A 20th century tramway tunnel running from Margetts Chalk Pit towards Great Culland Chalk Pit. The tunnel is 2.7m wide and 2.8m high with a concave roof. The lower part of the side walls is of concrete shuttering, above this the walls are of yellow brick. The central part of the tunnel has collapsed, evidently because its walls were of timber. It is possible that this occurred during construction as bricks were stacked near the collapse. As such, it is possible that the tunnel was never completed and therefore never reached Great Culland Chalk Pit. Two air shafts have been capped or blocked. The tunnel was apparently used during the Second World War as an air raid shelter, artefacts of this period were observed in situ. (1)

The tramway in Margetts Chalk Pit first appears on the 1st edition OS 25" map, terminating in the centre of the quarry. The same situation is shown on the 2nd edition OS 25" map of the late 19th century. The tramway is extended to run into the quarry face, at the point of the tunnel entrance on the 3rd edition OS 25" map. This suggests that construction started around the turn of the 20th century, probably in the first few years of the 20th century. Only two air shaft structures are visible on aerial photos of the 1940s, perhaps supporting the idea that that tunnel collapsed during construction and was abandoned. The length of tunnel accessed by KURG before the collapse coincides with a large depression behind the Rectory. This feature first appears on the 4th edition mapping of the area.

<1> Kent Underground Research Group, 1998, Kent Underground Research Group Newsletter no. 57, Nineteenth Century Tramway Tunnel at Burham (Unpublished document). SKE25132.