The Manchester and Salford Junction Canal - Re-visited

I had previously visited this place back in March HERE.

During the last visit I only managed to take a detailed look at the Eastern section of the Canal tunnel which runs under Deansgate, passing underneath the Great Northern Goods Warehouse leading up to Watson Street then underneath the old Central Station, now GMEX.

I was in there around 3 hours last time and was hoping to see it all, as it's such a vast underground space. However as I soon found out this wasn't to be the case, as soon as I headed out of Bay 4 to continue down into the Western section of the tunnel, it became flooded part way through Bay 5, I could walk down the Canal towpath on the right as far as the end where it enters into Bay 6 but as you can see from the picture below it's bricked up and the only way from this point is Waders, Dinghy or Kayak! (GUTTED - I had neither and had to leave.)

A Bit more History:

Work originally commenced in July 1837 with the breaking of ground at both ends of the tunnel, 26,000 yards of excavation followed, before the 1100 yard long Canal tunnel was completed in April 1838.

The brick archways that form the canal are 20ft wide, the depth of the water was 8ft 6in and the height from the surface of the water to the centre of the archways was 11ft 6in. The towing path which was excavated out of solid rock, was 3ft 6ins wide.

The tunnel was cut out of soft bunter sandstone and was 80% bricklined, with the remainder trimmed rock face.
From bay 8-11 there is a 'very objectionable odour' the source has been unknown since construction, the air quality was real poor in these bays, and infact during the war when there were outbreaks of fever these bays were put out of use. (I'm not surprised). Also there is a significant amount of dripping water through into Bay 7 where the Canal passes under Byrom Street, another mystery?

Since construction in 1837 the Canal has been used to transport goods to and from the Quays/Great Northern Goods Warehouse and Central Station. The section between Watson street and the Rochdale Canal was closed and backfilled in 1875, later becoming the site of Central Station in 1880 - the last main passenger railway terminus to be built in Manchester. The remainding section of tunnel was still used for commercial traffic before it was officially closed in 1936.

During WW2 the tunnel was drained to become an air raid shelter, which could house upto 5,000 people based on Home Office guidelines. With the war ending, the shelters were officially closed in May 1945 by the Ministry of Home Security.

The main section of the Canal, from Rochdale Canal up to the Granada Studio property, was sold by Manchester Ship Canal Company to the Heron Corporation Ltd in 1977. Granada had purchased their part of the Canal in 1955.

Anyway it was always on the agenda to get back and take a look at the Western section down to Granada Studios, again it was to be another epic explore around 4 hours chest deep in freezing cold water, but well worth it.

I had to ditch most of my gear early on whilst I was in there due to it being difficult navigating in deep water, but decided to keep my iPhone handy just in case. Indeed during my time in there I experienced major wader fail, infact they had filled up about half way, making it very difficult climbing the scaffolding underneath Granada in Bay 16 to get out. Luckily there is a raised concrete platform beyond the scaffold sections which leads to a stairwell upto the basement of Granada Studios. It was here that I managed to empty out the gallons of water LOL and discovered my iPhone had taken a swim too!

Whilst they were drying out I had a mooch about, infact the blast walls had been knocked through and I could walk the towpath all the way back up to Bay 13 before it was bricked again. I also had a look up near Granada, the top of the stairwell is locked with a huge metal door, I could just about see through the keyhole into a corridor, which I understand is where they store props and sets for TV shows.

It looks as though it also serves as an Emergency Fire Escape as well, but if you saw it would soon realise it's the most dangerous and useless form of escape and meeting point I have ever seen! I mean you would be safer if there was a fire!!

Anyway after taking some photos, I wadered back up and climbed down the scaffold back into the deep freezing cold water for a long mooch back up to the 'dry' section of Bay 4. By the time I got back it was late and my feet were freezing I just wanted to get back home and take a warm shower but I couldn't help but think I have seen enough water for one day.

More epic failure followed as by the time I got back to my car I discovered my keys and fob were soaking as like a true weapon I had left them in my jeans pocket, Aaaaargh!

It took me another hour and half before I could get the immobiliser to work, and the fucking thing started.... GET ME HOME!

Despite the setbacks this was an awesome experience, and probably one of my favourite explores to-date, I love that place and after wanting to see it so badly for so long I wasn't even phased by the other stuff in the end.

Bay 5, where the last visit ended and this once begins, Enjoy

Bay 6

Bay 7

Bay 8

Bay 9

Bay 10

Bay 11

Bay 12

Bay 13

Bay 14

Bay 15

Bay 16

Underneath Granada Studios

Various WWII Signage

Backlog

May has been a busy time thus far, I have done so much over the last 2 weeks and not had time to publish it all as of yet, there simply is not enough hours in the day anymore LOL.

Anyway watch this space, updates to follow......

Rope Tricks, Blackburn

Ojay, Bigjobs, Littlejobs, Connor, AndyJ23UK & Pixie Present.

Bigjobs on time....LOL, oh well whilst waiting I pinched a couple of slings off AndyJ and was soon up into the bridge to take a few piccy's and a a mooch about.

Some much needed ropework practice was required, so a meeting of minds was quickly arranged. Props to Bigjobs and AndyJ for the location which was an absolute belter and had plenty of scope.

It was to be a very a long day, but proved to be more than valuable, as I learnt new skillZ and had more than enough experience in SRT, Abseiling and other associated ropework & climbing.

To top it off we did some bridge swinging which provided much laughter, It was like a scene from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon with Jobs and AndyJ kicking around like MOFO's.

Bigjobs setting up

Getting Ready

SRT

Abbing

Little Jobs

Pixie & Jobs

BigJobs showing us how it's done

My turn to swing and Jobs set me up good and proper LOL, Was dizzy as fook swinging around on a static line 80ft off a bridge but well worth the effort!

WINNER!

Supercharger 'A', Manchester

Visited by Ojay & Thompski.

Decided on some more Drain0r action tonight having met up with Thompski we donned our waders to take a look at some more of Mancs drains.

After finding somewhere to safely leave the car just outside the Ghetto we headed over to the infall. Wadering through the hood surrounded by some of Manchesters more un-desirable characters we finally climbed down through the nettles and into the drain, made somewhat difficult due to the amount of fallen trees and fly-tipping that has ocurred here of late.

Once inside we walked about 150 yards up the brick tunnel

Before we came to this concrete chamber with an overflow section to the right. It had some interesting wooden barriers, but appeared OTT considering the size of the pipe flowing into it.

Anyway continuing up the drain for around another 200 yards, eventually I could see daylight, or rather nightlight

We were now at the end of Supercharger 'A'. At this point the Brook flows downstream under a short bridge

Before continuing to the infall of Supercharger 'B', which I had previously visited back in March

Looking under the bridge at the outfall of 'A'

Here is the infall to 'B' which sadly I didn't get as far as last time due to bad air or gases which forced me to retreat.

This section is quite interesting as it is initially constructed of a short trapezoid like concrete box section which curves round and leads into a low stone archway before reaching the 'Falls' that I didn't get to see on my last visit in here.

Top of 'Falls'

This was very slippy and comedy moments ensued as I nearly went head first into the section below :eek: trying to get a shot of the 'Falls'.

'Falls'

All in all a good little mooch, and glad to get back and see the remainder of Supercharger 'B' that I missed last time completing the set.

Supercharger 'B' Re-visited

Re-visited after aborted March visit; Managed to see the 'Falls' and the infall....FINALLY!

The last chapter in this section of drain that sadly I had to retreat from before I got to the infall due to bad air/gases.

Here is the remaining section, including the 'Falls' and the cool Stone/Concrete mix and the Trapezoid box section at the infall.

Centenary Mill Chimney Climb, Preston

Ojay, Bigjobs & Over Present.

(CreditZ to Bigjobs for some of the photos used here)

Built by the John Horrocks Company in 1891 to mark 100 years of successful cotton manufacture in Preston it is an imposing building, comprising 5 floors of 50,000 sq. ft. each and is listed Grade 2. It sits on a high escarpment dominating the south and east of the town. The massive power house chimney is a key landmark feature.

With the decline of cotton manufacture the Mill became a warehousing and distribution centre and by the 1980s was disused.

From the founding of John Horrock's first mill, TheYellow Factory, built in 1791 the cotton industry was the main driving force of economic growth in Preston throughout much of the nineteenth century. A new industrial society was created in the process as Preston's population grew from 11,887 people in 1801 to 69,391 in 1851. Preston's favourable location in relation to rural labour became an important factor in facilitating such rapid expansion and by the middle of the century more than half the town's inhabitants had been born elsewhere.

Served by population growth of 40% per decade in the 1830's and 1840's, Preston had 64 cotton mills with more than one million spindles employing 20,000 people. Employment peaked at 25,000 just before the outbreak of the American Civil War and no new mills were constructed in the period after 1860 until the closing years of the century when a series of dramatic takeover and rebuildings culminated in the construction of enormous joint stock spinning mills between 1890 and the First World War. Centenary Mill, built in 1891, was one of four monumental giants erected in this final phase. As the name implies, the opening of the mill celebrated 100 years of successful trading by Horrockses, 'The Greatest Name in Cotton' and the most substantial industrial enterprise Preston has ever seen.

Outwardly, the mill retained the fashionable architectural facade deemed tasteful by the Shareholders of the day, one can imagine its owners admiring its majesty in the soft glow of summer evening light. Inwardly, Centenary Mill had a revolutionary steel frame, allowing a greater weight to be supported within the structure, permitting the inclusion of larger, more numerous windows.

The mill has had the usual restoration/conversion into 1 and 2 bedroom luxury apartments, oh and even the CHIMNEY has had a makeover!

A quick call to Bigjobs and next minute I'm in Preston, brew in hand provided by Pixie (Nice) whilst Over is busy hacking Facebook accounts and Jobs is well, being Jobs LOL...

After a bit of planning and packing we were sneaking about the mill dodging CCTV and security at stupid o'clock to get to the chimney!
It wasn't long before we had ascended upto the first section of the chimney before Over disappeared into the Yonder to setup rope.

Now it was my turn to go up (200ft to go and counting - GULP). No sooner had I started climbing some dude came to the window facing me and was rather surprised to see me on the chimney. I shouted down to Jobs, who suggested I give him a wave, which I did :D The guy just waved back and went and watched TV, it was pure WIN, so I just carried on climbing with Jobs following close behind.

As I neared the top, the steeplejacks rope, which we ended up using was pulling me off the ladder with the tension, it was a grim moment and I had to unclip the safety and free climb the last 20ft. As I got to the top Over was sat there on one of the protruding scaff bars with no safety having a fag, :crazy man!!! I soon passed him and made my way onto the crows nest and quickly got out my camera and started snapping away, whilst we waited for Jobs to arrive.

It was quite a chilled place, visibility was good and we managed some decent shots, it was a very cold night and we were freezing cold, It beggars belief that Over decided to strip off for a people shot, F**K that....

Anyway time to climb down and it was Blue lights and sirens, FFS Police had arrived further up on the main road in force to some random house, looked like some major shit going down as there was shouting, dogs and people running around all over the place.

Trouble was the ladder was facing. It was to be another hour and half before they finally left and we could get back down without being busted.

Up Here, you bonkers?

Looking Down

Yard

Preston

Call the Cops

HMP Preston, where we nearly ended up....

Peoples

Bigjobs thought it would be a good idea to hang inside the chimney, so I did!

Now get me down....

All in all another successful outing, just glad to get back down and get off home, it was a long long night.