Ok so its not a shiny new undisovered piece of exploration. Its been done before. Quite a few times actually, even by myself. However, the last time I visited was with almost thirty people. It was crowded, there were queues to take pictures, and no matter how long you waited, there was always someone waving a torch at your camera. So pictures werent really an option. Two years later we decided to return.

Sorry I couldnt be bothered to write anything but here is the history below.

"On 23rd September 1941 Shorts Brothers contacted the Ministry of Aircraft Production regarding their seaplane works at Rochester seeking authority to build a new underground works in tunnels excavated under chalk cliffs behind their existing MAP extension factory on the south bank of the River Medway. Space was urgently required for 75 new machine tools as their works were full to capacity. The tunnels were intended to create 12,000 square feet of workshop space at a cost of £20,000 which, it was acknowledged was somewhat higher than a new surface building but stress was lid upon the vulnerability of the Medway estuary.

The project was given the go ahead and the tunnels were excavated consisting of two parallel tunnels, each one hundred metres in length, these were linked by four 75 metre long adits to the cliff face at the rear of the factory. The tunnels were for the most part cut from chalk and brick lined (one of the adits was unlined). There were also two 45 degree ventilation shafts extending to the surface

At the eastern end of the tunnels the company built an extensive network of air raid shelter tunnels again consisting of two parallel drives running parallel with the cliff face, each was three hundred yards in length connected by 14 crosscuts. These were connected to the Shorts Factory tunnels by a single tunnel 400 metres in length and by 9 adits of varying lengths out to the cliff face. There were three vertical ventilation shafts to the surface which were also fitted with ladders for emergency escape.

Post war, the southern section of the tunnels was used for storage and workshops by Blaw Knox Ltd, contractors plant manufacturers, (a subsidiary of the Babcock International) who had taken over the former Shorts Site. They remained at the site at least until the mid 1990's. During the late 1990's the site was cleared and is now occupied by a modern housing estate. Most of the adits were backfilled and are no longer visible at the surface. The two main adits into the Shorts Factory tunnels have been retained. The land in front of them has been built up to within three feet of the top and the remaining arch has been grilled with a small gate which is kept securely locked. One or two of the other adits have been bricked up rather than backfilled with a small hole left for ventilation or bat access. Brick walls have been built across the main tunnels at various points to prevent through access but these have all been breached. The tunnels are generally free of graffiti and modern rubbish and there are no roof falls anywhere."

Source Sub-Brit