A couple exploring the cellar of a 400-year-old pub in west London have discovered what they believe to be a secret tunnel leading to an island in the River Thames. The Bull's Head, located in Strand-on-the-Green, has long been rumoured to have a hidden passage to Oliver's Island, allegedly dug by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War.
Pub manager Barbara Smith, 56, said staff had investigated the basement but found blocked-off side rooms and inaccessible corners. 'Anything could be hidden there really,' she told reporters. The discovery was made after an elderly customer claimed to have played in a tunnel under the pub as a child.
The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, were renovating the cellar when they stumbled upon a concealed entrance. They have not yet explored the full extent of the tunnel, but believe it may lead to the island, which is now only accessible once a year during the Tide festival.
Ms Smith added that a large stone marker on the island, originally used for tidal measurements, may conceal the tunnel's entrance. 'You have to ask why it was moved,' she said. The legend has captivated locals for centuries, with some suggesting tunnels ran from both the Bull's Head and the nearby City Barge pub.
The Strand-on-the-Green area, often called 'the last village in London,' remains a picturesque spot for visitors to enjoy the river views and ponder the mysteries beneath their feet.
