Subterranea - Corby’s Underground Heritage Pt.1

Corby's iconic Greylag Geese, awaiting a gap in the traffic on the 'very' busy Oakley Road

Of all Corby unique and iconic images, and there are a great many, right up there in the official Top Five Corby Icons you’ll almost certainly find the truly iconic tubular subways on Oakley Road (Oakley Road North shown below). They're iconic I tell you!...

Oakley Road itself is an icon of the town. The busy (above) automotive spine that cuts through the very heart of Corby, and in so doing cuts off much of its housing from the commercial centre. Hence the proliferation of pedestrian Subways or Underpasses in the town, cleverly designed for the express purpose of, err... walking through to the other side. It’s notable that unlike many New Towns of a similar age, Corby seems to have shunned the fashion for ugly overpasses (aka footbridges), in fact Corby has none that I can think of (cue the inevitable corrections). Possibly a local vertigo issue, most of Corby is quite low-lying if you think about it. Or perhaps subways were cheaper. Who knows!

Any examination of Corby's subways will inevitably include graffiti too. Graffiti is of course an art form that divides opinion, and whilst I don't aim to glorify or promote it here, the fact is it's there, everywhere in fact, and probably always will be. Corby Council have been quite proactive of late, painting over or removing much of the graffiti from the town, and the local graffiti artists have been equally proactive in replacing it with new stuff. Clearly it ain't going away. For my part, I aim to appreciate the better, more interesting examples, and ignore the meaningless daubs and 'tags' that sadly make up most of what we see.

Burghley Drive Underpass - A potential 'Subways In Bloom 2022' contender.

It's unfortunate that subways have such a reputation for anti-social behaviour, and whilst I doubt that Corby's examples are any better or worse than others in the country, it would be wise to choose your visiting times, and maybe go with a friend. You just never know...

Beanfield Ave/Kingsthorpe Ave

I like to think that this well-lit example of classic underpassery was designed specifically for Beanfield Avenue residents to access the excellent Domino pub on the other side of the Oakley Road. Access from the Domino to the Viking Fish Bar and Phoenix pub might be considered a fringe benefit too, and of course the recent creation of the Beanfield Avenue Modernist Trail will have undoubtedly increased footfall to this, its northern terminus.

The slightly gruesome graffiti shown here (answers on a postcard please!) was painted over not long after I took these photos, so expect fresh new works when you visit. The recommended refreshment stop for this underpass is of course The Domino, the photo below shows just how close the northern exit is to the pub. The Phoenix is also within easy reach of the southern portal.

The Domino, as viewed from the underpass.

Burghley Drive/Cupar Crescent

One of several utilitarian subways that connect the town centre with its residents, albeit that the Burghley Drive portal is actually rather green and attractive (see above). This one is also handy for the Shell garage and adjacent KFC drive-through, though you won't be driving, obviously. Recently spruced up with a lick of paint, the graffiti is therefore hot off the, err... Can, and therefore liable to change.

In common with most of Corby's important underpass heritage, this one has its very own bus stop. Handy for a tour of the sites, though sadly open top buses have yet to be introduced to the Corby tourist offering. Burghley Drive itself is entirely publess, I know, I've looked. Better to head straight into town for victuals at the Saxon Crown or Corby's best loved local, the Candle.

BREAKING NEWS: This subway is scheduled to be filled in as part of the proposed nine million pound cycle route from the Rail Station to Corby Town Centre. Don't leave it too late to visit this one, though anytime within the next 10 years seems a sensible estimate...

Jubilee Avenue?

The one that got away. This one was a notorious flooding risk that gave safe access to the town centre from the Gainsborough Road area. Filled in and replaced with a pedestrian crossing, presumably as part of the regeneration of the town centre with the Cube and (ironically) the Swimming Pool across the road. And they call that progress!

Oakley Road North

Corby folk certainly love their subways

Corby's impressive 'Angel Of The North-esque' modernist attraction, and yet another of the towns must-visit architectural gems. This matching pair of concrete tubes represent a pinnacle in underpass design and technology, possibly unrivalled anywhere, certainly in the Midlands. Constructed of interconnecting circular sections of pre-formed concrete, each one numbered for some reason, a walk through one of these beauties can resemble a scene from Kubrik's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The northern tube is conveniently located just across the car park from the Rail Station, and gives quick and easy access to Corby's main shopping centre if that's your thing. Closest pub, probably in the village, the White Hart being the unofficial station buffet.

These numbers clearly mean something, though I have no idea what.

Oakley Road South

The southern subway is of course quite similar to the northern one... Hmm!

Similar yes, but significantly different in that it features this attractive Cubist (?) Viewing Bench (disused) at the eastern entrance, and some different graffiti. Use of the southern subway opens up a world of options to the walking tourist, as indicated by an attractive fingerpost (below).