The Tragedies that sparked Paranormal phenomena at: Drakelow Tunnels

Hello & Welcome to Unexplained Mysteries Paranormal. In this Podcast Episode, Host - Harvey More, delves into the history of the Drakelow Tunnels which is the explanation of paranormal phenomena today. 

Going into a bit of history of this location, Drakelow Tunnels were Built in the 1940s, Drakelow Tunnels served as a shadow factory for Rover Car Company, contributing to wartime production. Following WWII, the site was repurposed as a secure, underground Cold War nuclear bunker. Today, it stands as a testament to the resilience and innovation that shaped the history of Britain’s defence.

But... Drakelow Tunnels history isn't just that simple and straight forward... there were many tragedies whilst building the tunnels.  At least six people died during construction, including a 1941 collapse that killed three workers. These incidents, along with alleged occult activity, are heavily linked to local legends of intense hauntings.

Now... Hauntings, Paranormal Phenomena! One of the most well-known spirits is that of Oswald. He is believed to be one of the people who tragically died here many years ago. He’s a mischievous spirit who is known to pull hair, move objects, and touch people. He’s been experienced throughout the tunnels. During the sites’ decommission, it is believed that the site was used for satanic worship, opening up a door to the other realm. 

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Team Leader & Founder: Harvey More
 Videographer & Photographer: Georgia Hardingham
 Researcher & Host & Script writer: Harvey More
 Editor & designer: Harvey More
 Co Founder & Assistant Lead: Georgia Hardingham 
Publisher: Apple Podcasts Connect 
 Producer: H&S Media Productions
Creative Oversight: Kic Studios
 Outlet Publisher: Buzzsprout 
 Team: Harvey|Georgia|Sue|Sallianne|Russ

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:37

Hello and welcome to Unexplained Mysteries Paranormal. I'm your host, Harvey Moore, and in today's episode, let's focus on one of Worcestershire's most haunted locations dating back to 1941, Draco Tunnels. The tunnels that have a heartbeat of their own, a heartbeat that beats with paranormal phenomena day in and day out. Now, just before we start today's story, let's start off with today's Secrets and Shadows QA. Now, what is the most haunted prison in the whole of the United Kingdom? Make sure to stick around to the end of this podcast to find out the answer. Built in 1940s, Drake Claude Tunnels has a long and tragic history connecting with World War II, the Cold War, and many tragic events that took place whilst the construction of the tunnels were taking place. Now, are these the reasons why the tunnels are so active with paranormal happenings today? Well, there must be a reason. So let's go into a bit of history of the tunnels and let's focus on some eerie stories that have took place in the tunnels, and those stories of people who have had first-hand experience of the paranormal phenomena in these long dark tunnels. The Draycload tunnels are a maze of pitch-black underground tunnels which span over 285,000 square feet. They were constructed as part of the Ministry of Aircraft's shadow use of for use by Rover in World War II and were primarily used as storage and workshops. After the war, the government took the building and prepared it as a nuclear bunker for the use during the Cold War, with rooms and equipment designed to house local and national government officials plus armed forces and medical teams. Thankfully, the war ended and the bunker was sold off in the early 1990s. Designed by Sir Alexander Gibb and partners, the Drake Low Tunnel Complex, originally called Draco Underground Dispersal Factory, was excavated during World War II in sandstone hills near the village of Kinva and the town of Kidderminister. It was originally constructed as a shadow factory for the Rover Car Company, who were at the time manufacturing engines for the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was also intended to supply components to Rover main shadow factories at ACOX Green and Solihull to supply spare parts and to act as a backup facility if either of the main shadow factories were damaged by enemy action. The cost of the facility originally estimated at£285,000 and construction, which began in June 1941, was expected to take just one year. In the event, the underground factory achieved full production in May 1943 and the final cost exceeded£1 million. The site consists of numerous tunnels that stretch from around 3.5 miles, although public access on tours is limited to less than a quarter of the site. The tunnels contain dormitories, storage areas, workshops, electrical equipment, toilets, offices, a BBC studio, a GPO telephones communication facility, and also other facilities. During the 1950s and the growing Cold War, the site was initially used by the Ministry of Supply for storage. Around 1958, part of the site was developed by the Home Office as a regional seat of government. It was publicly exposed in a demonstration held there by the West Midlands Committee of 100 in the summer of 1963. Under later home defence schemes, the bunker was designated as a sub-regional control, sub-regional headquarters, and finally regional government headquarters. The site was greatly modernized in the early 1980s. Only a small portion of the site was designated for use. New blast doors were fitted in place of the previous wooden factory doors, and the interior of the site was refurbished in the areas forward of Tunnel 4. In about 1990, there was a plan to move the RGHQ to a much smaller bunker formerly used by UKWMO at Lawford Heath near Rugby. In the end, this never happened, and the Drayclaws site was decommissioned and sold in around 1993. During the construction of Draco Tunnels, several tragic accidents had occurred, resulting in the death of six men and one woman. The first and most traumatic series of deaths occurred on the 31st of October 1941. As a roof collapsed in Tunnel 1, this is documented in Rover's archives. Whilst blasted in Tunnel 1, the roof suddenly caved in without warning. Mr. Harry Depper and two of his colleagues who were working in the tunnel were crushed to death by the falling rock. Mr. Depper was buried in the local cemetery on the 5th of November 1941. Sadly, the names of his two colleagues are not known. The fourth death at Drake law was that of Mrs. Mary Ann Bretoll, who was accidentally hit by one John Cochran and son's dump trucks whilst outside the complex. She later died of shock. The last three deaths at Draco were unfortunately down to sheer bad luck. To make the excavation of the tunnels more effective, conveyor belts were installed to remove the loose rock caused by black sides. After hard days of working in the tunnels, two of the construction workers decided to ride on top of the conveyor. Before they reached the end, they became entangled in the machinery, which mangled them to death. Now, the last known death to occur at Draco was that of Mr. Eric Harold Newman. Mr. Newman was a security officer for goods in and out, who was leaving the complex on one evening on his motorbike. He was accidentally struck down by Mr. Wilkes, the co-driver who used to bring in the workers each day to Draco since 1993. When Draco was decommissioned and sold by the Ministry of Defence, the current owners and visitors alike have been witnesses to several unexplained occurrences within the complex. As with most MOD disposals, the history and what went on at their sites remain classified or is still under the Official Secrets Act. When Draco was disposed of, no history of the complex was given to the current owners. It is only through research and former people who worked in the complex coming forward that information has come to light. Although there are still huge gaps in its history. Whether or not the MOD experienced strange events at Draclo is still unknown. And even if they did, would they ever disclose it? One evening in late 1993, the caretaker was inspecting the kitchen in the old RSG side of the complex when he began to hear faint 1940s music. It seemed to be coming from the old Rover Shadow Factory side, thinking it may be possibly a maintenance engineer who had left his radio on and he went to investigate. As he approached tunnel 1, the music began to get louder. As he stepped into tunnel 1, the musically suddenly stopped. He walked the length of tunnel 1 to see if he could find the radio, but nothing was found. Upon reaching the old time office at the end of tunnel 1, the music started again. The caretaker walked back down the tunnel only to find nothing again. The caretaker now is determined to find the mysterious radio. Continued his search. This quick inspection then turned into a six-hour search of the entire complex. But no radio was found. The only piece of equipment that was capable of playing music was the old World War II tunnel system that had not worked since the 1950s. Another strange event occurred later one evening in the winter of 1996. Whilst on his usual rounds, the resident caretaker and his two German shepherds were locking the complex after a work party had been in during the day, repairing some electrical wiring, all was usual, until they reached the RGHQ. The caretaker was securing the GPO telephone exchange whilst his dogs wandered into the next room. Suddenly the dogs began barking frantically as if an intruder had been discovered. The caretaker quickly rushed in to see what was happening, but to his surprise, there was no one to be seen. The dogs were sat fixated on the wall, still barking manically. The caretaker eventually calmed the dogs down and put them back on their leads and continued with his round. As they stepped into tunnel four, the dogs stopped dead in their tracks and began growling. The caretaker bent down in an attempt to calm down the dogs once more, but this time to no avail. They ignored him completely. They stood fixated on something at the top of the tunnel. Following their gaze, the caretaker focused on what the dogs were looking at, but could not see anything. As he stood back, the dogs fell silent. The caretaker glanced up and couldn't believe his eyes. A mist was now present at the top of tunnel four and was slowly floating down the tunnel. At this point, the dogs broke free and fled back through the RGHQ. The caretaker quickly followed the dogs, thinking there may be a fire outside of Tunnel 4. When he finally caught up with the dogs, they were barking and desperately scratching the blast door at Addict A. He opened the blast doors and the dogs ran out to his car outside. Locking the door, the caretaker then jumped into his car and sped around to the entrance of Tunnel 4 to see how bad the fire was. When he had arrived a few minutes later, he couldn't believe what he saw. Nothing, no fire and no mist. Confused, he drove back around to Adite. He got out of the car and beckoned the dogs, but they refused to move out the car. The caretaker reopened the blast doors and made his way back to Tunnel 4. Expecting the worst, he took a fire extinguisher with him. But as he stepped into Tunnel 4, nothing was to be seen. No fire, no mist, absolutely nothing, just an empty tunnel. The caretaker returned with his dogs a few days later, but as soon as they approached the entrance, they began whimpering and refused to enter the complex. Over the years, many visitors to Draco have also experienced unexplained events, the feeling of being constantly watched by sudden drops in temperature. This alone is quite odd, as the temperature within Draco is at a constant 10 degrees Celsius in some instances. Visitors have also felt as if they have been pushed. Most unexplained occurrences happen in Tunnel 4 and Tunnel 1, deep inside the Rover Shadow Factory. The music is sporadic, but the mist is only ever seen in the winter months. Now, since the year 2000, Ray Claude tunnels have been investigated by many paranormal researchers, investigators, and even spiritual mediums in an attempt to uncover what is causing the unexplainable and in some instances quite unnerving occurrences that seems to be centered around Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 4. On the 8th and 10th of May 2014, Draco was visited by Living TV's Paranormal Investigators, most haunted, where they conducted and investigated the unexplained happenings within the tunnels. The crew, led by Yvette Fieldin, was sealed off from the outside world and locked in the complex at their own request for 48 hours. Their first night was spent in the old Rover Shadow Factory, focusing on Tunnel 1. Their second night was spent in the RGHQ nuclear bunker. When they emerged from the tunnels 48 hours later, they were extremely distressed with what they had heard and witnessed down there that they couldn't explain. Well, what did you guess for our Secrets and Shadows QA? Let's repeat today's question. What is the most haunted prison in the whole of the United Kingdom? The most haunted considered prison in the UK is said to be Shepton Mallet Prison in Somerset. Opened in 1625. It's the world's oldest purpose-built prison holding famous inmates and drenched in paranormal phenomena, including reports such as shadowy figures, disembodied voices, cold spots, objects moving, and doors slamming on their own. Well, that sounds more than enough for anyone to run straight out right away. Why not join us regularly? Hit that follow button and turn on the notifications so you know when there's another creepy story to listen. If you're not already, make sure to follow our other platforms Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, and also check out our website at www.unexplained mysteries paranormal.co.uk. And if you want to just view our podcast website, why not visit unexplained mysteries paranormal.budsprout.com. If you have a story that you'd like to share with us, make sure to drop us a message or a voice note with your story, either on Instagram or on Fanmail right here, which you'll find a link above our description of this podcast to send us a text. And as always, until next time, sleep tight.