FOR years there have been rumours of a network of tunnels beneath the streets of Cirencester – and today the Standard can reveal that the secret passageways do exist.

Former Cirencester resident Brendan McFadden discovered the entrance to the tunnels in the Abbey Grounds while back in the town to search for big cats.

The Standard has seen the entrance and sent all of our editorial and advertising staff down into the tunnels to explore.

But, followings fears that the passageways could collapse if too many people were to visit, we have agreed to allow Cirencester Town Council to cover up the entrance and not report its location.

Many who believed in the existence of the tunnels thought that they were created by monks at the old abbey in order to escape persecution during the Reformation in the 16th Century.

However, after inspecting drawings on the walls within the tunnels, it appears that they were used by the monks simply to exchange taunts and secret messages.

One picture, which has been verified as drawn in 1562, depicts a monk named Gerald with the caption ‘Idiot can’t say mass’.

It also appears that in later years local councillors have used the tunnels to ridicule their political rivals.

One picture of a well-known local councillor, who we won’t name, was accompanied by the caption ‘He doesn’t even know how to draft a competent Local Plan’.

  • UPDATE AT NOON: We hope everyone enjoyed our April Fool - the mystery of the tunnels remains a much-talked about subject in the town and we hope there will be many more tales to tell on the story in future.