Fisherton House Asylum, which eventually became known as The Old Manor Hospital, is an establishment with a fascinating history.

Having worked there for many years as Head Gardener, I became aware of the many stories concerning this old establishment.

In particular, I learnt of two Victorian underground tunnels. One tunnel ran from one end of the hospital to the other and I was reliably informed that it had been put in place to segregate the female patients (who walked through the wonderful grounds), from the male patients (who walked through the underground tunnel) on their Sunday visits to the asylum Chapel!

I can vouch for this tunnel because I actually walked the whole length (and I have the photos to prove it!)

The other tunnel was said to run from Fisherton Asylum to Salisbury Railway Station to receive, it was said, patients who were arriving for admittance to the asylum via train.

(Image: Spencer Mulholland) This notion has always seemed incredibly far-fetched to me although the tunnel I managed to explore at the Old Manor Hospital was furnished with white tiles similar to those in the present main Salisbury Train Station

So you might well imagine my astonishment when photographer Spencer Mulholland, contacted me to say that a tunnel had been discovered at the Railway Station – could this be the fabled Fisherton Asylum tunnel?

It was really exciting to find out the position of where the tunnel was located – in a corner under some thick wooden planks. I actually have a late Victorian photograph showing this same location with the wooden planks still in place.

It was decided that following a health and safety check, a team of officials would explore the area to see just how far this tunnel stretched for.

(Image: Spencer Mulholland) So the scene was set and the officials started to lift the planks. Straight away we could see the steps leading down to the entrance of a tunnel and the men descended into the darkness.

I was lucky enough to go down as well and after walking a short stretch, the tunnel opened up into a room which contained a small pile of wooden cogs, believed to be for laying cable.

The tunnel however, went a little further until alas, it stopped at a bricked-up wall.

This bricked-up wall looked relatively new but much to our frustration, we were unable to learn what lurked behind it.

So is it the fabled tunnel which leads to the old Fisherton House Asylum? That question, for now, remains unanswered pending further investigation…