Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
So why was it built??? Who knows. Our only thoughts on this from our visit was:
The General in the area lived the wrong side of the hill and when it rained he wanted to walk to see the view without getting wet.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Some views are that it was used to store ammunition, as a barracks and both were used here and and an air-raid shelterIt.
Its a
185m long and has two perpendicular galleries, it is accessed by two entrances located in the Hameau de Laye (east) and can be exited by a staircase located opposite in an old quarry (west).The main entrance is made up of a chicane to prevent grenade explosions. The second entrance has double access and some areas are blocked off for Bats.
Its construction began in 1943 without knowing precisely what its destination was. But it is more likely that it served as a shelter for the garrisons of the batteries located nearby. During the bombings of 1944, civilians could also have sheltered there..
Now some tunnels are blocked off for Bat roosts.
Greater horseshoe bats.
Greater mouse-eared bat.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
A plan in my archive, I have no idea where it came from..
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
This view is from the village towards Hill 87. The two arrows point to the tunnels eastern entrances.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
The left hand entrance with an offset doorway.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Looking from inside at the left hand entrance with an offset doorway.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Looking down the main tunnel running for 180 meters.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
The split where the two entrances meet.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
The right hand entrance from inside shows a different design. There are two doorways leading into the one tunnel.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
The two doorways into the right hand entrance.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Looking down the two galleries.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
The western exit/entrance has a half blast wall and a right angle turn, totally different from the other two entrances.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Looking down the steps where the tunnel turns sharp right.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Turning left out of the tunnel the steps are as broad as the tunnel , half way up they turn left again, but this time the stairway is only half as wide? Why?
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Standard issue hobnail boot prints on the steps.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Now you can see the wide stairs coming out of the tunnel and turning left into narrower stairs.
The stairs come out into an old quarry on the left and the cliff edge on the right.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Looking down the steps.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
This is the view on the right with Alderney in the distance.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
This is the view on the right with Alderney in the distance.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
Looking into the quarry behind the where the stairs come out.
There is a small piece of concrete in the quarry but we have no idea if it was.
Wn357 Souterrain de Laye
© 2013 Richard Drew