Laye Tunnel N49 41.929 W001 56.362 Map 1110E
WN357
In the small hameau of Laye close to the two German batteries established here
on the coast is a mysterious tunnel system.
It resembles a suburban underpass that you find in towns throughout the world.
The difference is that this tunnel passes through solid rock and leads you to
stunning views over the bay of Baie D'Eclagrain and on a clear day you can see
Sark and Alderney part of the British Channel Islands.
The reasons which compelled the Germans to build this tunnel have never been
very clear.
Possibly there was an anti aircraft batterie established on the cliffs to
protect the two gun batteries.
There is evidence for that theory as on the cliff top you can still find semi
circular enclosures quarried out of the rocks and in one of there is a concrete
plate buried into the ground which could have been the mounting for such a gun.
The tunnel has two storage areas and these could have been used for the
ammunition and possibly the larger of the two areas could have been used a crew
quarters.
The steps leading up to the cliff face are wider that you would think necessary,
but these could have been designed so that two men could carry a case of
ammunition between then to the guns.
I have been told that during the battle for the area, both the Germans and
French villagers lived in these tunnels, for over a month.
Does this mean that the tunnel was either not yet operational, or had been
superseded by some other installation?.
