We are delighted to announce that the Ouseburn Trust has been awarded an £18,000 grant through Historic England's Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund.

Due to the coronavirus lockdown, and with staff, volunteer and public safety in mind, Victoria Tunnel tours and Ouseburn guided walks have been suspended since late-March 2020. The income generated through Tunnel tours is the primary source of income for the Trust, enabling us to pay our staff and carry out valuable work in the interest of Ouseburn Valley.

How will we use the grant?

This grant will enable us to deliver a new, unique and innovative virtual tour offer, bringing the Victoria Tunnel to your screen! The Tunnel’s virtual ‘visitors’ will be able to tune in on their laptop, tablet or mobile phone to experience a video tour, accompanied by a real-life Tour Guide. Expect stories about people who worked in the tunnel during the Victorian times and those who found sanctuary underground during World War Two bombings.

The virtual tour will give participants the opportunity to interact and ask questions, just like during a physical experience. The service will be made available and adapted for different audiences with a range of experiences for the general public, families, and schools. Furthermore, these new virtual tours enable the Tunnel to reach new audiences who, even before Covid-19, were unable to take part in a Tunnel tour due to additional mobility needs, anxiety or claustrophobia.

When can you access virtual tours?

Virtual tours will be launching on our website in summer 2020.To keep up to date with the launch of the virtual tours, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in the coming weeks.