Page 16 - IAV Digital Magazine #518

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Utility Workers Find Medieval Tunnel While Relocating A Pole In Wales
By Ben Hooper
March 4 (UPI) -
- A Welsh utility company said workers excavat- ing a trench for relocation of a pole on a cus- tomer's property made an unusual discovery -- a previously unknown medieval tunnel.
Western Power Distribution
said members of the company's East Wales team were working in Tintern, in the Wye Valley, after a customer requested reloca- tion of a pole on their property.
The workers were excavating a trench when they discovered what they initially believed to be a cave.
"I have been involved in other excavations
where we have discovered old wells and cellars not shown on any plans, but nothing as exciting and impressive as this," WPD tech- nician Allyn Gore said.
"Further investi-
gation revealed it was a man-made tunnel around 4 feet in height," Gore said.
He said the tun- nel runs under a sidewalk parallel to the Angiddy Brook, and appears to follow
the brook's path.
Gore said the team manager called in a repre- sentative from Cawd, Wales' his- toric and cultural heritage service.
"He was very impressed with
the sheer scale of the tunnel and quite fascinated to see it. In his opinion, it could possibly be linked to the iron work ruins previously discovered in the area," Gore said.
The Tintern
Abbey iron works ruins, located nearby the site of the tunnel's dis- covery, date from the 1100s.
Gore said research into the area's history failed to unearth any mentions of the tunnel in ordi- nance survey maps dating back to the 1700s. He said it also does not appear in any public records.
WPD said work on the project was halted while Cawd archaeolo- gists take over the investigation.
"For now, we have back-filled the trench and reinstated every- thing and we are planning an alter- native route for the customer. It could take years before the investi- gations are con- cluded," Gore said.
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