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The Binnian Tunnel -
Contemporary
Photos
| Two present-day views of the Annalong Lodge, the "digs" where engineers stayed whilst employed on the tunnel project. The house in now boarded up. This is one of the original houses built along the aqueduct when the supply consisted of river intakes with no dams. There is a similar house at the Silent Valley gates, which was the Superintendent's house, with the two stone bungalows up near the dam. There are similar style but smaller houses along the conduit (aqueduct) at Tullybrannigan, Ballybannon, Drumnaquoile, Dunmore, Ballykine and Bowlough. These houses were, and some still are, occupied by "linesmen" with the duty of inspecting the conduit, flush valves and carry out general maintenance work. |
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The red gates which are to be found all around County Down mark the line of the water conduit and were used by the linesmen. They were originally erected so that staff could walk along the line of the Conduit and check visually for any problems at surface level. There were gates in every ditch or wall all the way to Knockbreckan (Carryduff) from the Silent Valley. The posts have BWC cast into the metal at the top (Belfast Water Commissioners) There are a few to be found where the letters are back to front! The old Mourne Conduit is now in the process of being replaced by the new pipeline which is nearly complete. |
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"Spare Ribs" manufactured to give internal support for the softer sections of the tunnel also found their way into many other inventive uses. Here you see a workman's-shed which has been created using the metal ribs for structure and a corrugated tin roof. This one is right inside the Dunnywater grounds at the Annalong Valley. The red gates mentioned above can be seen in the foreground. |
| The Binnian School or "Bingian" as the traditional spelling here shows sits on the Head Road above Annalong. You can see Slieve Binnian and "Wee Binnian" in the background of the picture. Many of the workers on the tunnel, dams and conduits went to this school which they still fondly refer to as "The High School". If you ask them why they call it the high school they'll readily tell you "it's the highest school around here for miles" . |
The present day grandeur of Slieve Binnian has changed very little in the past 50 years. In fact if it weren't for a few houses, it hasn't changed much for millions of years!
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Two present-day views of the Silent Valley end. This is where the water pours out of the tunnel into the Silent Valley Dam. The inscription above the arch is 1952. A plaque marks the exit, a close up of which is seen below.
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A tarmac path runs from the Silent Valley Visitor's Centre to the Ben Crom Dam Wall, passing the tunnel exit on its way. For those not feeling energetic, a bus runs between the two in the summer months. |
A view of the Ben Crom Dam wall with the steep cliffy head of Ben Crom itself to the left. The Ben Crom Dam project was started immediately after the completion of the tunnel and was officially opened in 1957. The Daveys and many of the other tunnellers worked on it too. |
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