Victoria Tunnel

VICTORIA TUNNEL

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1390828
Date first listed:
11-May-2004
List Entry Name:
Victoria Tunnel
Statutory Address:
VICTORIA TUNNEL
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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1390828
Date first listed:
11-May-2004
List Entry Name:
Victoria Tunnel
Statutory Address 1:
VICTORIA TUNNEL

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
VICTORIA TUNNEL

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Newcastle upon Tyne (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
NZ 25028 64901

Details

1833/0/10227 Victoria Tunnel 11-MAY-04

GV II Underground tramway tunnel, later used as air-raid shelter. Constructed for the Leazes Main Colliery 1839-42, converted 1939. Brick and rubble stone. This tunnel is two miles long, dropping a total of 222feet from the Colliery to the coal staithes on the River Tyne. The original round arched tunnel is approxiamately two meters high with the lower walls mainly constructed of rubble stone, the upper sections of the walling and the barrel vault are brick. Sections of the tunnel have been adapted as airraid shelters. This has meant the opening of various new entrances, the widening of some small sections and the insertion of blast walls at various intervals. Toilets, washrooms, bunk beds and electricity were introduced into the tunnel at this time but most evidence of these features has now been lost. The engineer was Mr Gilleslpie, the leading miner John Cherry and the builder David Nixon. The colliery closed in 1860. Certain sections of the tunnel were coverted for use as air-raid shelters from 1939. This is a very rare and unusual tramway tunnel built to provide a direct route for the coal from the colliery to its shipping point on the banks of the Tyne.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
492234
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Victoria Tunnel

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 04:33:41.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.

End of official list entry

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