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.....News added on 10th March 2002.....


·BBC2 documentary about the tunnels
On 21st March, BBC2 North West will screen an issue of the 'Close Up North' series, looking at the Williamson tunnels. A film crew came to Liverpool in early March and shot footage in all three sections of the tunnels, alongside interviews with FoWT experts and colleagues
from the soon-to-be-opened tunnels tour at the stable yard site. Above, the camera homes in as the presenter and FoWT's Frank Hodges examine some of the old bottles found in the Paddington tunnels.

·Williamson stage play a great success
For nine nights in late February and early March, Liverpool's Unity Theatre staged the play 'The King of Edge Hill', penned by local playwright Karen Brown. Many a packed house saw a dramatic portrayal of the torment experienced as much by Joseph Williamson as by his wife, Elizabeth. Well studied performances by Sean McKee
and Julie Glover, both pictured above as the couple, revealed Joseph Williamson's chameleon-like nature and Elizabeth's stoicism in standing up to him. The Liverpool Echo's review of the play gave it 8 out of 10, calling it 'a real classic'. After the final performance, set designer Noel McAlley let FoWT have the specially made stage backgrounds for use in future presentations and shows!

·Stables tunnels nearly ready for opening
Preparations are on schedule for the permanent opening of the stable yard section of the Williamson tunnels shortly after Easter. With the major excavation work complete in the two tunnels which will form the basis of the attraction, efforts are now directed towards access and fitting out. A small number of staff have been recruited and are working hard to ensure a
successful start for the centre. In the background, plans are being worked on for future clearance of other sections of the labyrinth, which will in turn reveal more of Williamson's underground kingdom to visitors. We will make opening dates and times known on this web site once they are finalised.

·Grave site in the news
The infamous situation of Williamson's grave - it lies unmarked beneath a car park in Liverpool City Centre - has been in the news of late. Plans are in
place for a major retail development across the land where the car park and grave lay. Lobbying by FoWT has seen these plans kindly amended by the developer in order to avoid placing a road across the grave site. We are now in discussion with the car park owner to see what might be done in respect of a monument to Williamson and his family's last resting place.