grandmother took toddler me to the small children's park (Royal Victoria gardens) just downriver from the ferry. Seems absurd now, but fifty odd years ago it was a proper adventurous day out. Might even take a packed lunch with crisps and everything...
Oh the tales I could tell of that tunnel, including getting a ban for a while because the ferry was not running and I was allowed to walk my Vespa through using lift either end and my mate dared me to start it up when we got to the middle point... over in North Woolwich, us naughty boys (and sometimes girls) had taken over the middle one of the three then derelict tower blocks and the fun and games with East Ham nick trying to chase us out, a large black family had taken over two whole floors and basically turned them into a huge flat and they were pretty cool folks and their "flat" was awesome all painted, furnished with expensive gear and they repaired all the damage done when the blocks became derelict. The funny then, not so funny now thing was there was two working lifts, one was in good working order, the other was condemned for missing or having two snapped cables so we took the good working one to the top and using a key we found in the old caretakers flat locked it to that floor and the police had a choice of walking up countless stairs which put them in a fine temper or to risk the dodgy lift. One copper I do remember always had a packet of Benson and Hedges he used to chuck at us with the provisio we all behaved which we did unless we got too sozzled in the Pavilion pub and we got a bit o' barney rubble with the local lads realising they had a ton of Millwall lot on their West Ham turf hehe Sad thing though was the loss of the old North Woolwich steam museum which I patronised a lot back in the day, what an absolute shame and all thanks to Boris the Klown grr The railway track chase scene in Rocknrolla was shot along the old North Woolwich branch and I was once night security manager at the building of Stolport there til one of my officers decided to get drunk on duty, steal a builders van, drive it down a newly laid runway and then buggered off back to Belfast where he hailed from... leaving me in charge facing criminal charges of 2.6m pounds of damage and in the deep deep do do :(
Oh my goodness you have transported me back to 1998 when I was using this tunnel, so young and so many happy memories back then. I am ever so grateful to you, I'm a new subscriber and absolutely love all your content. Thanks so much for taking me back to a happier time. I really needed this and you as usual delivered tremendously well. Here here 🙌
Re the nice Dr Who references in the comments: Back in the early 70s and barely five years old I recall getting a ticking off from a stern policeman after opening the door of his police box outside Equitable House on Beresford Square, Woolwich, thinking it was the actual TARDIS.
I'm definitely adding that to my library of pub "facts". After three or four pints I will probably have made it a story that definitely happened to me. Well... I did walk through it once so I can claim "based on a true story" status at least.
Anyone who has taken the train from Dartford to Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal will attest that time slowing to a standstill is something not limited to the foot tunnel.
I recall there used to be fast trains in that line then they slowed every service down because people on the minor stations with few passengers wanted more trains per hour 🙄
Many years ago, my wife & her cousin (who lived in Wapping, E London at that time) spent most of day sailing across on the Woolwich ferry & back again, over & over whilst her Mum went shopping in Woolwich (on the southern side) ! If any tourists visit London, I'd highly recommend a trip across the river on this ferry, especially if they do so at dusk. I think the view looking back at all the lights of Canary Wharf and the City is pretty d*mn spectacular !!
I lived on Pier Rd N Woolwich in the 80's and used the ferry or the tunnel most days. The tunnel at night was eerie, a bit creepy, and N Woolwich was a dodgy ghost town at night, bus drivers would often not stop there! The tunnel walls leaked and so I used to always count my steps so I would know which end to run towards in case it started to collapse. There used to be an old notice board on the Northside rotunda, of rules, one of which was moving livestock thru the tunnel was not allowed.
My mum, gran & grandad came from north woolwich to Eltham SE London when they were bombed out during the WW2 blitz. As a kid when we used to go back to North Woolwich and Silvertown to see family relations we always walked thru the woolwich pedestrian tunnel, in my early days of the 60’s the lifts had the old grill gates with a lift operator bloke.
Thanks! Actually based on a true story. I was in the middle of an area that the British Army used to call “the badlands” and that gig was so bad that I was tempted to take my chances.
I once walked through this tunnel late one Sunday. There was a gang of youths coming the other way. I had a choice of turning around and missing my last train home, or braving it and hope I would be alright.
Tiles reminiscent of the Dartford Tunnel providing combined N & S routes before the, is it the Queen Elizabeth Bridge?, was opened. Bridge closes in high winds- only takes a dizzy queen to disrupt things! Often wondered if multi coloured grouting would lift the 'experience'. Pub quizzers; How many squeegees used annually cleaning the tunnel's tiles?
I'm a little bit late here, but for some reason that image in my mind is funny enough that I'm tempted to travel to London with a friend and try it out when things are safe again. I imagine maybe a scooter would work as a stupid loophole
Personally, I always find the debunkings more interesting than the stories themselves (although, to be fair, you need the stories in order to have the debunkings). So thanks Jago, I’d heard the story several times, but never the debunk.
I missed this one first time around, but it reminded me that there used to be organised marathon races run entirely underground in the tunnel. They had to be held in the wee small hours when it was hardly ever used (except for the homeless who would doss down there).
Once I felt really dizzy inside this tunnel and almost collapsed. So I run really fast in order to get out of this hell. These days I only use the ferry.
I love this tunnel, it's just a pity that the white tiles make it look like the world's longest, narrowest public khazi. I walked through there in the 1980's wearing a pair of old German army boots which had steel plates on the soles at the heel and toe. (I was a bit of a Goth then, but don't hold it against me). The echo of my walking feet was unbelievable. Well worth finding some Blakeys, or segs, putting them in (not DM's), and giving it a go for yourself.
The Woolwich ferry was a great day out for my brother and I when we were kids. We always used to have a go at running through the tunnel and trying to beat the ferry.
As a young kid in the 60s living nearby on a prefab estate in Beckton, we spent a lot of weekends going back and forth on the ferry and foot tunnel. The lifts had attendants then which made it seem a bit safer, although I was always convinced it was going to collapse as I got half way across. I only found out recently that North as well as South Woolwich were both in Kent at one time.My great granddad was born in North Woolwich, Kent in 1875.
Funny how busy and loved the Greenwich foot tunnel is ...and how the Woolwich tunnel is the opposite? As the video maker states, his friends didn't even know it existed and people I know in the area rarely use it, prefering to wait a bit longer for the ferry rather than walk through the tunnel by themselves (its always empty apparently)
I do love the wood paneling on the lifts on the Woolwich foot tunnel, been through it a couple of times, must do it again next time I'm down there. The Greenwich one as well.
Someone needs to take a buggy/pram down there, strap a camera to it, film the journey while smoothly pushing the pram/buggy along and then post it here just so ever slightly speeded up - that would be the time warp!
This tunnel is the obvious rational explanation of so-called Near Death Experiences. Dying people from all over the world are suddenly transported, via quantum worm-holes, into the Woolwich tunnel. After a brief spell of meeting deceased relatives, etc, they are then propelled into further dimensions of the afterlife. I'm still not sure why Woolwich was the chosen portal.
I've only been to Woolwich the once, not long before the North London Line closed beyond Stratford for conversion. Didn't walk the tunnel, I think it was closed, but the ferry was an interesting experience - very reasonably priced too.
Gotta admit I'm fascinated by the concept of a foot tunnel under a river, especially a large river. I can't think of anything like this in the States. I know of underwater traffic and subway tunnels but nothing that's just a footpath. Doubt the powers that be would trust us down there (they'd probably be right). Seems weird to want to visit London just so I can walk under the Thames but...
I've only ever got Greenwich Foot Tunnel but they both look the same. Might get Woolwich soon. It is like a timewarp..especially once you reach the half way mark on your cycle as then suddenly you want to go at the same speed but then you start feeling that resistence of the gravity coming towards you as things start going uphill. BTW I know cycling isn't really permitted but whatever.
Stayed in Woolwich for work last year, had to use the Woolwich tunnel every day to get to and from my hotel. Bloody long walk mind you. And the cyclists don't appear to be able to read the 'no cycling' signs plastered all over the floor.
Stone me! Hotel? Woolwich was never smart enough for hotels when I lived nearby, 1950/60s. You might have got a scruffy bed in the Woolwich Infant pub.
2.31 ‘A moment on the outside felt like a whole day on the inside’. A phrase with untold potential. In fact the perfect title for a Jim Reeves type Country and Western toon - a remorseful whine about having served time and the subsequent joy of being freed.
Years back, when I was in the UK, I walked under there with 2 friends from Newham, we'd all smoked some weed and I remember hearing creaking and other noises above me and that was the longest 20 minutes ever!
My brother and I used to roller-skate through the tunnel as kids in the 60s, then hopped onto the 101 bus to see my dad's family in East Ham. I loved the middle of the tunnel where you can't see either end.
It's because it's so much FUN! As a 12 year old (50+ years ago), me and mates used to cycle down there all the time. Nice turn of speed to the middle, but then sadly uphill as I remember it.
Clue's in the name....Foot tunnel- feet for footpaths, tyres for tarmac. Not all disabilities are visual. Footpaths provide refuge from traffic. Many cyclists flout this & would do well to re-read the Highway Code.
Sadly I never experienced a timewarp in the tunnel, but I did encounter a strange smell which left me with a rather bad headache. It felt a lot more scary at the time is all I can say.
Portals of London is wonderful...and I was watching the beginning of this video thinking but that’s from PoL...you’re right though...it should be true!
Barking to woolwich mid 70s on a 4ton Chopper bike with my mates . In the lift already doors used to open and we would all set off like the clippers To see how far we got before the man used to appear from nowhere behind and shout ....OI YOU LITTLE B@@!$T OFF YOUR BIKES !!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣 Always made our day ....bloke could be the one in the video....who knew 😳😳😂😂
The perspective in the tunnel is very disorienting; you seem to be walking for miles without getting closer to the end.l think this phenomenon counts as a 'timewarp'.
Further to my previous comment I have walked and cycled through the Woolwich and the Greenwich tunnels and they are fine examples of Edwardian engineering.
The government would have everyone believe we're in the land of milk and honey. Truth is that we haven't got two thrupenny bits to rub together. Skint.
There is a lot of interesting things under London. The Tunnel is also not far from where they found all the dragon eggs when they were doing the Jubilee line extension in the late 90s.
Well to be honest, after reading the title to this video, I got lost in a time warp repeatedly listening to "Let's do the time warp again" 🤣... Rut roh 🎵🎵
North Woolwich is named because it was actually once part of Kent - clearly marked as such on pre- 19C maps. A little outpost of civilisation north of the river…
I went on Docklands Railway Termanis to Dog Island, and a short walk to 1890s pedestrian tunnel. Google Maps confusing, elevated Docklands Railway missing now.
It's just a jump to left, and then a step to the right, with your hands on your hips, you bring your knees in tight, but it's the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insane. Let's do the Timewarp again, let's do the Timewarp again.
I was born and live in a certain north western seaside town. I won't say which- they would probably kill me - to death ! But I have often felt time stands still round here !
Greenwich is more well known. I used to do the ferry and foot tunnel when I lived in Erith, usually to East End for drinks or Silvertown for a Chinese meal.
I left 1890s pedestrian tunnel. Walked up Greenwich Hill, forgot Greenwich Observatory. Blackheath Underground and Bus Pass, station worker asked "Where i was going." I said, "Downtown Victoria." Worker said take BritRail. Surprise BritRail had Inflight service cart: tea, coffee, and snacks. Canada has NOTHING, GO TO RESTAURANT CAR. Sorry forgot i was in London 1986 and 1996, mother's side of the family.
If you get this tunnel quiet when you're on your bike... This is the fastest way I've ever got across town. Took it every day cycling from deptford to Stratford for Uni... Didn't know it was a very unknown place
It's a bit frustrating that cycling is banned in the tunnel. It would probably be a good idea to build a parallel tunnel for cyclists. Another thing, that might be a good idea, is to have a travellator link from the Elizabeth station to North Woolwich. And, if they linked into this tunnel, but kept this bit outside the gateline, they could make this and the northern entrance of the tunnel, into two extra Elizabeth Line entrances.
I used to walk this tunnel to work every day. Such a shame they've modernised the lifts. The old ones had a crank handle and two sets of doors. The tunnel used to be used for filming pop videos (I think the Pet Shop Boys and East 17 to name two). Love the time travel story - explains why my job in Woolwich felt like doing a life sentence.
I was looking after the mechanical and electrical installation during the refurbishment schemes on both tunnels. Unfortunately the designers had too much ambition and the council did not have enough funding. As a consequence the resulting finish was poor. I felt sorry for the poor electricians who had to install all of that galv conduit in the Woolwich tunnel, it took an inordinate amount of time and in my opinion looks appalling.
The tunnel i was in, Dog Island to Greenwich Cutty Sark Tea Clipper. The 1890s lift was wood with 2 bench seats front to back each side. Upgrade or different tunnel?
I feel that they should allow bicycles. If you for some reason can't take the ferry, biking that long tunnel seems like a much more practical solution than having to walk it. If you don't allow bikes then build a bridge, people have places to be
The Portals of London had me fooled on the Woolwich Foot Tunnel "Time Warp." I am not ashamed to admit it. The tale was well told in terms that were very much the same as I would expect... had it actually been true. And time anomalies, especially Time Slips, have been reported in detail by very reliable witnesses... several of the best stories becoming quite famous, of course...(and despite the somewhat cynical comments below).
Bits of North Woolwich belonged to a manor that was principally on the south bank. As a result of this those parts until quite recently were considered to be in Kent not Essex.
There was an odd tunnel under a stretch of one of the local freeways that me and some friends wandered thru. It was labeled as being a civil defense shelter, though there didn't seem much in it. Mostly it was perpendicular to the direction atomic blasts were expected, should worse come to worse.
The time warp story probably kept it open, there is really no use for it anymore with the DLR to Woolwich Arsenal which decreased its usage sharply, I wouldn't walk through there alone, it had a reputation for being a crime hotspot
Na secret entrance to one of the GOC sites...but if you do ever see any clowns in the area, yeah they are probably foundation agents just making fun of the book burners as usual...
Wouldn't the Greenwich foot tunnel have been better and closer for the walk from Greenwich to Stepney? Rather than this tunnel, which is a few miles further east?
I walked through there often between about 2008 and 2012 . They were going to do the tunnel up for the Olympics , as for a while they were planning to hold some of the rowing events there at the water around the airport, they even had a royal navy ship there for a while guarding it. I heard that when they went to work on the lift shaft on the south side a large part of it collapsed and that was what caused the delay . Was that old footage because i didn't notice any fences .In about 2010 they put a series of zig zag fences at intervals you had to weave between , it was to stop bicycles speeding through there, unless they have been removed again as its been a few years since I was last there.
Olympiad Tale. An overseas contestant from a group with little knowledge of English on a day off in the area was caught short. A companion who'd investigated the tunnel staircase said it must be a British loo because all are tiled white. The needy guy was said to have been caught half way through the tunnel with his trousers down!
I Have actually experienced a timewarp, in real life. When studying Electronic Engineering, at The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, in 1988, I used to attend a Maths lecture in The Sir William Duncan Building every Wednesday. I noticed a strange phenomenon; the Maths lecture lasted for about six hours, but when I came out of the Sir William Duncan Building, at the end of this six hour long maths lecture, only one hour had past. No one has ever been able to explain this.
This is a very specific drive-by and I have to say, I love it
That's a creative way of saying that his class was so boring it felt like it would last forever
Me too, I'll be 40 next month but I remember being 18 like it was yesterday.
I had a chemistry course similar to that. I swear that out the window I saw the sun set and rise again every lecture and yet outside people insisted that merely 90 minutes had passed. What's even weirder is that the only memory besides seeing the sun set and rise is that the prof had at some point worked with Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker, a fact that surely can't have been mentioned more than a couple dozen times per lecture.
Nothing abnormal about that the lecture was boring af and so it seemed alot longer than it was.
We used to go to the middle of the tunnel drunk -- spin round lots of times -- then decide which we thought was the right way back!
That's so stupid of a story it must be true
@@Sweeny_de it is. And the brilliant thing was you didn't need to be trousered to play either
Odds are even anyway. Did that when, and since, the paddle wheel ferry was in operation!
I walked this tunnel many times as a young lad, and yes I was that annoying kid who would do a high-pitched whistle that burst your ear-drums. Sorry.
You bastard
I've been working this case for _many_ years, _obviously,_ and I would like to thank Steve for coming forward to 'fess up', even after all this time has passed. This brave action will count in your favour when this finally goes to court. What's counting against you is the fact that you cost me my marriage, opportunities for promotion, much of my hair, and my _sanity!_
Apologies to those above. I too was one of those annoying s#1ts that used to do that. Good job you're only looking for Steve.
And yet another Cold Case solved.
Timewarps are a very common phenomenon when dealing with council workmen. An old neighbour of mine used to work for the council and claimed he worked from 8am until 6pm.
But his time travelling secret was uncovered when we saw that his car was back outside his house by mid afternoon nearly every day of the week
I used to work for my local council. I can confirm this is accurate. I only saw someone get fired once and that only happened after he was caught coming to work drunk (repeatedly) and passing out on park benches.
Woolwich timewarp: it’s just a jump to the north, and a step to the south...😜
Put your hands on your hips....
You bring your knees in tight
but it's the pelvic thrust
@@malteb.4494 that really drives you insane
Robert Hill: (ooh-ahh-ooh-ahh from the audience...)
Let’s do the time warp again!
When I was a toddler in the early 70's my mum use to let me run down that foot tunnel on the way to the market in Woolwich - I was always afraid it would burst and water would run in, there were always leaking water dripping from the ceiling. The lifts use to have old fellas who sat in the lifts and press the buttons, I remember the old boy use to allow me to push the button. He had a cap and he smoked a roll up, the other fella used a pipe and he would never let you press the button. Many a time we had to climb the stairs, lift was out or something, why not use the ferry, we did but many a time they were either broken down or the crew were on strike. Last time I used this was last year, brought back memories of the "echo" and the weird way it dipped down. ~trooper
Marvelous. I had the same childhood fears that the roof would collapse in and anyone in the tunnel would be drowned, also late 69s early 70s. I can remember the old boys who operated the lifts too. I'm off out for a ride over the river and back tomorrow. This has got me a bit nostalgic.
You’d get that driving through the Dartford tunnel some years back, a suddenly big splash of water on the windscreen.
Tunnel, eh? I can dig that. Deep subject.
It's very hole'some
Boring...
You might have heard of West Wickham? East Wickham was part of Woolwich originally part of the old gunnery ranges of old, I loved being based at Woolwich and every day I used to run the 5 miles to me mums for a cheeky fry up and mug of char then run back in time for ablutions and breakfast proper (we had huge steak platters for our brekkers which involved many sausages, eggs, bacon, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, kidneys, hash browns, fried slice, many slices of toast AND usually three or four of them variety little boxes of cereal in a big bowl and of course British Army tea brown as creosote, strong as an ox) and by time lunchtime had come along you were ready for the steak lunch and tea was curry as Woolwich cooks did the best curry in the army then knocking off duty to go get soppy in the NAAFI bar. Ironically, when my daughter was due, we found ourselves homeless and council put us in the old NCO's flats next to the pub that got bombed, whilst we waited for our flat in Thamesmead to be ready and it was spooky living there in my old sgt's flat, I had a small army flat over Shooters Hill side.
The whole time warp in the tunnel is real. UNIT just covered it by calling it a "hoax" over after the Doctor fixed the problem.
I’m reading the comments specifically to see how many other Dr Who fans are commenting.
@@honeysucklecat we called our barge "Amelia Pond", she's white and blue... TARDIS blue. My husband got the paint codes and it is a clean version of the current TARDIS.
The first thing I did after watching the latest Dr Who was read your comment. Uncanny!
Wonderful stories! I really enjoy your telling us about your knowledge of London's history. Thanks
You’re very welcome!
Well, a one-word answer in the end, but it was a very entertaining way to find out. That London Council engineer was busy; 3 tunnels under the Thames in little over a decade (Rotherhithe, Greenwich, Woolwich). We could do with someone like him today!
Certainly do. The current crop are too busy holding meetings behind closed doors and counting the contents of brown envelopes.
1:15 on your right, behind those railings used to be a rail museum, the building is still there. Behind the building there is still a length of rail and a platform, but the trains and turntable are gone... You turn into Pier road from Albert road, you go past the police station on your left, the museum is/was the boarded up building on your right as you round the corner and head towards the tunnel/ferry. It was part of the rail network that ran through the area between Albert Road and Factory Road, disappearing underground at Hartman Road (the road into City Airport) South of Albert Dock and re-emerging on the North side of Victoria Dock on Victoria Dock Road along side the DLR rails near Prince Regent Station... That section of railway was recently being re-introduced as part of (or used as access to dig new tunnels for) Crossrail, bringing with it other stories of strange occurances and things being dug out the ground.
Further along Pier road, past the tunnel entrance, on your right used to be (what was known as) London Teleport officially named British Telecom, Earth Station when it was opened, where there were all kinds of enormous satellite dishes... I wonder if the former "Teleport" had anything to do with the (blog) story of a portal? Maybe the other locations in the blog were also former sites with significant history relating to time, travel and technology?
North Woolwich and SIlvertown are almost an island, and used to be an "island" when there was a tidal basin at the West end of Victoria Dock. Where the basin was is now refered to as The Beach on the dock side and the site of Euromix Concrete on the river side... Seperated by the docks to the North and surrounded by the river to the South the area always had strange feel to it and the locals all knew each other. Quite a unique part of London but the community isn't what it was and the pubs on every corner are long gone.
Lovely little read. I'm going to ride to N Woolwich on the bike from Charlton tomorrow. Its been decades since I was last over there and, since making good use of the Thames path recently, have cast my eye over the river and reminisced of the days my grandmother took toddler me to the small children's park (Royal Victoria gardens) just downriver from the ferry. Seems absurd now, but fifty odd years ago it was a proper adventurous day out. Might even take a packed lunch with crisps and everything...
Oh the tales I could tell of that tunnel, including getting a ban for a while because the ferry was not running and I was allowed to walk my Vespa through using lift either end and my mate dared me to start it up when we got to the middle point... over in North Woolwich, us naughty boys (and sometimes girls) had taken over the middle one of the three then derelict tower blocks and the fun and games with East Ham nick trying to chase us out, a large black family had taken over two whole floors and basically turned them into a huge flat and they were pretty cool folks and their "flat" was awesome all painted, furnished with expensive gear and they repaired all the damage done when the blocks became derelict.
The funny then, not so funny now thing was there was two working lifts, one was in good working order, the other was condemned for missing or having two snapped cables so we took the good working one to the top and using a key we found in the old caretakers flat locked it to that floor and the police had a choice of walking up countless stairs which put them in a fine temper or to risk the dodgy lift. One copper I do remember always had a packet of Benson and Hedges he used to chuck at us with the provisio we all behaved which we did unless we got too sozzled in the Pavilion pub and we got a bit o' barney rubble with the local lads realising they had a ton of Millwall lot on their West Ham turf hehe
Sad thing though was the loss of the old North Woolwich steam museum which I patronised a lot back in the day, what an absolute shame and all thanks to Boris the Klown grr The railway track chase scene in Rocknrolla was shot along the old North Woolwich branch and I was once night security manager at the building of Stolport there til one of my officers decided to get drunk on duty, steal a builders van, drive it down a newly laid runway and then buggered off back to Belfast where he hailed from... leaving me in charge facing criminal charges of 2.6m pounds of damage and in the deep deep do do :(
Ouch
Oh my goodness you have transported me back to 1998 when I was using this tunnel, so young and so many happy memories back then. I am ever so grateful to you, I'm a new subscriber and absolutely love all your content. Thanks so much for taking me back to a happier time. I really needed this and you as usual delivered tremendously well. Here here 🙌
People when the ferry is out of service: "Sorry boss, can't come to work today!"
Boss: "What about the Woolwich Tunnel?"
People: !?!!! O_O'
@Lukasz someone will rap to me while rubbing my back?
I knew of the foot tunnel before I’d heard of the ferry! 🤷🏼♀️
I wouldn't walk through that tunnel, not just because of crime, but It's so claustrophobic.
Re the nice Dr Who references in the comments: Back in the early 70s and barely five years old I recall getting a ticking off from a stern policeman after opening the door of his police box outside Equitable House on Beresford Square, Woolwich, thinking it was the actual TARDIS.
I'm definitely adding that to my library of pub "facts". After three or four pints I will probably have made it a story that definitely happened to me.
Well... I did walk through it once so I can claim "based on a true story" status at least.
Anyone who has taken the train from Dartford to Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal will attest that time slowing to a standstill is something not limited to the foot tunnel.
I recall there used to be fast trains in that line then they slowed every service down because people on the minor stations with few passengers wanted more trains per hour 🙄
@@JayJay-nc7pr There was also a 5mph speed limit for ages past the sidings at Slade Green because the track is so terrible.
You have to walk through that tunnel in a specific way , you start with a jump to the left , then a step to the right ...
Honestly, someone could write a good SCP out of this.
Many years ago, my wife & her cousin (who lived in Wapping, E London at that time) spent most of day sailing across on the Woolwich ferry & back again, over & over whilst her Mum went shopping in Woolwich (on the southern side) !
If any tourists visit London, I'd highly recommend a trip across the river on this ferry, especially if they do so at dusk. I think the view looking back at all the lights of Canary Wharf and the City is pretty d*mn spectacular !!
I lived on Pier Rd N Woolwich in the 80's and used the ferry or the tunnel most days. The tunnel at night was eerie, a bit creepy, and N Woolwich was a dodgy ghost town at night, bus drivers would often not stop there! The tunnel walls leaked and so I used to always count my steps so I would know which end to run towards in case it started to collapse. There used to be an old notice board on the Northside rotunda, of rules, one of which was moving livestock thru the tunnel was not allowed.
My mum, gran & grandad came from north woolwich to Eltham SE London when they were bombed out during the WW2 blitz. As a kid when we used to go back to North Woolwich and Silvertown to see family relations we always walked thru the woolwich pedestrian tunnel, in my early days of the 60’s the lifts had the old grill gates with a lift operator bloke.
Interesting ❤❤❤
Honestly that country and western deadpan joke is what makes your videos so good Jago
Thanks! Actually based on a true story. I was in the middle of an area that the British Army used to call “the badlands” and that gig was so bad that I was tempted to take my chances.
wasn't expecting an SCP.
that was kinda scary because it caught me off guard.
I once walked through this tunnel late one Sunday. There was a gang of youths coming the other way. I had a choice of turning around and missing my last train home, or braving it and hope I would be alright.
north Woolwich was part of Kent originally (see Jay Forman on London Boroughs or the other chap I forget on London Boroughs)
Tiles reminiscent of the Dartford Tunnel providing combined N & S routes before the, is it the Queen Elizabeth Bridge?, was opened. Bridge closes in high winds- only takes a dizzy queen to disrupt things! Often wondered if multi coloured grouting would lift the 'experience'. Pub quizzers; How many squeegees used annually cleaning the tunnel's tiles?
no cycling?
that tunnel would be great for those two blokes on a bike one of them making engine noises on a trombone.
I'm a little bit late here, but for some reason that image in my mind is funny enough that I'm tempted to travel to London with a friend and try it out when things are safe again.
I imagine maybe a scooter would work as a stupid loophole
Description: SCP-5284 is a foot tunnel running beneath the River ██████ in ██████, United Kingdom...
I'd listen to this guy talk about SCP stories. Like Volgun or Exploring Series
@@RaiderOfTheLost lol okay
@@RaiderOfTheLost protecting lmao
Special contaiment procedures: renoavtion works are only to be carried out by foundation personell
Personally, I always find the debunkings more interesting than the stories themselves (although, to be fair, you need the stories in order to have the debunkings). So thanks Jago, I’d heard the story several times, but never the debunk.
I missed this one first time around, but it reminded me that there used to be organised marathon races run entirely underground in the tunnel. They had to be held in the wee small hours when it was hardly ever used (except for the homeless who would doss down there).
Once I felt really dizzy inside this tunnel and almost collapsed. So I run really fast in order to get out of this hell. These days I only use the ferry.
2:48 in the bricks on the left is the outline of a walking person, spooky
I love this tunnel, it's just a pity that the white tiles make it look like the world's longest, narrowest public khazi. I walked through there in the 1980's wearing a pair of old German army boots which had steel plates on the soles at the heel and toe. (I was a bit of a Goth then, but don't hold it against me). The echo of my walking feet was unbelievable. Well worth finding some Blakeys, or segs, putting them in (not DM's), and giving it a go for yourself.
The Woolwich ferry was a great day out for my brother and I when we were kids. We always used to have a go at running through the tunnel and trying to beat the ferry.
As a young kid in the 60s living nearby on a prefab estate in Beckton, we spent a lot of weekends going back and forth on the ferry and foot tunnel. The lifts had attendants then which made it seem a bit safer, although I was always convinced it was going to collapse as I got half way across. I only found out recently that North as well as South Woolwich were both in Kent at one time.My great granddad was born in North Woolwich, Kent in 1875.
Funny how busy and loved the Greenwich foot tunnel is ...and how the Woolwich tunnel is the opposite? As the video maker states, his friends didn't even know it existed and people I know in the area rarely use it, prefering to wait a bit longer for the ferry rather than walk through the tunnel by themselves (its always empty apparently)
ruclips.net/video/6-lYzSiAzaM/видео.htmlfeature=shared
I hope there are plenty of cameras, it must be a muggers paradise.
@John Smith Sorry I don't follow. What has that to do with people being vulnerable to robbery?
According to a quick google, not many muggings inside the tunnel, muggers prefer the streets nearby
It’s usually a lot busier than my film makes it appear. It’s pretty straight, and the only hiding places are at the ends.
You mean joggers.
@John Smith Its also cold and dank so not a place anyone would want to hang out for too long!
I have been there, this tunnel always seems like a good filming location for a horror movie.
I do love the wood paneling on the lifts on the Woolwich foot tunnel, been through it a couple of times, must do it again next time I'm down there. The Greenwich one as well.
Someone needs to take a buggy/pram down there, strap a camera to it, film the journey while smoothly pushing the pram/buggy along and then post it here just so ever slightly speeded up - that would be the time warp!
This tunnel is the obvious rational explanation of so-called Near Death Experiences. Dying people from all over the world are suddenly transported, via quantum worm-holes, into the Woolwich tunnel. After a brief spell of meeting deceased relatives, etc, they are then propelled into further dimensions of the afterlife. I'm still not sure why Woolwich was the chosen portal.
It's where the first McDonald's in the UK lives. That and there's a Lidl
I've only been to Woolwich the once, not long before the North London Line closed beyond Stratford for conversion. Didn't walk the tunnel, I think it was closed, but the ferry was an interesting experience - very reasonably priced too.
Gotta admit I'm fascinated by the concept of a foot tunnel under a river, especially a large river. I can't think of anything like this in the States. I know of underwater traffic and subway tunnels but nothing that's just a footpath. Doubt the powers that be would trust us down there (they'd probably be right). Seems weird to want to visit London just so I can walk under the Thames but...
I've only ever got Greenwich Foot Tunnel but they both look the same. Might get Woolwich soon. It is like a timewarp..especially once you reach the half way mark on your cycle as then suddenly you want to go at the same speed but then you start feeling that resistence of the gravity coming towards you as things start going uphill. BTW I know cycling isn't really permitted but whatever.
Stayed in Woolwich for work last year, had to use the Woolwich tunnel every day to get to and from my hotel. Bloody long walk mind you. And the cyclists don't appear to be able to read the 'no cycling' signs plastered all over the floor.
Stone me! Hotel? Woolwich was never smart enough for hotels when I lived nearby, 1950/60s. You might have got a scruffy bed in the Woolwich Infant pub.
2.31 ‘A moment on the outside felt like a whole day on the inside’. A phrase with untold potential. In fact the perfect title for a Jim Reeves type Country and Western toon - a remorseful whine about having served time and the subsequent joy of being freed.
Years back, when I was in the UK, I walked under there with 2 friends from Newham, we'd all smoked some weed and I remember hearing creaking and other noises above me and that was the longest 20 minutes ever!
Gary Sparrow can occasionally be glimpsed if you're lucky....
Oh man I loved that series.
My brother and I used to roller-skate through the tunnel as kids in the 60s, then hopped onto the 101 bus to see my dad's family in East Ham. I loved the middle of the tunnel where you can't see either end.
If you got caught riding your bike in the tunnel the lift driver would make you carry it up the staircase as punishment.
Only if he caught you, there is a point in the tunnel where you can see the bottom of the lift, but whoever is standing in the lift can't see you
why isn't cycling allowed in the tunnel? It looks more than spacious enough to accommodate cycling without putting pedestrians in danger..
It's because it's so much FUN! As a 12 year old (50+ years ago), me and mates used to cycle down there all the time. Nice turn of speed to the middle, but then sadly uphill as I remember it.
drunk people
drunk people
It's because the people that refuse to get off their bikes in the tunnel do end up going too fast and it's not that wide
Clue's in the name....Foot tunnel- feet for footpaths, tyres for tarmac. Not all disabilities are visual. Footpaths provide refuge from traffic. Many cyclists flout this & would do well to re-read the Highway Code.
AHEM
WHERE IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE SCP'S
Sadly I never experienced a timewarp in the tunnel, but I did encounter a strange smell which left me with a rather bad headache. It felt a lot more scary at the time is all I can say.
Portals of London is wonderful...and I was watching the beginning of this video thinking but that’s from PoL...you’re right though...it should be true!
Barking to woolwich mid 70s on a 4ton
Chopper bike with my mates .
In the lift already doors used to open and we would all set off like the clippers
To see how far we got before the man used to appear from nowhere behind and shout ....OI YOU LITTLE B@@!$T
OFF YOUR BIKES !!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣
Always made our day ....bloke could be the one in the video....who knew 😳😳😂😂
The perspective in the tunnel is very disorienting; you seem to be walking for miles without getting closer to the end.l think this phenomenon counts as a 'timewarp'.
Further to my previous comment I have walked and cycled through the Woolwich and the Greenwich tunnels and they are fine examples of Edwardian engineering.
Blimey, that's how it looks *after* the refit!
The government would have everyone believe we're in the land of milk and honey. Truth is that we haven't got two thrupenny bits to rub together. Skint.
There is a lot of interesting things under London. The Tunnel is also not far from where they found all the dragon eggs when they were doing the Jubilee line extension in the late 90s.
Well to be honest, after reading the title to this video, I got lost in a time warp repeatedly listening to "Let's do the time warp again" 🤣... Rut roh 🎵🎵
North Woolwich is named because it was actually once part of Kent - clearly marked as such on pre- 19C maps. A little outpost of civilisation north of the river…
I went on Docklands Railway Termanis to Dog Island, and a short walk to 1890s pedestrian tunnel. Google Maps confusing, elevated Docklands Railway missing now.
Another fellow lover of country and western! 😂
It's just a jump to left, and then a step to the right, with your hands on your hips, you bring your knees in tight, but it's the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insane. Let's do the Timewarp again, let's do the Timewarp again.
I was born and live in a certain north western seaside town. I won't say which- they would probably kill me - to death ! But I have often felt time stands still round here !
I remember walking thru that in a primary school trip many years ago
Greenwich is more well known. I used to do the ferry and foot tunnel when I lived in Erith, usually to East End for drinks or Silvertown for a Chinese meal.
So it is like waiting "for hours" for a bus at the busstop in bad weather, when it is actually just 2-3 minutes....
I left 1890s pedestrian tunnel. Walked up Greenwich Hill, forgot Greenwich Observatory. Blackheath Underground and Bus Pass, station worker asked "Where i was going." I said, "Downtown Victoria." Worker said take BritRail. Surprise BritRail had Inflight service cart: tea, coffee, and snacks. Canada has NOTHING, GO TO RESTAURANT CAR. Sorry forgot i was in London 1986 and 1996, mother's side of the family.
There was a pub on the north bank and I used to go to parties there. Went back through the tunnel a few times a bit worse for wear!
Me: Ooh...interesting
My claustrophobia: F**k no.
2:45 you can see the exit pattern of someone here on the left.
Maybe the weird lighting stimulates some people's phantasy.
If you get this tunnel quiet when you're on your bike... This is the fastest way I've ever got across town. Took it every day cycling from deptford to Stratford for Uni... Didn't know it was a very unknown place
I grew up in woolwich not been through the tunnel in 30 years tempted to go back now!
The refurbishment delays reminds me of the Tyne pedestrian tunnel. A two year refurbishment took nearly 9 years.
Oh yes brings back some memories not surprised people don't notice the entrance by the swimming pool as it's quite hidden away.
It's a bit frustrating that cycling is banned in the tunnel.
It would probably be a good idea to build a parallel tunnel for cyclists.
Another thing, that might be a good idea, is to have a travellator link from the Elizabeth station to North Woolwich.
And, if they linked into this tunnel, but kept this bit outside the gateline, they could make this and the northern entrance of the tunnel, into two extra Elizabeth Line entrances.
I used to walk this tunnel to work every day. Such a shame they've modernised the lifts. The old ones had a crank handle and two sets of doors. The tunnel used to be used for filming pop videos (I think the Pet Shop Boys and East 17 to name two). Love the time travel story - explains why my job in Woolwich felt like doing a life sentence.
My favourite place in London i go thrice a week to and fro to erith (south east london) for work
I was looking after the mechanical and electrical installation during the refurbishment schemes on both tunnels. Unfortunately the designers had too much ambition and the council did not have enough funding. As a consequence the resulting finish was poor. I felt sorry for the poor electricians who had to install all of that galv conduit in the Woolwich tunnel, it took an inordinate amount of time and in my opinion looks appalling.
Great videos these! Love all of them!👍
The tunnel i was in, Dog Island to Greenwich Cutty Sark Tea Clipper. The 1890s lift was wood with 2 bench seats front to back each side. Upgrade or different tunnel?
I feel that they should allow bicycles. If you for some reason can't take the ferry, biking that long tunnel seems like a much more practical solution than having to walk it. If you don't allow bikes then build a bridge, people have places to be
North Woolwich is in fact in the historic county of Kent, not Essex, albeit being on the north side of the Thames.
The Portals of London had me fooled on the Woolwich Foot Tunnel "Time Warp." I am not ashamed to admit it.
The tale was well told in terms that were very much the same as I would expect... had it actually been true.
And time anomalies, especially Time Slips, have been reported in detail by very reliable witnesses... several of the best stories becoming quite famous, of course...(and despite the somewhat cynical comments below).
Bits of North Woolwich belonged to a manor that was principally on the south bank. As a result of this those parts until quite recently were considered to be in Kent not Essex.
Went to a rave in there once
Good times
I'm still at that rave down there!
@@wilfridwibblesworth2613 sending Ribena
Time warps frequently hit construction contractors.
Woolwich is in East London in the North side of the river & Southeast London on the south side. It’s not in either Kent or Essex.
What's a soft London lad mean?
There was an odd tunnel under a stretch of one of the local freeways that me and some friends wandered thru. It was labeled as being a civil defense shelter, though there didn't seem much in it. Mostly it was perpendicular to the direction atomic blasts were expected, should worse come to worse.
All the Time in the World - a very apt short story by Arthur C. Clarke
I've been trying to remember the name of that blog for years. I feel a bit daft now knowing it's so obvious!
The time warp story probably kept it open, there is really no use for it anymore with the DLR to Woolwich Arsenal which decreased its usage sharply, I wouldn't walk through there alone, it had a reputation for being a crime hotspot
I bet that place has some great sounding reverb. Also, let’s do the time warp thing again.
So, a neutralized SCP?
Na secret entrance to one of the GOC sites...but if you do ever see any clowns in the area, yeah they are probably foundation agents just making fun of the book burners as usual...
Yeah I shot it a couple of times and it died
Great memories walking through this to get from Greenwich to Stepney
Wouldn't the Greenwich foot tunnel have been better and closer for the walk from Greenwich to Stepney? Rather than this tunnel, which is a few miles further east?
I walked through there often between about 2008 and 2012 . They were going to do the tunnel up for the Olympics , as for a while they were planning to hold some of the rowing events there at the water around the airport, they even had a royal navy ship there for a while guarding it. I heard that when they went to work on the lift shaft on the south side a large part of it collapsed and that was what caused the delay . Was that old footage because i didn't notice any fences .In about 2010 they put a series of zig zag fences at intervals you had to weave between , it was to stop bicycles speeding through there, unless they have been removed again as its been a few years since I was last there.
Olympiad Tale. An overseas contestant from a group with little knowledge of English on a day off in the area was caught short. A companion who'd investigated the tunnel staircase said it must be a British loo because all are tiled white. The needy guy was said to have been caught half way through the tunnel with his trousers down!