'Let's investigate ancient ruins at former council site'
An archaeological investigation at North Quay has unearthed the remains of a medieval building Pictures: Context One
READING the articles on the archaeological investigation in the area of the abandoned Municipal Offices, I hope that further investigation will also look into the ruins.
The two cottages that were compulsory purchased and destroyed, next to what was the coffee inn, belonged to my great uncle Harold and his daughter, my auntie Olive. As a very small boy I can remember being shown the tunnel entrance. My uncle and his brother, my grandfather Robert Gibson, walked me down to what they referred to as the cellar. It is obvious now that it was a room from the previous much older building that the brick cottages had been built on, for it was constructed from stone and had a fire place. My uncle pulled a metal ring in the floor of the fireplace and lifted a large square flagstone to reveal the stone steps leading into the tunnel. I was not allowed to go into the tunnel but was told that it was a smugglers tunnel.