MORE people could learn about a hidden marvel of Victorian engineering thanks to a refurbished loo at a Severnside history centre.

The Severn Tunnel is still a crucial part of the UK's transport infrastructure nearly 120 years after it was built – but few people know about its amazing story.

Caldicot Local History Society is hoping that the close proximity of the All-Wales Coastal Path to its history centre at Sudbrook will raise awareness of the story of the tunnel.

The Tunnel Centre – which was previously known as the Sudbrook Local History Centre – has been refurbished thanks to a grant from Adventa, Monmouthshire County Council's rural development programme.

It opened four years ago and has also received grants from the county council and Portskewett Community Council.

The refurbishment includes more information on the tunnel, including an interactive touch screen, modernised toilets and murals depicting scenes from the history of the tunnel – which saw the first train pass through in September 1886 – painted by volunteer Mr David Woolnough.

It is hoped more walkers using the long-distance path will call into the centre, based at the Sudbrook Non-Political Club in Camp Road.

Zara Bligh of Adventa said: "There is now a fire door that can be locked (between the centre and the rest of the club) so walkers can come in between 10.30am and dusk each day and use the toilets.

"There are also refreshments using an honesty box system."

Chairman of the local history society, Mr Peter Strong said: "So many people have no idea what is here.

"They are strolling along the coastal path and come here and are gobsmacked by it."

To celebrate the new facilities a tea party was held at the centre with catering by Abbey Mill of Tintern.

As well as volunteers, pupils from Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales Primary School also visited the centre where they met story-teller Francis Maxey in the guise of Joseph Talbot, the principal foreman on the tunnel's construction.

He said: "We appreciated that the men who worked in the tunnel were very brave and we gave them a big round of applause.

"Some houses in the village are quite large because they were built for two families and 12 lodgers."

Mr Strong said: "We are here because we recognise that our little corner of the world has a fantastic historic environment and we want to share that.

"What's been done here will allow us to share it much better."

He also paid a tongue-in-cheek compliment to the Welsh Assembly Government for 'providing' the coastal path which runs for 870-miles from Chepstow to the English border in Flintshire.

He added: "We're glad they responded to our initiative although the hundreds of thousands of visitors they promised are still on their way."