Reigate History
Reigate & Redhill DVDs and associated local history
Tunnels
Contribution by Clive Hammond.
The 2nd World War tunnels behind the Yew Tree Pub, Reigate are part of the nearby secret command centre. I explored both in the late 1960s as a Surrey Mirror reporter, together with my colleague Roger Thorne. The tunnels at the base of the chalk cliff behind the Yew Tree pub were ‘built’ in a hurry. As tunneling was expensive and time consuming, the cliff face was undermined and the tunnels were erected as close in as possible and the cliff face was then exploded to entomb them. As far as German bombers were concerned the end result was just as effective, as it was very difficult to bomb any cliff face regardless of how it was formed. Unfortunately a legacy of the planned detonation is that this cliff face has been unstable ever since. The map I drew myself and is accurate.
In answer to two key questions:
- Why two parallel tunnels? The answer is probably rather prosaic in that it represented the quickest method of building an underground complex that would be entombed by the fall of the cliff face
- What was the purpose of the tunnels? Unknown, but they could simply have been constructed to provide additional space for the command centre; or indeed, could have been a decoy in the event of an invasion. The main bunker is of an entirely different structure having been tunneled underground and protected by massive walls of re-enforced concrete. It was reported that when the entrance was sealed at the end of the war everything was still intact, including desks and equipment. I tried to break through the entrance in the 1960s but the concrete was simply too thick. Or maybe I was too weak!
The attached photo is provided free to this site, but if it is downloaded for re-use please make a contribution to any charity.
Kindly contributed by Clive Hammond
Contribution by Bob Knee
Turning to the tunnels under Reigate Hill. I know they exist for sure, as I have been in them. I was a born in 1947 and lived in Mogador Road. The kids from Lower Kingswood spent much time on Colley and Reigate Hills. In the early 1960's we found the blocked up entrances to the tunnels. I seem to remember they were at the foot of the chalk face behind the Yew Tree pub. We opened up the entrances and spent many days exploring the tunnels. They were very wet, dark of course, with lots or defunct wiring and numerous water tanks lying around. I believe that a year or so later the entrances were blocked up again. I don't know how we got to hear that Montgomery "planned his Second Front there", but having read the information on the web site it seems this is quite plausible.
Kindly contributed by Bob Knee, Wokingham
Contribution by Peter Miles
I too remember going into the tunnels under Reigate Hill. It was in 1962. I was with other schoolmates from Reigate St Mary's - Nicky Clark, Jeff Worboys, Tim Dry and maybe others. We slid down the lower end of the cliff and explored the site.
There were a few old buildings but what I remember most clearly were a zip wire running from the highest point of the cliff to the base and a large pile of what had been a stack of wire-reinforced glass. In the years since the war, the rusting wire and the action of innumerable frosts had reduced the glass to a deadly pile of minute splinters.
Then we started looking along the base of the cliff. We pulled a bush aside and found ourselves looking into the entrance of the tunnel. It looked very frightening and the arching currugated iron made me think of skeletons' rib cages. All of us, in a single movement, released the bush and fled with pounding hearts.
We arranged to go back another day which we did with one single, utterly inadequate torch. Strangely, we met two older boys who had come better equipped and who offered to take us in.
Every thing was vaulted in corrugated iron. I do not remember a door when we went. The main corridor tunnel had various rooms and what looked like workshops with benches on either side, other doors that we were too frightened to open, and what I think were side passages.
The bigger boys then demonstrated the total darkness by turning all the torches off and telling us to hold our hands in front of our faces. It was total blindness and I know the others were as uneasy as me.
At one point, there was a pit that ran right across the main tunnel floor, possibly about three feet deep. Imagine a cattle grid without the grid. The sight of this pit, made us think what might have happened with just our inadequate torch and we were very relieved to turn back to the entrance at that point.
I can date the visit as I had just discovered Radio Luxembourg (on a tranny under the bedclothes) and my memories of the tunnels are mixed up with "Doo Run Run" by the Crystals and "Cruel Sea" by the Dakotas.
A footnote on the Flying Fortress crash. My Dad showed me where it had come down and the clearing was still very distinct then (late 50s, early 60s). In particular, he showed me where the engines had continued across the track of the Pilgrim's Way and ploughed into the fields, smashing through the ancient pollard beeches as they did so.
The gaps in the crowns of the beech trees was clear then and I am sure must still be now.
It's obviously time I went back to those old haunts.
Peter Miles, East Sussex
(né 1951)
For up-to-date information on the site of the tunnels visit
Other 2nd World War Pages
Caves / Tunnels / 2nd World War / Battle of Britain / Churchill's Secret Reigate / Memories / Reigate Priory / Bombs