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Buried deep beneath the streets of Liverpool is an underground world that defies explanation.Though the purpose of the mysterious tunnels is currently unknown, the work itself was done at the order an idiosyncratic—and rich—landowner from the early 19th century named Joseph Williamson.Born in 1769, possibly in Warrington, Williamson worked at a tobacco and snuff factory in Liverpool, owned by the wealthy Tate family. In 1802, having worked his way up through the ranks of the company, he married his employer's sister, Elizabeth Tate. The following year, ownership of the factory passed to Williamson.The couple’s home would be 44 Mason Street in Edge Hill. Williamson also owned a number of other properties nearby. But the houses were unusual. Some of them backed onto an almost sheer drop, with huge arches behind each of them to provide the residents with enough space for rear gardens.In 1818, when Williamson was in his late 40s, he sold the tobacco business. What happened next is the subject of deep dispute and great conjecture. What we know for sure is that Williamson employed a large number of local men to work for him, mostly underground.What was the point of the tunnels? Some have suggested they were built as caves to store smuggled contraband from the port or served as a refuge for a religious cult who believed the end of the world was nigh.Over the years another suggestion has grown in popularity: that Williamson was a philanthropist who wanted to employ as many men as possible during a period when the Napoleonic wars had driven up rates of unemployment and poverty. Men were given obsolete tasks, some said, ferrying earth from one place to another and back again.Today there’s a visitor centre with opening hours, and guides. But the magic of the tunnels remains.Some are corridors barely a metre wide; one is a “banqueting hall” 6 metres high. No one knows why they were built, and the tunnels have still not been completely excavated or mapped.Was it a philanthropic employment scheme for men returning from the Napoleonic war? Was it a monument for his dead wife? Did Williamson think the Apocalypse was coming and this was a shelter for the faithful? Was he just plain nuts?Walking around the tunnels you really do have the feeling that you are walking through someone else’s dreams.Visitors to the Williamson Tunnels have reported Paranormal activity since the beginning, strange smells, dark shadows, and even a evil looking man in a long coat who will follow along on Ghost Hunts only to inexplicably vanish into thin air.The sound of small childrens footsteps can be heard running around.Many people say the spirit of Joseph Williamson himself is here, prowling through the tunnels he dedicated so many years of his life to building?I was showing a group of people around Williamson tunnels one day and we all came down the stairs at the end of the tour. As the tour group came out of the Tunnel I said to the last lady in the group, “you’re the last one out aren’t you love?” and she said “what about the man in the funny coat?” I said “what man in the funny coat?!” as I was sure everyone had come out of the Tunnels. So, I waited to the group had all dispersed and I went back into the Tunnels and had a look around. but there was nobody there. So what did she see? Was there something there or was she having me on – I don’t know…Sources:https://www.theghostportal.co.uk/tgp_stories/funny-coat-williamson-tunnels/https://www.livpost.co.uk/p/the-whole-place-is-so-full-of-mysterioushttps://explorethearchive.com/williamson-tunnels?utm_source=spotim&utm_medium=spotim_recirculation&spotim_referrer=recirculationImage source: https://explorethearchive.com/williamson-tunnels?utm_source=spotim&utm_medium=spotim_recirculation&spotim_referrer=recirculation