Shorts Tunnels & Shadow factory Rochester Medway - 2013&2014 Photos

Shorts Tunnels Rochester

Date: June 

location:  Rochester 

Delmoished: No 

Shorts tunnels are now owned by English Heritage so please do not attempt to go into these tunnels

Shorts Tunnels were my first experience with underground exploration, and for some reason, I kept returning to the site until it was permanently closed off. Each visit brought new and fascinating discoveries. 

According to reports, Shorts Tunnels in Rochester dates back to just before World War II and is considered one of the UK's longest underground air-raid shelters. During the bombings, it served as a refuge, and there was an underground factory connected to it that manufactured seaplanes.

Eventually, the site was abandoned, and the above-ground factory was demolished by a housing company to make way for new housing. However, the tunnels of the underground factory were left to decay. In 2016, all entry shafts were blocked to prevent unauthorized access to the tunnels. Now, the only way to visit is through an organized tunnel tour.

2013 Photos  

Please excuse the poor quality of the photos; I was a beginner in urban exploration and had little knowledge of underground photography. The Shorts Tunnels underground factory was one of my first underground experiences.

         2014 photos 

I still wasn't good at taking photos with a DSLR underground, so they came out a bit blurry.             

Railway Street Gas Station - Gillingham

Railway Street Gas station 

Date: June

location: Gillingham 

Delmoished: Yes 

While walking back from spending time with my friends, I decided to stop by a gas station I had never noticed before. As someone new to urban exploration, I thought it would be a great opportunity to add this location to my list, especially since I hadn't seen it featured online. Upon arrival, I started taking photos of the gas station.

The Street Gas Station was originally located on Railway Street in Gillingham, just before the train station. It has since been converted into an additional car park for the surrounding area.

 

Air raid bunker / Storage place - Chatham

Chatham air raid bunker/storage place

Date: March

location: Chatham 

Demolished: No 

This location has a limited history and, to be honest, it is one of the strangest places I have ever visited. It is situated in an unusual spot and is quite challenging to reach.

I believe it may have had some connection to trains in the past, but I am not entirely certain. The area is quite small and is nestled within the chalk hills.