"It is the frame for a horizontal milling machine or possibly a saw, hard to tell with the working head/cross slide removed) In those bays are also the remains of quite a few pedestal drills, a lathe, the complete bed and frame assembly for it and the box of gear wheels is also part of it.." Andy Belcher, of Wealden Cave & Mine Society, who took the same tour of the caves with Laurence at a later date.

We rejoined the central longitudinal tunnel and made our way out into the warm sunshine.

I’d always dismissed the shelter, thinking of it as just a small tunnel in the woods of Cane Hill. But I’d been proved wrong - the tunnels are definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area.

With that, we pushed on up the hill. Laurence’s tour was over - and I welcomed the opportunity to document a small part of the history of the tunnels. The various bits-and-pieces of machinery may not be weird contraptions from the asylum, but the fact that they were used to grind and test lenses for telescopes is equally interesting.

Indeed, for a bit of history, then check out this film from the 1960s of the tunnels.

Speaking of hospitals, it was now time to get back inside our favourite.

"No one wanted to come 'out to play' so I gave my wife the NGR, arranged a callout time, having located the hole in the roof the previous day and set off alone.

A little test for myself, 'Am I afraid of the dark?'

It was creepy. VERY creepy! I sat just inside for a while listening, I don't believe in ghosts, there's nothing in life to be scared of except other people!

I gradually advanced. I was taking it steady as initially I had no idea of the layout and didn't want to get lost so I was being fairly systematic and went round in a generally a clockwise direction.

About halfway in I started to hear the occassional odd noise, just an echo. Eventually I heard it again, this time when I was already standing dead still and holding my breath listening. Definitely not me!! A low moan, and a scuffling sound. The hairs rose on the back of my neck!

Forcing myself to remain calm (and therefore in control) I retraced my steps back to the entrance resisting the urge to keep spinning round to stare behind me.

Eventually I got a grip, gave myself a stern talking to, and headed back in. Finally I got to the end of the main drag and found the ventilator. A piece of plastic blowing across the floor was making the noise. Finally I circled right through the bunker having conquered my fear and now certain that I am not scared of the dark per se.

I have a dodgy shoulder and have to be careful climbing at certain angles. I decided the 'boost' out through the roof might be risky if my shoulder pops out and I'm alone so I decided to go out through the South entrance. I am very skinny, and managed to get my upper body out but then discovered I had nothing to push my legs against or pull with my arms. I was stuck! Being rescued is an embarrasing experience I don't want to have so I ended up wriggling on my stomach muscles until I was able to get my hips through. I won't do that again!

Andy Belcher
www.wcms.org.uk