Trade must have been the driving force for the construction of the longest road tunnel in Britain in the 1830s. Since 1824 the improvement of Bridport harbour (West Bay) provided an effective trading route for the import and export of materials. Unfortunately the more direct access for industries in south Somerset involved the exhausting 500ft climb by horse drawn wagons over Horn Hill near Beaminster.
In the 1820s Mr Giles RUSSELL, a solicitor from Beaminster, proposed a solution by building a new turnpike road, including a tunnel that would reduce the climb by 100ft. Plans were prepared in 1827, depicted the proposed route and local land ownership, funds raised and submission for the required parliamentary Act prepared.
Construction commenced in 1831 and the 115yds long, 20ft wide, tunnel was completed with a grand opening ceremony on 29 June 1832.
