ypresman Posted 9 October , 2012 Share Posted 9 October , 2012 Out and about a few days ago and noticed a small crater in the field leading up to the Hawthorn Crater. On closer inspection it looked like a trench/tunnel collapse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIFFO Posted 9 October , 2012 Share Posted 9 October , 2012 is there anyone looking into it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ypresman Posted 9 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 9 October , 2012 Looking down towards sunken lane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ypresman Posted 9 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 9 October , 2012 is there anyone looking into it Just me Don't think there is anyone looking into it. As far as I'm aware it only happened in the last few days. Seems very strange its right in the middle of the Farmers field, so only can guess its a collapse especially as its also traverse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy.72 Posted 9 October , 2012 Share Posted 9 October , 2012 This looks like a similar area to a tunnel that was dug across the field about ten years ago for a pipe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfyboy Posted 9 October , 2012 Share Posted 9 October , 2012 I shall have a peek at the weekend and see if its been filled in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 9 October , 2012 Share Posted 9 October , 2012 Has there been heavy rain in the area ? Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Owl Posted 9 October , 2012 Share Posted 9 October , 2012 Just me Don't think there is anyone looking into it. As far as I'm aware it only happened in the last few days. Seems very strange its right in the middle of the Farmers field, so only can guess its a collapse especially as its also traverse. Perhaps this is the new French version of the 'Crop Circle' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgardiner1418 Posted 9 October , 2012 Share Posted 9 October , 2012 All, The hole has been there a few weeks, I was there on the 17th September and it was much the same as the picture. All the best, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekspiers Posted 10 October , 2012 Share Posted 10 October , 2012 I assume this hole would have literally unearthed a quantity of battle debris which has lain a couple of feet below the surface ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul@bolton Posted 10 October , 2012 Share Posted 10 October , 2012 I was there on September 12th and there were a number of people wandering around looking for 'battlefield debris'. There was nothing in evidence. Having said that, I have no idea when the hole appeared so anything of interest may have been 'liberated' earlier. It's quite a large hole - the photos that have been posted don't do it justice. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 10 October , 2012 Share Posted 10 October , 2012 It is part of the human condition for people to stand and gaze down holes, be it a field in France or Tooting High Street. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 10 October , 2012 Share Posted 10 October , 2012 It is part of the human condition for people to stand and gaze down holes, be it a field in France or Tooting High Street. Very profound, TR, and in my case literally true, as I live only about a mile from Tooting High Street. I also like your quote from William Morris, whose Merton Abbey works were about 500 yards from where I'm sitting now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Noble Posted 10 October , 2012 Share Posted 10 October , 2012 Well, it does seem to zig zag. I wouldn't think it was part of a land drainage scheme as surely it would be straight and have to have so much 'fall' as per gradient. Has anyone calculated distance etc from British/German Front Lines to possibly acquire a position? Not dissimilar to what happened in the late 90's opposite the Sunken Road. Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithjk Posted 10 October , 2012 Share Posted 10 October , 2012 Possibly a collapsed Russian Sap, or even part of the tunnel leading to the mine. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 11 October , 2012 Share Posted 11 October , 2012 or even part of the tunnel leading to the mine. I would think that that went when the mine exploded Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithjk Posted 11 October , 2012 Share Posted 11 October , 2012 I would think that that went when the mine exploded Could be Centurion, although it would depend on how effective the tamping was. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 11 October , 2012 Share Posted 11 October , 2012 Neither a Russian sap nor a mine tunnel would zig zag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithjk Posted 11 October , 2012 Share Posted 11 October , 2012 No, but a collapse does not necessarily exactly follow the course of the 'cavity' that caused it. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted 11 October , 2012 Share Posted 11 October , 2012 There was a tunnel 320 metres long dug at a depth of 22 metres leading from the British trenches to the mine site at Hawthorn. I would think that this would have had to be quite a large tunnel to be able to pack the amount of explosive that comprised the explosion area. Presumably over the years the tunnel walls have gradually weakened, leading to the collapse of earth that we see here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew pugh Posted 12 October , 2012 Share Posted 12 October , 2012 Good Evening All. I think the original tunnel started from Pilk Street trench up to the crater. Regards Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfyboy Posted 13 October , 2012 Share Posted 13 October , 2012 I visited the site today and indeed the pics do not do it justice, it is a whole lot bigger than expected, deepest point probably around 10 feet plus, and 35 feet long at least, I had a good snoop and no relics to report at all, the farmer has started to fill it in although it may take a while, I have taken a pic from across the road (sunken lane) and will add when back in UK Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17107BM Posted 14 October , 2012 Share Posted 14 October , 2012 Hello all. I came across this in August and it was not as large as these recent pic's above show. As i was after images of the bottom of Hawthorn crater i passed without a thought. So there's some thing on the move for sure. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul@bolton Posted 16 October , 2012 Share Posted 16 October , 2012 Referring to my earlier post, I was there on 12th September. The attached photo gives an idea of the scale of the collapse at that time. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew pugh Posted 17 October , 2012 Share Posted 17 October , 2012 Hi. Did they use the same tunnel when they blew the second mine at a later date, or did it take a different route? I cannot remember the date of the second blow. Regards Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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