{"id":134786,"date":"2025-05-27T02:30:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T02:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/134786\/"},"modified":"2025-05-27T02:30:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T02:30:13","slug":"williamson-tunnels-need-a-miracle-after-threat-of-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/134786\/","title":{"rendered":"Williamson Tunnels need a ‘miracle’ after threat of closure"},"content":{"rendered":"

The heritage centre could close for good in a matter of days<\/p>\n

11:09, 26 May 2025Updated 13:06, 26 May 2025<\/p>\n

\"DaveDave Bridson, Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre manager inside one of the tunnels(Image: Liverpool ECHO)<\/p>\n

A heritage centre dedicated to preserving the legacy of one of Liverpool’s most fascinating historical mysteries could close forever “unless a miracle occurs”.<\/p>\n

The mysterious Williamson Tunnels date from 1810 to 1840. Wealthy tobacco merchant Joseph Williamson employed out-of-work labourers to create a maze of brick-arched underground tunnels and vaults for seemingly no reason.<\/p>\n

The tunnels were gradually filled with rubble <\/a>during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and remained largely inaccessible until archaeological investigations were carried out in 1995.<\/p>\n

But part of these subterranean vaults are now facing an uncertain future, as the Joseph Williamson Society has announced its heritage centre may be forced to close.<\/p>\n

Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre manager David Bridson said: “It is with huge regret and great sadness that the Joseph Williamson Society has to report that, unless a miracle occurs in the next few weeks, the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre will be closing for good next Sunday, 1st June 2025.<\/p>\n

“The Centre has been operating on a peppercorn-lease for 25 years but following the failed sale of the freehold, a firm of property receivers are now in control of the site.<\/p>\n

“They have offered the Society a new lease but are proposing a commercial rent that is beyond the Society’s means to pay. They have also offered to sell us the freehold but the asking price (\u00a3275,000) is also way out of our reach.”<\/p>\n

An online fundraiser <\/a>with the aim of raising \u00a312,000 for the Joseph Williamson Society has so far raised just over \u00a3300.<\/p>\n

Friends of the Williamson Tunnels, which is a separate organisation that operates sections of the tunnels under Mason Street and Paddington, will be unaffected by any closure.<\/p>\n

For the latest news and breaking news visit liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news<\/a><\/p>\n

Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter<\/a>. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow us on X<\/a> @LivECHONews<\/a> or on Bluesky @liverpoolecho.co.uk <\/a>– official Liverpool ECHO accounts – real news in real time.<\/p>\n

We’re also on Facebook\/theliverpoolecho<\/a> – your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.<\/p>\n