In this video we cycled to the Woodhead railway tunnels along the Longendale trail. A former disused railway line. The Woodhead tunnels were known as hell holes to the railwaymen that worked steam locomotives through them. The Woodhead tunnels were part of a railway line that was one of the initial cross pennine routes. Trans pennine route. The tunnels were blasted out of rock and the Navvies that dug them had a difficult time. Plagued by Cholera and industrial injuries. Later in 1953 a third trans pennine tunnel was dug and this was Woodhead 3. The line was electrified and employed the class 76 locomotives. I tell a story of seeing the British rail class 76 locomotives at Reddish depot in Manchester. As a trainspotter this line holds a special place for me. The Longendale chain of reservoirs can also be seen. A feat of Victorian civil engineering.  The longendale trail is now a cycle route. We see photos of old steam locomotives in this railway history vlog.

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The Woodhead 'Hell Hole' Tunnels. A brief history

In this video we visit the site of Hartford Mill an old Lancashire cotton mill in Chadderton Oldham. The mill has undergone demolition and now all that remains is the industrial mill chimney. The mill chimney is going to be blown up demolition by dynamite explosives. After many delays in the chimney demolition the date was finally set for demolition October 2023. Hartford mill is an Edwardian cotton spinning mill constructed in 1907 by A H Dixon who was the architect. We look at our archive footage of the cotton mill before demolition and during. Finally we have some drone footage of the industrial mill chimney and we see the demolition by explosives in a controlled explosion. We look at some archive footage of Fred Dibnah the famous Bolton Steeplejack and his work on mill chimneys and how he laddered a chimney.

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An explosive demolition of a mill chimney

In this video we are in Manchester looking at the Moss brook. We follow the moss brook into an underground culvert in this urbex video. The culvert leads to a massive chamber with a flood control penstock. The penstock is a kind of flood gate that can control the flow of the moss brook in times of flooding. The moss brook can be diverted into a diversion tunnel that leads down to the river Irk. The area is Collyhurst in Manchester. Downstream of the moss brook was a lot of Victorian industry bleach works and engineering works. This Victorian industry needed protection from floods so in the Edwardian era around 1907 this flood control was built. We see the Moss brook in full flood and we understand why the whole victorian flood defence was built. We also go to look at the penstock control mechanism via a manhole shaft. We also look at a seewer overflow pipe, part of Manchester's sewer system. This is an underground urbex video exploring Victorian underground sewer and flood culverts.

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What was this massive chamber for ?

In this video we explore the Monsal Trail. Its an old disused railway line and we explore it on the Cyrusher Kommoda E-Bike. The Monsal trail used to be the Midland railway one of the main railway routes across the Pennines in the North of England. It is now a cycle trail. This route goes through the Peak district. It takes in some stunning railway architecture. Railway tunnels and railway viaducts all along the river Wye. We also see the remnants of the Buxton Limestone industry. This is one of Britains finest cycleways 
UK LInk https://www.cyrusher.co.uk/products/kommoda-ebike?ref=MartinZero
USA Link https://www.cyrusher.com/products/kommoda-ebike?ref=MartinZero

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Railway tunnels and Viaducts explored on the Cyrusher Kommoda E-Bike

This video is about Cheddleton Flint mill in Staffordshire. Our question was What on earth is a flint mill. Well flint is ground in the process of making Porcelain. Cheddleton flint mill is near the Stoke on Trent and all the potteries that were there in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a water powered mill with two stunning waterwheels and it takes its power from the river Churnet. Inside the mill is all the engineering and mechanics that are associated with this type of 19th century water powered mill. The mill also had kilns for firing the flint and the flint was gathered and brought to the mill via the Caldon Canal. The mill is run bu volunteers and is a fascinating insight into the Stoke on Trent pottery industry and Industriual England in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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What on earth is a Flint mill ?

It's been carrying folk across the Manchester ship canal free for over 100 years. The Hulmes Ferry is a lesser know ferry service in Manchester that ferries people across the Manchester Ship canal between Flixton and Urmston. The ferry service was put in place to honour a public right of way across the then River Irwell. When the Manchester Ship canal was built a small bridge called Hulmes bridge was demolished, as part of the conditions of the new Manchester ship canal a ferry service was provided to ferry folk across the Manchester ship canal on demand and for free. We also take a look at Barton Locks on the Manchester ship canal. Whilst looking at the old course of the river Irwell

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The tiny Manchester Ferry you've probably never seen or heard of ...?

In this video we visit the Rochdale road Gasworks and the site of the old Coronation street set. The Rochdale road Gasworks is being demolished making way for 'Progress' in Manchester. So we have an update on the site. We have been out filming Cornbrook 3 so we have an update on that for you. Plus we visited the National Mining museum. So basically this video is an update on the industrial and historical explorations we have done recently. We also take a look at the new Factory International

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When is Cornbrook 3 out. Gasworks and Coronation street has changed a bit

In this video we explore urbex a short section of the Worsley brook in Salford, Manchester. This section of the brook is underground and host lots of subterranean historical features. We pass by the Worsley Delph, the area that the Duke of Bridgewater had his mines and James Brindley was involved in the extraction of coal from the Worsley mines. The Bridgewater canal features in our story because not only do we pass underneath it. Parts of the dry docks for the Bridgewater canal drain into it. We see drainage channels underground constructed in the 18th century. The Worsley brook also played a role in an old Corn mill flour mill that had medieval routes in the village. It is probable that the brook turned a waterwheel for the old corn mill. We see lots of subterranean Georgian engineering and architecture in parts of the brook. The brook has a beautiful drop shaft that looks to be a wonderful piece of canal engineering. We go to the Old Warke Dam and take a look at the infall. James Brindley, Francis Egerton and John Gilbeert would have played a role in the alteration and culverting of this lost waterway of Manchester and Salford.

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The impassable Chamber. The Worsley Brook

This is me and James doing a podcast style video on our recent trip to Cornwall. We take a look at Abandoned places in Cornwall. So I guess this is our guide to Industrial Cornwall. As well as all the obvious things like visiting the fishing villages in Cornwall like Newquay and Padstow we also visited the Eden project and The lost gardens of Heligan a very beautiful place. However we also wanted to look at the remains of Cornish Industry. This involved finding some old Cornish Tin and Copper mines or at least the mine engine house. We went up onto Bodmin moor and after looking at the River Fowey and the Golitha falls in some wonderful Corwall ancient woodlands we took a look at Wheal Jenkin Tin and Copper mine and then New Phoenix Tin mine. These Copper and Tin mines date back to around 1836 and were served by the now abandoned Cheeswring railway. Wonderful examples of Georgian architecture and old Engine houses. We also look at The Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash just outside Plymouth built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

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Martin & James Cornwall Podcast

In this weeks video we go to Hull and take a look at the the old abandoned St Andrews Fish dock. Why did it end like this. The Fish dock had been successful until the 1970's and it has now been abandoned and closed down. A major player in Britains fishing industry. Built in the Victorian era many of the buildings are also brick and steel 1930's architecture. This is Hull St Andrews Fish dock an urban explore urbex adventure brief history video about the abandoned buildings on the docks. Featuring @hullhistorynerd

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Hull fish Docks. Why did it end like this ?

We ran the Manchester 10km run in May 2023 to raise money for charity. many of you sponsored us so we wanted to do this running video. To show us running a 10km and to update you on how much we finally raised for our charity. The AJ Bell manchester 10k Kilometre run wennt from Manchester City centre out to Salford Quays and back. It was a hot day and james struggled

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James, Martin & team run the Manchester 10km run 2023

In this video we continue our search for interesting historical gems around Manchester and Salford. Firstly we visit Poynton in Stockport to look at a 17th century Ice house. This historical grade II listed building belonged to Poynton Hall. Secondly and for the disused railway enthusiasts we look at some old railway lines and points around the Radcliffe area of Manchester. An old railway sign can also be seen and the old tracks are now being consumed by the trees. Thirdly we look at the Nasmyth steam hammer invented by James Nasmyth in Patricroft Eccles in Salford. The steam hammer was  Victorian engineering masterpiece. Fourth we look at James Brindleys Stone aqueduct that carried the Bridgewater canal over the River Irwell at Barton. The Barton aqueduct was demolished when the Manchester ship canal was built and replaced by a swing bridge. Finally we visit Liverpool road station on the Liverpool to Manchester railway. We look around the arrivals area that dealt with railway goods. We see the original cattle ramp that is now grade II listed. This video is definitely one for the railway and engineering enthusiasts as it looks at Railway architecture and Victorian engineering as well as James Brindley canal engineering.

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Five historical Gems around Manchester & Salford

On the banks of the River Irwell in Manchester Salford we found a mysterious tunnel. Cut into the sandstone it didnt show on any of the old maps. We suspected it had a connection to the industrial past. So we decided to investigate. We strongly suspect this mystery tunnel is an overflow tunnel for the Manchester Bolton and Bury canal that was higher up the bank above alongside the river Irwell.  Indeed there was a rather busy canal lock directly above called Giants seat locks. When we got to the end of the tunnel there was a shaft and indeed we surmised it was infrastructure for the canal. The Manchester Bolton Bury canal was built around 1791 in the canal building years. A prominent investor was Matthew Fletcher who also owned and ran the Wet Earth colliery. This is a wonderful piece of Georgian canal architecture. 
Music: Track Ascension by Jason Southern

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We found a mystery tunnel on the banks of the river ?

We are still training for the Manchester 10km run. But we also wanted to say thank you for sponsoring us. We have now raised over £3000 for the Garden funds. So we went and met the rest of the running team because they wanted to say thank you as well.

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We are still training for the run & we wanted to say thanks

The Jumbles quarry steam crane has sat hidden away in a valley in the Forest of Bowland for 100 years. The abandoned steam crane is a wonderful piece of Edwardian engineering. It is a Smiths of Rodley steam crane. It was used at jumbles quarry in the trough of Bowland to quarry stone for the Stocks reservoir project. The Stocks reservoir was a reservoir for fresh drinking water built by the Fylde water company in 1921. There is also an abandoned disused tramway across the moorland that crosses the River Hodder. The tramway is in a state of disrepair its a 3 ft gauge that took the stone across the moor to the reservoir civil engineering project. A wonder setting in the heart of Lancashire.

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Hidden away in a valley, This steam crane has sat here for 100 years !

James and I are running the Manchester 10km run in May 2023 to raise money for an NHS charity. We are running to fund an Intensive care garden for the Royal Oldham Hospital. Great Manchester Run

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Me and James are running for Charity

New information on St Lukes church in Cheetham hill the 184 year old church. Its an abandoned church demolished in or after 1975. There was dry rot in the church. We explored the church on an urbex mission

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New information on The Cheetham Hill Church.

In this video we visit St Lukes church on Cheetham hill road in Manchester. The church was built in 1839 making it 184 years old. It stands whats left of it abandoned in a terrible state of repair. The main part intact is the undercroft or what may have been a crypt but its more likely an undercroft. This used to be one of Manchesters richest churches. The composer Mendelssohn played here on its organ. He played here in 1847. It was reported in the Manchester Guardian. The old graveyard is a sight to see and we look at some of the old graves. We also find a connection between two names in this historic video about English manchester history.

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A church 184 years old and its crypt that isn't a crypt. Where Mendelssohn played.

A door hidden by brambles leads to 200 year old tunnel's in Manchester. Apart from its not a real door, they are not tunnels and they aren't quite 200 years old. Rochdale road Gasworks was built in 1824 it was also known as the Gould street gas works.  This victorian  gas works provided town gas for the city of Manchester. Much of it now demolished there are some hidden remains left behind. These hidden chambers are a fascinating insight into an area of Manchester that has lain abandoned and undisturbed for years. The old gas works in Manchester took coal from the nearby Oldham road goods depot and treated or baked the coal in the absence of oxygen and made Coke a smokeless fuel. But the main product was town gas. This video is an urbex explore looking at the history of Manchester in the UK. Or the history of England.

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Door hidden by brambles leads to 200 year old (tunnels ?) Gas works remains

We visit an abandoned Cinema in Stockport/ Manchester UK. In its later days it was a snooker hall. The Wellington Cinema Stockport was built in 1921. It was a local picturehouse showing films. It was taken over by the Essoldo cinema chain. It had billiard tables and a cafe in the basement. However later the basement was opened as a live venue club called The Manor Lounge Stockport. many famous bands played here including Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd as well as the Kinks, Tom Jones to name only a few. This is an urbex explore of an abandoned cinema in Stockport. After researching this grade 2 listed building I realised its importance in the local music scene.

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The old cinema where Jimi Hendrix & Pink Floyd played

The Gaunless Viaduct. County Durham is a disused railway Viaduct. Also called the Lands viaduct it was situated on the Barnard Castle to Bishop Auckland now disused abandoned railway line. The area of County Durham in the North Pennines in the North East of Britain was a very industrial area. Coal mining and Coke ovens were in the area. Plus the area was full of old Industrial tramways that served the local quarrys. This is a video about Britains railway history. The Lands Viaduct was designed and built by Thomas Bouch in 1862. The last train ran in June of 1962. Thomas bouch also designed the original ill fated Tay bridge that collapsed. Disused railway line explore in Britain.

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The Viaduct to nowhere. The Gaunless Viaduct

This is a brief Wednesday evening video on the Tudor Hall in Middleton Manchester that is Tongue Hall. The house was built over 400 years ago and dates back to Tudor times. There had been an arson attack on the old house and we visited and went round with a camera. Four years after that video here is an update on the old house.

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An update on the Tudor house. Tonge Hall

In this video we visit Heptonstall in Yorkshire. We take a look at a very old church St Thomas Beckett now lies in ruins replaced by a second later church. The old ruined church is wonderful. The village of Heptonstall is very beautiful full of old Yorkshire stone cottages. In the old graveyard is a grave of David Hartley the main culprit associated with the Cragg vale coiners. We tell the story of the Cragg vale coiners also a famous American writer and poet Sylvia Plath. We take a look around this quaint old English village. Famous people in graveyards.

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The curious graveyard with two churches and the Villain buried there ?

This is a storm drain in Sheffield. It's a concrete culvert. Very stoopy at the start. Not much going on. Its known as Decepticon in Urbex language.  It has a sewer going through it and also a concrete tall chamber. It was a back breaking urbex explore and I got very wet feet in one of Sheffield/Rotherhams storm drains, that ends up nowhere

Martin Zero