As you walk along busy Lawrence Hill, it’s hard to believe the old tale that there’s a long abandoned Victorian street under your feet. But local historian Dave Stephenson can confirm that the legend is true - and it’s pretty spooky down there.
Over the years, Dave had heard many fascinating stories about this secret underground world, stretching from Ducie Road to the Packhorse pub, with glazed shop fronts and old gas street lamps hanging on the walls. There was even an anecdote of a man who fell through a hole in the road after a few too many pints and found himself transported back in time.
Back in 1999, Dave and a couple of companions set out to discover the truth. Climbing down into the cobweb-encrusted enclave that really does lie buried beneath the road at Lawrence Hill, he returned with amazing photographic evidence of the eerie remains of a forgotten era.
