What is the Victoria Tunnel?
It's an old waggonway which runs under Newcastle upon Tyne from the Town Moor down to the Tyne. It was originally built to transport coal from a colliery to the river, and it operated between 1842 and 1860. In 1939, the city engineers converted the Tunnel into an air raid shelter to protect hundreds of Newcastle citizens during World War II.
What did RNIB do?
RNIB worked with local representatives to develop a design for this unusual space. The final result is a well received RNIB Map for All.
How was the work funded?
Guided tours of the Tunnel are now possible after Newcastle City Council received funding from One NorthEast and a £205,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This grant funded new information panels at the Tunnel Entrance, including a RNIB Map for All.
What was the process?
A consultation session with 12 members of the Newcastle Society for Blind People and the RNIB was held to plan the content for the panel. The group were taken on a tour of the Tunnel and were among the first visitors to hear the new audio installations. After lunch, Sue King (RNIB) displayed some example tactile panels and explained the possibilities and limitations of the medium.
The group then discussed what information they would like displayed on the panel. It was decided that a simple map which showed the route that the Tunnel takes beneath the city was required: the roads that the Tunnel passes under and the sites of the original WWII entrance should be shown as well as the accessible section of Tunnel which is now open to visitors. The group's knowledge of the local area was invaluable.
Once the initial design had been produced, a feedback session was held and a number of minor changes were made before the final Map for All was installed.
What did everyone think?
Doug Walker, one of the NSBP members said that "The process was very interesting. During the workshop I realised how our initial ideas were not practical, but I'm pleased with the result".
"The consultation process was ideal" said Gordon Foster, another NSBP member "some tactile maps can be very cluttered, but by being involved in the consultation I think we reached a good compromise: the map works very well".
Visit the tunnel
To find out how to book a free tour of the Victoria Tunnel, please visit www.newcastlecommunityheritage.org/victoriatunnel
Contact us
RNIB Disability Access Services
Telephone 01733 37 53 70
Email businesslink@rnib.org.uk