The Tunnel
Oxendon tunnel was designed and built by George Stephenson and was opened in 1859. It was built as a single track line to connect Northampton and Market Harborough and was used to transport the huge amounts of ironstone that were found in Northamptonshire in the mid nineteenth century.
Great Oxendon tunnel is situated just outside Great Oxendon on what is known as the "Brampton Valley Way" which is part of the National Cycle Network.
The tunnel is 418 metres long which is equvilant to 1/4 of a mile. Once inside the light from the other end tends to blind you & makes it nearly impossible to see anything until tour eyes adjust, approximately half way through there is a vertical air ventilation shaft which casts a circle of light on to the tunnel floor.