Swainsley Abandoned Railway Tunnel

The Swainsley Abandoned Railway Tunnel in the Manifold Valley near Leek is now part of the Manifold Way a footpath and cycle route through the area where the tunnel is located.

The tunnel is named after the nearby Swainsley Hall. The Owner of the Swainsley Hall, Sir Thomas Wardle was a director of the railway company, which built the tunnel, and insisted that it be built so as not to spoil the aspect from the hall.

The tunnel is finished in faced stone and today has electrical lighting which operate continuously. It is 150 meters long and would have allowed only single-track operation by the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway (L&MVLR).

The L&MVLR had a short life opening in 1904 and closing in 1934. It was narrow gauge (2ft 6in) which ran over a 13.3 km route between Hulme End and the North Staffordshire Railway at Waterhouses.