Worsley Brook, Manchester
(WARNING PIC HEAVY - NO APOLOGIES)
Worsley lies to the south of the Lancashire coalfield, placed mainly on the middle and lower coal measures of the carboniferous series
These are overlaid by Permian and Triassic sandstones
The entire area is essentially the enterprise of the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater and his succeeding trust
Geology wise the area has been of historic importance since the 1760's, famous for it's watercourses & associated engineering
There is plenty to got out around these parts if you care to invest some time
I'm surprised this place hasn't had more attention, as it's an absolute gem
A few people have been here before and given up as soon as it gets deep and st00py
(including my good self a few years ago)
Just knowing more was on offer here, I'm kind of kicking myself that I never made the effort to get back until now!
This culverted stretch of the Worsley Brook is barely 400m from Outfall to Infall, and is packed with some amazing features along the way
Manchester & surrounding areas IMHO have more to offer drain wise than most other Towns/Cities, excluding LON and it's epic sewage system
It just seems the Norf keeps delivering
____________________________________________
3m Tunnels comprising of Moar
>Brick/Stone >Arch >Horshoe >Ironwork >Egg >RCP and a couple of
Penstocks,
Cascades and some
Jungle thrown in.
YES PLEASE!
Apart from the camera my entire kit is f00ked, including the feet I walk on, even my car barely made it there and back,
BUT despite all that I settled on a quick pint with a mate in the 26° heatwave before deploying a set of knackered wellies, some throw-away Aldi waterproofs and my trusty underpants
It was finally good to see what lay beyond the stoopy tunnel under the Bridgwater Canal and to follow upstream what's now left of the original watercourse
Now home to thousands of fish, this place didn't disappoint...
I originally saw this and thought that doesn't go far and left it alone
Having since returned, all that time ago I made my way back in to head upstream
HERE, evidence of an old victorian sewer and canal overflow, now disused
Further down, this large
Brick Arch is now the outfall, and has been modified over time
Looking back out
Once inside the original Arch has now become boxed off
(literally) with some odd looking mix of concrete & brick
Also the crystal formations along the roof section were amazing, I just wish I had a macro lens and the patience to have taken some pics
Eventually a shaft of light could be seen from above, just at the point where this old wooden penstock intersects
Beyond, and just in view of the shot above ^ is a stoopy, fairly deep silted up section, the wellies were no match here
It's also at this point most people decide to turn around, me included, but not this time, as much WIN lay beyond
