Origins James Bateman's development of his Grange Estate around the middle of the Nineteenth Century included a new private woodland walk giving more convenient access towards the settlement of Biddulph Moor as marked in red on the map below, which was one of several such routes which he built on his land. It is difficult to give an accurate date for its construction, but on 25 February 1863 he successfully obtained a Justice's Certificate to alter various highways within the estate, including footpaths, involving the abolition of some existing public paths and the creation of new ones, as per this extract from the plan with the certificate; H-I-J and D-I Footpaths stopped up. G-E and D-C New footpaths. F-E-D Old footpath unaltered. Bateman built his new path to Biddulph Moor using the alignment of the retained public footpath F-E-D, but to reduce the public footfall he also provided a bridge under it together with a completely new path for public use rather to the south of G-E-D-C. Sprink Tunnel - Page 1
The situation is well illustrated on the 1876 first edition of the Ordnance Survey. Infrastructure To create his new walk Bateman seems to partly raised and levelled the area before planting the belt of woodland shown on the 1876 plan, and the path under the bridge probably represents the original ground level. Substantial stone retaining walls Sprink Tunnel - Page 2
held back the raised areas leaving a narrow passage for walkers and this was bridged across with beams to support the overfill. The length thus roofed over measures nearly 100 feet scaling from the 1876 plan, but later OS revisions appear to show show no covering at all until the 1970s when about 60 feet at the western end reappears and is marked 'Tunnel'. This is still the situation today, and whilst some previous alteration to the covered length is possible, it is not clear exactly what has taken place over time. On the path above and slightly to the south of the bridge Bateman erected a stone archway which still survives, although the way through it has been barricaded: Defects There are clearly problems with the roofing of the 'tunnel', and parts of the roofed and unroofed lengths show deterioration and bulging of the retaining walls. A substantial piece of one wall east of the tunnel has collapsed, blocking FP 29. Apart from a couple of fallen stones the archway is still fairly intact. Footpath Diversion Discussions with the landowner following the blockage of the tunnel path led to the Highway Authority arranging for the temporary diversion of FP29 over the tunnel, with the aid of two sets of wooden steps [see Page 4]. Moves were also put in hand to make this arrangement permanent, the Council issuing the Public Footpath No. 29 (Part) Biddulph Parish Public Path Diversion Order 2007. Biddulph Town Council put in an objection to this, and in accordance with the legislation this was passed to the Secretary of State for a decision. An inspector has been appointed, but it is likely that this will eventually be approved as the Town Council's objection did not appear to cover any highway issues. Sprink Tunnel - Page 3
The two sets of wooden steps Sprink Tunnel - Page 4
The future 1. The attractive location, surviving infrastructure, and historical links to the important Bateman legacy, suggest that the tunnel and archway should immediately be considered for some statutory protection, as there does not appear to be any formal listing as structures of historic interest. 2. The leg of existing public path through the archway and running southeasterly up to Woodhouse Lane should be formally recorded on the Definitive Map by means of a Modification Order, which will encourage pedestrian use. Combined with FP29 this provides a Biddulph to Biddulph Moor route alternative to much of Woodhouse Lane, which is narrow, winding, without footways, and highly dangerous for walkers. 3. Some arrangement will be needed to ensure that the remaining fabric of the tunnel and approaches, and the archway, are not allowed to deteriorate any further, which will involve discussions on repair, maintenance, and funding. Sprink Tunnel - Page 5