Tale from the crypt as ancient tunnel found in church boiler room

AN underground tunnel which could lead to an old crypt has been rediscovered at a church.

The tunnel, which runs more than two storeys below ground level, has been found at St Edward's Church in Stockwell Street, Leek.

A £20,000 heating system was recently installed at the place of worship, which dates back to the 14th or 15th century.

As contractors began the work, the church's fabric officer, Brian Hartley, found a hole in the boiler house which had been filled with ashes and debris.

Mr Hartley said: "I became quite curious as to what the hole was, so I started removing all the coke and ashes and bits of old boilers. When I'd got to the bottom of the hole I realised that there was a further tunnel."

He has cleared out further along the tunnel and installed electric lamps along the twisting passageway, as well as fixing a rope to help visitors up and down the tunnel's steep incline.

St Edward's vicar, Reverend Mathew Parker, enlisted the help of local historian Dr Faith Cleverdon.

Dr Cleverdon said: "The tunnel was probably put in around the 18th Century when the burial vaults were in use. It looks like it was used as a way in and out but, in the 19th century, the chancel of the church was extended and we believe the altar now lays right over what could have been the external entrance to the tunnel.

"It is possible that at the other end of the tunnel, beyond where it is bricked up, lie old burial chambers.

"If this is to be investigated it would take thousands of pounds to employ professional archaeologists."

Miss Cleverdon also pointed out some markings on the stone work in the external entrance area which show the date 1720 with the names W Birch, H Hillier and J Morris underneath.

Rev Mathew Parker said: "At our church open day, we allowed members of the public to go down into the tunnel and people were queuing up with curiosity. We even had 80-year-old ladies determined to get down there to have a look.

"Some people have said that they had known about this tunnel. There is also a story that there used to be a tunnel from this church to the old Abbey on Abbey Road."