There are two horse tunnels built in 1856 to connect the stables with the goods yard, called the Eastern and Western Horse Tunnel. They have largely survived.
Spurs from the Eastern Horse Tunnel (Grade II) that connected with the basements of the main goods shed and with vaults used for storage have been demolished, part as recently as 2006/7 when Horse Tunnel Market was built. At the northern end a length of the tunnel has been developed as part of Horse Tunnel Market, the only part of the tunnel presently accessible to the public.
At the Oval Road end the exit via horse stairs (seen in the photo by Nik Newman, 2012) has been gated and incorporated into the Gilbey’s Yard social housing entrance in the development called Henson House.
The Western Horse Tunnel formerly ran under Gloucester Avenue to emerge as a ramp on the west side to the LNWR stables. This part has been blocked. On the east side of the road the tunnel has been incorporated into a restaurant (2006). This is the only part accessible to the public.
The horse stairs that connected the tunnel with Allsopp’s stables have been retained as part of the development at 42 Gloucester Avenue (lower left, 2007), as has the tunnel to the east including the horse stairs that now lead up into Gilbey’s Yard. The Western Horse Tunnel carries major electric cables (lower right, 2009).
For more information see History of stables complex.