Tunnel Portal In The John Smith Playing Field

The tunnel portal in the John Smith Playing Field is the west entrance of a tunnel, which is currently blocked at the other end, and dates back to 1839. It is constructed from sandstone. The central part of the portal is flat and slightly projects between abutments that curve forward. The masonry is rusticated and rock-faced throughout. The tunnel itself appears to be an elliptical tube made of coursed stone, with the voussoirs of the entrance being individually rusticated and rock-faced beneath a projecting string course. The taller keystone features a panel incised with the letters P & L R 1839 FHP CT. Above this, there is a smoother-faced blocking course made of single stones over the central section and three shallow courses over the abutments, topped with a flat coping. Many of the stones display masons' marks.

Historically, this portal was built for the Preston and Longridge Railway Company's line from Tootle Height Quarry, which opened in 1840. The chairman at the time was Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood, to whom the initials FHP are believed to refer.