Efforts to restore ‘ghost tunnels’ on Portland celebrated with community event

Last weekend, people flocked to the isle of Portland to celebrate the restoration and formal opening of the historic High Angle Battery site.

Local residents, volunteers, and organisations involved in restoring the site gathered to celebrate its transformation and the launch of Portland and Weymouth Towns of Culture 2025.

The High Angle Battery, locally known as the ghost tunnels, is a late Victorian gun battery built in the 1890s to defend Portland Harbour.  Over time, it has fallen into disrepair and in 2022 its outdated interpretation panels, graffiti, and heritage damage led to it being placed on the Heritage at Risk register.

In 2023, Dorset Council secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other local partners to preserve and improve the heritage of this historically important site and help tell its story to a wider audience.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Dorset Council, support of Portland Town Council, and the help of partners, heritage experts, and the local community, the site has received a much-needed revamp and is now more accessible than ever with new interpretation panels, improved pathways, and increased biodiversity.  Structural repairs have also been made to the site, along with vegetation clearance and litter removal. 

Councillor Ryan Hope, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement, expressed his gratitude to all those involved: "Efforts to rediscover High Angle Battery have not only preserved a vital piece of our history but have also brought our community together in a shared effort to protect our heritage."

As well as celebrating the completion of the project, the event also marked the launch of Portland and Weymouth Towns of Culture 2025 with the 'State of Alarm' exhibition.  This captivating sound installation by Mark Anderson and Liam Walsh transformed the High Angle Battery into a captivating sound-world brought to life through an ensemble of visually striking instruments, sound sculptures and rhythmic notes.  More exciting community events are planned for the site this summer, organised by local arts organisation b-side.

To find out more about the project to rediscover the High Angle Battery, visit the Dorset Council website.