According to what is still the standard work on tramroads,
Bertram Baxter's 'Stone Blocks and Iron Rails' (1966) this
tunnel, there called Chapel Milton, is in fact the oldest
in Britain (1796).
Not knowing much about the PFT, I am circulating the
enquiry to several experts in the Railway & Canal
Historical Society in case they can offer more advice.
Matthew Searle
Hon Sec, R&CHS
> I've been approached by English Heritage regarding Stodhart Tunnel on the
> Peak Forest Tramway in Derbyshire. This is reputed to be one of the oldest
> railway (broadly defined) railway tunnels in the country.
>
> English Heritage hope to be able to assist a local group gain sponsorship
> for the conservation of the tunnel, which is in remarkably good condition.
> Indeed, it seems to be more-or-less complete; the northern portal, which was
> buried under road 'improvements' many years ago, seems to have survived and
> not have been destroyed as widely reported.
>
> 'Inevitably', as my EH contact puts it, 'oldest, biggest, longest etc. would
> make a difference to the potential project sponsors - and particularly with
> regard to media interest....'. Personally I can come up with nothing better
> than 'one of the oldest' or perhaps 'the oldest in the East Midlands/North
> West, which is not going to excite too much interest beyond a specialist
> audience such as ourselves. Can anyone do any better?
>
> Colin
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