This Reading property looks ordinary until you see the secret world hidden 15 metres below it
A Reading site heading to auction includes hidden tunnels, secret doors, an underground railway and more than 1,300 sq ft below ground.
From the surface, it is the kind of property you could drive past without a second look. Under the floorboards, though, this Reading site opens into a hand-built underground network with tunnels, hidden rooms, secret doors and even its own railway. The whole thing is set to go under the hammer with a guide price of £300,000 to £325,000.
The surprise is buried beneath a workshop in Tilehurst, where more than 1,300 square feet of underground space drops through four levels to a depth of over 15 metres. What sits below includes tunnels, storage areas and two concealed entrances, one of them created with a sliding concrete wall weighing 1.5 tonnes.
The site is on Long Lane in Reading and is reached by a gated driveway. Above ground, the wider property includes a 2,500 square foot workshop spread across three floors, parking, gardens, a large swimming pool and changing rooms. What makes it stand out, however, is the scale of the subterranean build hidden underneath an otherwise residential setting.
Built by one family over decades
The underground system was designed and constructed by the previous owner, Tony Deane, a civil engineer who had a strong interest in tunnelling. The work took place during the 1980s and 1990s, and he did it himself with help from his six children.
According to auctioneer and consultant Richard Worrall of BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, the job was carried out by hand. Much of the network was dug through chalk, which he said is naturally self-supporting, while sections that needed it were reinforced with structural concrete that was cast by hand.
Everything removed from the ground was excavated manually. Worrall said the chalk was shifted using buckets and wheelbarrows. Deane also built an underground railway running through the tunnels to move that excavated material, along with a four-layer goods lift weighing one tonne to bring it back up to ground level.
The family’s underground ambitions did not begin there. Their projects went back to the 1960s, when underground changing rooms were built beside the swimming pool. The entrance to that area was hidden behind a 23 foot rocket, which remains on the property.
A secret that stayed close to home
For something so extensive, the network appears to have remained largely unknown outside the family. The understanding is that even neighbours in the surrounding residential area were mostly unaware of what had been created below ground.
That sense of disbelief has carried through to the sale. Worrall said he had never seen anything comparable in his years as an auctioneer and described the build as astonishing, adding that he believed it could be unique. He also pointed to the scale of what had been achieved as a family hobby and project.
It is the contrast that gives the site much of its fascination. On one level, it is a property with workshop space, parking, gardens and a pool. On another, it is a private underground complex assembled over two decades by a civil engineer and his children, almost entirely out of public view.
Why the auction could draw more than one kind of buyer
The property is due to be offered in BTG Eddisons Property Auctions’ livestream sale on October 28 and 29. The guide price is £300,000 to £325,000, but the real intrigue may lie in what a future owner chooses to do with the unusual space beneath it.
Worrall said the underground element changes the equation completely and suggested it could suit a range of uses. Among the possibilities he raised were secure storage, a fallout shelter, an EMP-resistant data centre or something aimed at buyers interested in prepper-style facilities.
There is also development potential above ground. West Berkshire Council granted planning consent in December 2024 for a five-bedroom, two-storey house of 5,000 square feet to be built on the site of the swimming pool. The workshop also has consent to be converted into a three-bedroom house.
Even so, the detail most likely to stick in people’s minds is not the paperwork or the square footage. It is the fact that beneath a quiet Reading address sits a hand-dug world of chalk tunnels, hidden access points, a railway and a giant sliding concrete door.
Why people build hidden underground spaces
A hidden room beneath a house is usually one of a few things: a cellar, a shelter, a storage area, or a repurposed older structure such as a tunnel, well chamber, or former utility space. People are drawn to underground rooms because the ground naturally shields them from light, noise, wind, and sudden temperature swings. That can make these spaces useful for storing supplies, keeping collections stable, or creating a private retreat.
Underground spaces also carry a certain fascination because they feel cut off from the ordinary world. But they are not automatically safer or more practical than above ground rooms. Their usefulness depends on good design, dry conditions, safe access, and regular maintenance.
How these spaces work
The basics are simple. A usable underground room needs structure, waterproofing, drainage, fresh air, lighting, and a reliable way in and out. Ventilation matters because air can become stale, damp, or unsafe in enclosed spaces. Waterproofing and drainage matter because even solid looking walls can let in moisture over time. Pumps, drains, and sump areas are common where groundwater or heavy rain is a concern.
Temperature underground is often steadier than at the surface, which is helpful for storage, but damp is the biggest enemy. Damp leads to mould, rot, corrosion, and a musty smell. Electrical systems also need extra care below ground, especially where condensation is possible. If a space has sleeping, cooking, or heating equipment, fire safety and emergency escape become even more important.
What to check before buying, using, or exploring one
If a property has a hidden or unusual underground area, ask practical questions first. Has it been professionally inspected. Is there safe access with secure steps or ladders. Does it stay dry in wet weather. Is there working ventilation and lighting. Has any waterproofing or pumping system been maintained.
Never assume an old underground space is safe to enter alone. Low oxygen, loose surfaces, hidden water, exposed wiring, and sudden drops are real risks. For buyers, it is also worth checking whether the space is officially recorded as storage, living space, or something else, because rules and insurance treatment can vary by area. A striking underground room can be a real asset, but only if it is dry, stable, and safe to use.
