Conny Waters – AncientPages.com –\u00a0<\/strong>The adventure began in 2024 with a simple Facebook discussion in Bloxham, where villagers came together to share and compare their long-told stories about hidden tunnels beneath the UK village of Bloxham in north Oxfordshire.<\/p>\n Inspired by these local legends, Dave Green, who had long heard rumors of subterranean passages, decided to find out if there was any truth to them. With genuine curiosity and community spirit, he and a group of fellow villagers founded the Bloxham Underground Tunnel Society.<\/p>\n Credit: Bloxham Underground Tunnel Society<\/em><\/p>\n “A few of the comments were thought not to be accurate, so we decided to investigate some of the myths and the published articles involving the tunnels,” Greene said.<\/p>\n Beyond physically entering the tunnels, the group has put an impressive amount of effort into research. By carefully exploring newspaper archives, including past editions of the Banbury Guardian, they have uncovered valuable information about caves and tunnels discovered in the area. Thanks to this diligent work, we know that a large cavern was first found on Cumberford Hill in 1908 and then rediscovered in 1954.<\/p>\n “There are thousands of underground tunnels and passages in Britain that historians still cannot explain. People are going about their daily lives, walking the streets and countryside, and driving on roads without realizing what lies beneath. We are slowly uncovering Bloxham’s secret past \u2013 and there is still lots to do.<\/p>\n You’ve always got skeptics that say there’s no such thing as a tunnel, there’s nothing like that, but we’re out there to prove that there are,” Green said.<\/p>\n He explained that the tales of the tunnels had “come from the past, but the problem is people don’t investigate and people die, and the stories die”.<\/p>\n Members of the tunnel group\u2014Mr Green (chairman), Martyn Wyatt, Tom Smith, Simon Finch, Martin Whitton, and Jim Smithson\u2014each bring their own valuable skills, working together to give the society the best possible chance of a successful and insightful investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a list of locations of possible entrances to the tunnels,\u201d said Green. \u201cWe arranged several meetings and were fortunate to be joined by Professor Colin Eddie, one of the country\u2019s leading tunnel experts; Dr Henry Pairaudeau, a specialist in tunnel engineering and design; and Oli Campbell, President of the Birmingham University Caving Club, along with some of his dedicated team. Their willingness to share their expertise has been immensely appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n Credit: Bloxham Underground Tunnel Society<\/em><\/p>\n In just two years, thanks to their dedication and collaborative effort, the society has investigated and revealed an ever-growing network of tunnels beneath this charming village on the edge of the Cotswolds.<\/p>\n After completing an inspection and risk assessment, the cavers declared the space safe for the group to enter, allowing the investigators to proceed into the first tunnel.<\/p>\n The experience was far from disappointing. Green recalls that much of the floor had been raised with soil and rubble, leaving only limited areas where they could stand upright. The main tunnel extended approximately 40 feet, with several smaller sections branching off.<\/p>\n During their exploration, the group discovered a number of historical artifacts. These included a Victorian-era glass bottle, a leather shoe sole likely from the same period, several pieces of pottery, and a tin pot. Together, these finds provided useful clues about past human activity in the tunnel system.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a fantastic experience for us all,\u201d Greene said. \u201cWe still have a lot to learn about this tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n “Our most amazing discovery was recent. A tunnel was discovered at the back of the garden of a house, when a digger driver was excavating the soil to put in the concrete footings for a garage. He uncovered a hole of a good size that led into the tunnel. The hole was about four feet deep,\u201d\u00a0 Green told the Banbury Guardian<\/a>.<\/p>\n Over the centuries, these passageways appear to have fulfilled a variety of functions. Evidence suggests they were used not only for extracting stone and minerals but also for religious activities, and for providing concealed hiding places or potential escape routes.<\/p>\n The extent of the tunnels and the identity of their builders remain unknown. To date, the group has been unable to determine the period to which the tunnels beneath Bloxham can be traced. However, a discovery in the recently uncovered cave has provided them with some valuable clues.<\/p>\n See also:\u00a0More Archaeology News<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n “We found animal bones and one of the skulls we found was a red deer skull – it was a long, long time ago when red deer roamed the countryside, it was definitely pre-medieval,” Green told the BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n “We need to get it carbon dated because that will hopefully prove the age of the tunnels, although that is very, very difficult.”<\/p>\n Greene proposed that the tunnel network may date back to the Roman period and may have been extensively used over several centuries, including by Catholic clergymen during the English Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries ordered by King Henry VIII.<\/p>\n Written by\u00a0Conny Waters – AncientPages.com<\/strong>\u00a0Staff Writer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Discovery](\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tunnelsoxfordshire.jpg\")
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