I'm Scott from Balcony Shirts, we've had a shop on Windsor Street in Uxbridge for over 10 years now (despite all the odds). But, that's not what this is about.  I've lived in Uxbridge for my entire life, and I've been hearing stories about "the secret tunnel" under Windsor Street for as long as I can remember.  I mention it to people all the time, it's a great story, it goes like this:  There's a tunnel, a secret tunnel, that travels from down in the crypt at St. Margaret's church, Windsor Street, across the road (only a few metres), to The Queen's Head public house, in the cellar.  This tunnel is where the priests would make good their escape from the  persecution of  Queen Mary 1st (Bloody Mary), who was burning Protestants at the stake like it was going out of fashion.

I've heard this story so much, I've never even questioned it. 

This all changed the day I was being interviewed about the shop on Uxbridge FM, when the presenter questioned it. He laughted at the idea. He was was laughing hard. 

I was taken aback, what do you mean? You don't believe it? EVERYONE believes it?  Then, for the first time in my life, I started to question it myself.

Is there a tunnel?

Let's find out. Once and for all. 

Photograph - Toby Vandevelde