Background knowledge In the early 1880s, digging actually began near Folkestone, Kent, England, and Sangate, France A pilot tunnel 2000 yards long was bored from the English side before a rage from the press over the alleged threat to Britains securit caused the British government to cancel the projectBackground knowledge ▪ In the early 1880s, digging actually began near Folkestone, Kent, England, and Sangate, France. A pilot tunnel 2000 yards long was bored from the English side before a rage from the press over the alleged threat to Britain’ s security caused the British government to cancel the project