Bristol Temple Meads subway

[Woodleigh]

Hi,
A bit of a long shot, but once upon a time I used to back in the 1960’s spot at BTM.
At lunchtime I would leave the station through a little used pedestrian exit that came out on Cattle Market road under the station to visit Barrow Road and St. Phillips Marsh sheds.
Question. Whilst I recall well going through the turnstyle to exit, I can’t for the life of me remember where I entered the passage to take me there. Looking at plans of the station, the main pedestrian subway seems too far away for access.
This exit may still be extant, but it’s been decades since visiting.
Appreciate anyone commenting with a very long good memory!

 

[Matt.S.]

It is still there as an emergency exit, it links to one of the other tunnels. (There are 3, mostly untouched since closure)

 

[Woodleigh]

Thanks Mark, interesting to note the exit still exists together with another two I wasn’t aware of or just can’t recall.
Do you know however where I would have entered the tunnel though to exit at Cattle Market Road? That’s the bit that has me lost. All I can remember was that it came to a floor to ceiling turn stile and thinking that if it didn’t complete the rotation I would be like a rat in a cage with the likelihood of being trapped for days!

 

[paulhb]

Well that was an interesting rabbet hole I’ve been down.

Not answering your question but following links go to some interesting pictures and a couple of utube videos about the tunnels under Temple Meads and a short local paper article.

Take a walk through the secret tunnels hidden under Temple Meads

They were once an important part the Bristol station, being used for storing wine and coal and even an air raid shelter - but only for the high and mighty

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Bristol Temple meads

Pictures of the parts the public never get to see, underneath the main station, the wine cellars and the WW2 air raid shelter

www.flickr.com

Google Image Result for https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CkBWcCJbQEw/sddefault.jpg

Google Image Result for https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MH3jCPKtRos/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEhCK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD&rs=AOn4CLBArvTt1Pme_clACCJkNca6wtq_qQ

Regards. Paul

 

[Woodleigh]

Thanks Paul,
Had a quick look through the photos and noticed the exit into Cattle Market road on the Bristol Post site that I was enquiring about.
Back in the 1960's this wasn't I believe an emergency exit and had no red external door that could only be opened from the inside. Suggests the door was fitted, and the turn style removed. It was back then just an exit, not an emergency exit.
Need to look closer at the photos as still not sure how I got down there!

 

[paulhb]

Thanks Paul,
Had a quick look through the photos and noticed the exit into Cattle Market road on the Bristol Post site that I was enquiring about.
Back in the 1960's this wasn't I believe an emergency exit and had no red external door that could only be opened from the inside. Suggests the door was fitted, and the turn style removed. It was back then just an exit, not an emergency exit.
Need to look closer at the photos as still not sure how I got down there!

Hi,

Just happened to be walking nearby so took a couple of pictures of the current closed access on Cattle Market Road. The location in the tunnel would put it roughly near the current platform 13/15,

 

[paulhb]

I don't seem to be able to give this one up.

Attached is a map from the 1935 Graces Guide. It does show a Subway from Cattle Market Road linking to the main station subway by the stairway to what is now the island platform including platforms 11 & 12.

Hopethis is useful.

Regards Paul

 

[Woodleigh]

Hi Paul,
I appreciate your tenacity!
Thanks for the photos, map and links. From the red emergency exit door in the Bristol Post it seems now it's an inconspicuous black one.
I have a similar map dated 1935 from Colin Maggs Rail Centres: Bristol book but doesn't seem to be as detailed as your map when defining all the subways.
I think I will leave it there thank you. Memories of the past.
Regards
Ray

 

[Steve C]

It's been a while since I've visited Temple Meads but the entrance into the subway leading to Cattle Market Road is behind what was at the time a staff office as marked on the picture.



It may not be used as such now but at the time it's where they printed off seat reservations and held carriage destination labels ready for use. I collected the destination labels and went in to ask if they had any going spare. The guy on duty duly took me through a rear door in the office which led into a corridor. I seem to recall a large amount of racking being present so the office might have been a left luggage facility at one time but he told me that it led down to Cattle Market Road (I would have liked to gone down to get some pictures but didn't want to press my luck!).

 

[Woodleigh]

It's been a while since I've visited Temple Meads but the entrance into the subway leading to Cattle Market Road is behind what was at the time a staff office as marked on the picture.

View attachment 267603

It may not be used as such now but at the time it's where they printed off seat reservations and held carriage destination labels ready for use. I collected the destination labels and went in to ask if they had any going spare. The guy on duty duly took me through a rear door in the office which led into a corridor. I seem to recall a large amount of racking being present so the office might have been a left luggage facility at one time but he told me that it led down to Cattle Market Road (I would have liked to gone down to get some pictures but didn't want to press my luck!).

Thanks Steve,
it has been many decades since my leaving the station through the turnstile into Cattle Market Road. At the latest it would have been mid 1960’s. Thanks for some indication of how I got down to exit however.

 

[Renovater]

Very interesting and it rings a bell for some reason but it's a long time ago it's nearly as mysterious as the Clifton tunnel halt.