We love a good mystery, and what’s more eerie than abandoned underground tunnels under a river? The Victorian era had a keen obsession with digging tunnels, and our wee River Clyde did not escape being dug under. As a result, two tunnels were created to allow passageway through the river, both for horse carriages and pedestrians. Now, the Harbour Tunnel under the Clyde has been long abandoned, boasting an enigmatic vibe for the occasional times it gets opened to the public.
The Harbour Tunnel was accessed through the two Rotundas on each side of the River Clyde, with a lift down for horses and carriages. Later, the tunnel was adapted for “motors”, linking between Tunnel Street in Finnieston and Mavisbank Quay in Govan. Eventually, the tunnel was closed down in 1986 when Bell’s Bridge was built as a more modern way of crossing the river.
The Harbour Tunnel was built in 1895, allowing passengers to cross the river with carriages and without having to use boats. To access the tunnel, carriages with horses were lowered down in a large cage-like lift sourced from New York. Travelling through the tunnels was remarked as something from a horror movie: dim lights, leaky ceilings and, overall, a claustrophobic person’s nightmare. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather swim the Clyde…
The pedestrian tunnel was especially known for its damp, leaky nature, accessed only by ever “dimlier-lit” wooden stairs that were also wet, and was not the most popular option for crossing the River Clyde. Again, just sounds like something from a doomsday movie…
Fairly shortly after opening in 1907, the Harbour Tunnel closed up until 1913. The tunnel was reopened for free use, yet the pedestrian tunnel ended up being completely closed due to being, well, scary as hell to walk through.
The passageway was completely sealed off and filled after getting closed in 1986, with only the pedestrian part left for water and maintenance access. Now, the North Rotunda under the crane is a restaurant, and the South Rotunda is an office for a local marine engineering company.