The River Irwell in Salford near Manchester was re shaped in the 1950's and 1960's in a civil engineering project called the Anaconda cut. A loop of the river Irwell was cut off as there were problems with flooding in the Lower Broughton area of Salford. The river was straightened out. eliminating a meandering loop prone to flooding. We look at old maps and old photographs of Salford to see how the area has been re shaped. Also this area was where Bernard Sumner of the band Joy Division and New Order grew up. So we will be taking a look at the area that gave birth to the music of Joy Division. Explored through old ordnance survey maps and vintage photographs of Salford this is a look at a major engineering Project that most people have forgotten in Salford.

youtube/J/5/R/L/youtube_J5RL3nDRtsU.mkv

youtube/J/5/R/L/youtube_J5RL3nDRtsU.webp

The Anaconda cut. How Salford re shaped the river Irwell

This video is about the Wince Brook. One of Manchester's lesser know waterways. It is a tributary of the River Irk. The Wince brook from its source in Chadderton Oldham Lancashire only appears from a culvert after running a considerable length. Its source is situated in a former mill lodge reservoir. It runs past an old industrial colliery site. The Stockfield colliery. One of a number of collierys or coal mines in Chadderton Oldham. It runs past foxdenton Park and becomes very cantankerous as a large discharge from a sewage farm joins it. The rest of the Wince brook passes old Cotton mills runs underneath a former railway yard. Then it finally ends in the town of Middleton. This video is very much about the  History of Manchester  and the story of the Industrial revolution. We have to use our imagination to envisage what the Wince brook looked like pre industrial revolution.
Music: Savfk, Strange the dreamer

youtube/I/9/3/j/youtube_I93jv4ohSvM.mkv

youtube/I/9/3/j/youtube_I93jv4ohSvM.webp

Calm to Cantankerous. Manchester's lesser know waterway.

This video is about Magpie Lead mine Derbyshire England. There has been lead mining in Derbyshire since Roman times. Leads mining at Magpie goes back to the Georgian era and 1740.  it's a 18th century mine. We take a look at the old abandoned mine buildings in this urbex trip and examine the history of the mine. We take a look down four old mine shafts. The deepest being 728 feet deep. We look at the engine house that housed a Newcomen atmospheric engine. The old chimney flues are still intact and we can look at those as well. Getting a glimpse inside the 1840 chimney. The Mine is cursed  due to the magpie miners lighting fires and smoking out the neighbouring miners in a rival mine, killing them. The wives of the murdered miners put a curse on the mine.

youtube/W/F/w/x/youtube_WFwxq3QzFpE.mkv

youtube/W/F/w/x/youtube_WFwxq3QzFpE.webp

The Cursed Mine. Magpie Lead Mine

In this video we visis Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire and take a look at the Strid. A fascinating short stretch of water where the River wharfe is forced into a small canyon. The Strid is very dangerous and has a high mortality rate should you fall in. The Strid /river Wharfe has cut its way through millstone grit over thousands of years. We also take a look at Bolton Abbey the ruins of an 12the century monks priory. Dissolved in 1540 by Henry VIII. In our walk we look at Barden bridge a 363 year old bridge and have a cup of tea at the tea rooms. Thanks everyone for 100,000 subscribers

youtube/z/f/Q/D/youtube_zfQDRGwXJiY.mkv

youtube/z/f/Q/D/youtube_zfQDRGwXJiY.webp

A pleasant walk by treacherous waters. The Strid

This video is about Cromford in Derbyshire and its role in the Industrial revolution. Richard Arkwright the famous industrialist set up the Cromford mill here in the 18th. Century. 1771.  Cromford mill was the first water powered mill in the world and the site is now a world heritage site. He utilised water power for water wheels. He also cut into the Cromford sough a mine drainage adit for his water powered mill. The bear pit is a prime example of how they re directed the water towards the cotton mill. There is also a history of Lead mining in the area and we take a look at some very old lead mines. Finally we take a look at Sheep pasture incline on teh Cromford canal and also Leabrook pump house. The pump house dates from 1850anf raised water from the River Derwent into the cromford canal. this whistle stop tour of Cromford is an industrial archeological journey.
Music Savk: Strange the dreamer

youtube/N/P/Z/t/youtube_NPZt611eQq4.mkv

youtube/N/P/Z/t/youtube_NPZt611eQq4.webp

The Industrial place you never knew about ?

In this weeks video we find five hidden historic gems that are still in place after the passing of time. A historical journey. Located in Manchester these five historical artefacts have managed to survive, We find a lost waterway the Clayton Dingle now culverted in a pipe. We see some wooden cobblestones put in place by an 19th century hospital so the horses and carts did not make too much noise and disturb the patients. We then see an old factory chimney from an old works by the river Medlock. Then we find an old canal towpath bridge still surviving long after the canal has been filled in. It was on the stockport branch canal in Manchester. Finally we visit the Cadishead railway viaduct. A remarkable piece of railway architecture. This video is a historical journey around Manchester looking at some amazing architecture from the victorian era and the industrial revolution.

youtube/l/1/w/q/youtube_l1wqoEAC7l0.mkv

youtube/l/1/w/q/youtube_l1wqoEAC7l0.webp

Five hidden historic gems  ?

This video is about Baitings reservoir West Yorkshire. The low waters of the dry summer and drought of 2022 famously revealed an old pack horse Bridge from the sunken depths. As well as the bridge being revealed an old former dam was revealed. We go back in a re visit to see the reservoir waters now rising and all the features disappearing under water again. We discover an old photograph of the former Baitings intake Dam from the 1920's and see the pack horse bridge looking eerie as it is engulfed by water. The hidden old remains are being covered.

youtube/8/Q/Z/A/youtube_8QZA2T8avu8.mkv

youtube/8/Q/Z/A/youtube_8QZA2T8avu8.webp

The Bridge is being submerged, back to the depths from whence it came.

A video about the Carr brook in Sheffield. Otherwise known as Nice n steady. The brook spends most of its time underground in a culvert. It outfalls into the river Don Sheffield in a fascinating place at the side of Brightside weir. We are drainers and urban explorers and we like to chart the route of these fascinating old watercourses. By using old maps of Sheffield we follow the route of this hidden watercourse, brook from its source to its meeting with the river Don. We look at the history of Sheffield England.

youtube/1/Y/c/u/youtube_1YcuZnaq7jA.mkv

youtube/1/Y/c/u/youtube_1YcuZnaq7jA.webp

When it rains, dont go in drains.

Scar house Dam and reservoir in the Yorkshire Dales was built between 1921 and 1936 to supply the City of Bradford with fresh water as it thrived during the Industrial revolution in the 19th century. The Reservoir is supplied with water by the River Nidd. This is a beautiful part of rural Britain called Nidderdale. During the summer of 2022 water levels at the reservoir have fallen. Revealing the remains of a farmhouse that is normally sunken beneath the levels of water. There  is also the sunken remains of a road thet goes to nowhere. But the star of the show id the Scar house Dam. Built from local Yorkshire stone it is very beautiful and an Edwardian engineering masterpiece. We also see old pics of the  Nidderdale light railway. Bradford water corporation built the Dam and reservoir and its a a great piece of architecture. This is a history of England and Britain.

youtube/f/7/I/H/youtube_f7IHYFWPNyM.mkv

youtube/f/7/I/H/youtube_f7IHYFWPNyM.webp

The Scar house Dam or the Revealed sunken remains, which is best ?

This video is about Derwent reservoir. The reservoir is in Derbyshire. In the Pennine hills. The Derwent valley was flooded to create the reservoir and in flooding the valley the village of Derwent and Ashopton were submerged underwater. This was done in the 1930's. We find the remains of Derwent hall a former home to the nobility and finally a youth hostel opened by Edward VIII. The Yorkshire water authority had to build the reservoirs for the ever increasing demands for fresh water from the cities of leicester Nottingham and Sheffield. The Derwent dam is featured and was used by the dam busters as practice in the second world war. This is a story of Derbyshire history and lost sunken villages. Also the engineering that created reservoirs and how in times of drought they reveal their secrets

youtube/_/D/W/h/youtube__DWhrdSiOmc.mkv

youtube/_/D/W/h/youtube__DWhrdSiOmc.webp

The ghostly remains of Derwent Village revealed from under water

The Big Humpty is a large culvert on Manchester's River Medlock. Its actually called the Bank Bridge Culvert. It is situated to the east of Manchester near Clayton Vale. This is a video that tells a story about a section of the river Medlock and goes into the History of Manchester. We look at the remnants of old factories and the possible mine drainage sough of the Old Bradford colliery a Mine in Manchester. A large flood along the section of the river washed away parts of a graveyard . This History documentary and urban explore goes through a large culvert telling the story of the river as we go. Underground Manchester at its finest.

youtube/a/E/Y/Z/youtube_aEYZHzSgUUk.mkv

youtube/a/E/Y/Z/youtube_aEYZHzSgUUk.webp

The Big Humpty. A River Medlock story

This is an update video to my video on Baitings reservoir. More features are revealed from the depths of the reservoir. As the drought in the UK continues. Water levels in our reservoirs are getting lower. Revealing features that have been underwater for years. Some of these reservoirs flooded valleys that had buildings and bridges that are still there and only become visible as water levels subside in the UK drought conditions.

youtube/7/v/j/p/youtube_7vjp11gGJlQ.mkv

youtube/7/v/j/p/youtube_7vjp11gGJlQ.webp

More features revealed from the depths of the reservoir

This week we visit the remains of two very old mills. Located in Cragg Vale and Hebden bridge in West Yorkshire. The first was a 18th century paper mill now in ruins as its remains straddle a small brook. The second is a waterwheel house sitting by the river Calder in Hebden Bridge. It is called Mayroyd Mill wheelhouse. These mills are from the start of the industrial revolution when the greedy mill owners were ruthless and children were worked to their deaths. Long hours in the old cotton and mills.A British History story

youtube/z/c/u/B/youtube_zcuBQ7kEkpg.mkv

youtube/z/c/u/B/youtube_zcuBQ7kEkpg.webp

Lost Waterwheels in the Valley.

In this video we visit Sheffield Yorkshire to walk along a river culvert. The River is Sheffields Little Don river or the River Porter. It has an unusual name given to it by the Urbex community which is 36DD. Named after the page 3 model Sam Fox breast size. However the original Samuel Fox was an Industrialist in the Sheffield area and played a role in the story of Sheffield Steel. The River runs through the Stocksbridge area. Its a very industrial culvert and displays remnants of Sheffields industrial past. We finish at the Stocksbridge Steel works. We have lots of minor side tunnels and streams that run into the River Culvert some of which we explore.

youtube/o/f/t/i/youtube_oftiix5Nuy8.mkv

youtube/o/f/t/i/youtube_oftiix5Nuy8.webp

An Industrial ankle breaking Culvert. Sheffield 36DD

Baitings Dam and reservoir are in West Yorkshire. The valley was flooded to make a Dam in 1956. The Hamlet of Baitings was submerged under the water level. Now with the recent drought conditions in the UK the low water levels have revealed an old Pack horse bridge normally submerged below the water level. This old pack horse bridge in Yorkshire is wonderful to look at spending most of its time underwater. We walk around the reservoir looking for other clues from the past that are normally hidden in the depths. Old stone walls pottery and a little stream.

youtube/P/-/x/E/youtube_P-xE1WGJQAI.mkv

youtube/P/-/x/E/youtube_P-xE1WGJQAI.webp

An old sunken pack horse bridge revealed

In this video we visit two old mills in the town of Middleton North Manchester. The first mill is an old water powered corn mill on the Hopwood hall estate. The Mill dates from the 18th 19th century and closed in 1870. But there has been a corn mill listed in this ancient woodland since 1570. We can see evidence of a waterwheel and a culvert bringing the water source. The second mill is Lodge Mill a 19th century cotton mill. There was afire here  in early 2022 and it gutted the back part of this victorian cotton mill. We decide to urbex the ruins and explore the mill. If you love Industrial history and Victorian industrial architecture this is the historical documentary video for you.

youtube/0/A/_/M/youtube_0A_MDJ4xefA.mkv

youtube/0/A/_/M/youtube_0A_MDJ4xefA.webp

Cotton & Corn. Two very different mills

Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester is a huge Iron and steel Railway viaduct. A marvellous example of Victorian railway architecture. It has been abandoned since 1969 and sat unused. However the National Trust has come in and made it a walkway in the sky. A new green space for Manchester like New York's High line. The garden in the sky opens at the start of August this year. Book online to look at this amazing community space. A former industrial railway viaduct made into a recreational space. A first for Manchester and Salford. We take a tour of Castlefield viaduct look at the gardens and talk to the National trust regarding their plans and the future.

youtube/r/-/J/r/youtube_r-JrT7PZ48U.mkv

youtube/r/-/J/r/youtube_r-JrT7PZ48U.webp

Manchester's New Green Space. Castlefield Viaduct

The River Medlock Manchester. Episode VIa In this episode we follow Manchester's River Medlock through the Mayfield area of the city. The river is running through a new city park called Mayfield park. This once industrial area offered up some interesting finds during development. The remains of Victorian Mayfield Baths was found here. A Victorian baths and wash house and was of great archeological interest and gave insight into life in the Ardwick area of Manchester. There were also Calico dye and printing works in the area and through the use of old maps we can see what was on this site. This video is an insight into the social history of Manchester and an Urban explore along a river. Mayfield station was a relief station to Manchester London road now called manchester Piccadilly station. It is now a venue called Mayfield depot. We wade through the river in waders. The development of a former industrial area into a new city park. A green space within the city of Manchester where nature is re naturalising and re establishing itself.

youtube/I/Z/9/j/youtube_IZ9jlzmyl6o.mkv

youtube/I/Z/9/j/youtube_IZ9jlzmyl6o.webp

The River Medlock Manchester. Episode VIa

In this video we go to the East Lancashire heritage railway in Bury North Manchester. Its a weekend Diesel preserved locomotive gala. Amongst the many heritage Diesel locomotives on show is the Class 28 Metrovick Co Bo Locomotive. A rare survivor that escaped the cutters torch. Built in 1957 for the British rail modernisation plan it had a Crossley 1200 horsepower engine. Unfortunately these mixed traffic diesel locomotives were not successful and were all scrapped by 1971. Remarkably this one survived. Join us as we take a tour through the engine room of the locomotive.

youtube/I/I/Y/n/youtube_IIYnD7uQGho.mkv

youtube/I/I/Y/n/youtube_IIYnD7uQGho.webp

The Last of its kind. Class 28 Metrovick Co Bo Diesel Locomotive.

The Liverpool to Manchester railway at its furthest western point beyond the passenger terminus at Crown street station had a goods link to the Wapping dock at Liverpool. This was the Wapping Tunnel. Billed as the first tunnel under a metropolis it was just over a mile long. The Wapping tunnel has some unique features such as air vent shafts and warning gongs that I have never seen before. We will be sorting some loose ends and looking at Crown street park and the Crown street tunnel Liverpool. Finally we arrive at Park lane goods station athe the Wapping docks at liverpool and looking at the end of the tunnel Constructed in 1826 by George Stephenson the tunnel remains in situ. Bisected by a Merseyrail line.

youtube/Z/R/G/D/youtube_ZRGDoMIgicg.mkv

youtube/Z/R/G/D/youtube_ZRGDoMIgicg.webp

The Wapping Railway Tunnel Liverpool

The Liverpool to Manchester Railway. Edge hill cutting was built by George Stephenson. The cutting is on the approach to The Crown Street station the Liverpool terminus of the Liverpool to Manchester railway. The cutting held the static steam engines that hauled railway trucks up the Wapping Tunnel. It was also adorned by the Moorish arch. George Stephenson's wonderful piece of Moorish architecture. We also take a brief look at the Crown street tunnel. This is the birthplace of the modern railways.

youtube/2/B/Z/A/youtube_2BZAt5SmLBs.mkv

youtube/2/B/Z/A/youtube_2BZAt5SmLBs.webp

The Liverpool to Manchester Railway. Edge hill engine station

In this video we cruise along the Manchester Ship canal. We cruise from Liverpool to Latchford Locks in Warrington. On first leaving Liverpool we ferry across the Mersey on out Mersey ferry boat Snowdrop to Birkenhead. Then onwards to the first locks on the Manchester ship canal the Eastham Locks. Highlights along the way are  Stanlow Oil refinery. Spike Island Widness site of the famous 1990 Stone Roses gig and the Runcorn and Widness Jubilee road bridge and the Ethelfleda Viaduct that carries the railway. We also pass underneath the Latchford Viaduct before reaching Latchford Locks journeys end.

youtube/D/0/S/1/youtube_D0S1u1My-v8.mkv

youtube/D/0/S/1/youtube_D0S1u1My-v8.webp

Manchester Ship Canal. Liverpool to Warrington

In this video we fire up steam up a Wilesco model static steam engine. This is a model steam engine and we are preparing it to run. We look at the model solid fuel burner and have the model running. Its a D20 Wilseco Model steam engine

youtube/0/A/r/q/youtube_0ArqZNxD3qc.mkv

youtube/0/A/r/q/youtube_0ArqZNxD3qc.webp

Firing up  Wilesco model Static steam engine

In this weeks video we are unboxing and preparing a Mamod steam traction engine. I decided to but a Mamod steam traction engine as Iam fascinated by Victorian machinery and engineering. I chose the Mamod model over the other German manufacturer Wilesco as I wanted to buy British Engineering. So join us on this Wednesday evening video as we use the solid fuel burner to steam up the boiler on this Traction engine.  This is a wonderful live steam model review and unboxing.

Martin Zero