I'm putting the spotlight on the Binns tunnel in Sunderland and your memories of it
It’s a question which has raged in Sunderland for years.
We asked ‘does anyone know what happened to the Binns tunnel?’
‘Used to go through to the record department on the other side’
Lots of you had something to say about it when we posed the question on our Wearside Echoes Facebook page.
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Today, we take a look at your recollections of it and what you believe happened to the tunnel.
Pam Baxter said: “Ah the tunnel, I remember it well. Used to go through to the record department on the other side. Stand inside the booths and listen to the Beatles. Happy times.”
Bob Latimer commented: “I think it would be in the 1960s we owned a tipper truck and I carried all the clay they dug out while they were digging the tunnel.”
Ian Holley said it was ‘still there, blocked off at 1 end and used for storage apparently.”
‘It was right next to the computers down in the basement’
Thanks to Malcolm Mason who commented: “My dad was one of the workers who dug the tunnel. We had a picture of him breaking through.”
And also to Stephen Brown who said: “I remember the tunnel as it was right next to the computers down in the basement.”
Colleen Pattison described it as “such a lovely shop. I worked there on the shoe department and done the window dressing for the shoes . Used to go through the tunnel every day to the deli on my lunch. Sad when it closed.”
Kenneth Smith also contributed and said: I suspect that it is still there . Perhaps forgotten like. So much that went before.”
David Wilson said: “I understand it’s still there but blocked off, there is an access hatch. It would be nice if someone could verify it’s existence.”
‘Blocked off (bricked up I think) in the basement where they kept all the stock’
Abbie Keith told us that her mum “worked at Wilko. She said the Binns tunnel is blocked off (bricked up I think) in the basement where they kept all the stock.”
Abbie had heard that the basement was haunted and her mum would tell her ‘canny mad stories about the ghost there, the staff named him George.”
Over to Linda Pallas who said she ‘worked in the sanction office at Binns in the late 60s.Used to love the subway which would take you to the opposite side of Fawcett Street. Was always lovely and bright and beautifully decorated at Christmas time.Binns was such a lovely store and is sorely missed.”
Sarah Davis said the tunnel ‘was constantly closed. My mam said something about damp but I can't be sure.
Thanks to everyone who commented and to enjoy more nostalgia, visit the retro section on the Sunderland Echo website.