I agree. It's quality like this that puts the final nails in the politically-motivated BBC's coffin. The beeb is more interested is destroying and denying history rather than producing content that appreciates and sheds light on it, these days. This stuff is golden, and the production quality and tech is now on par with anything we'd get back in the day on the TV. Hats off to everyone doing this!
Before I retired I used to pass this area every day whilst delivering along the A635, I saw that conveyor daily and never knew what it was. Thank you for your excellent videos Martin, keep them coming
"when routine bites hard, and ambitions are low". Nice nod to Joy Division, Martin. I live in Oldham and didn't even know it's here . Great video as ever, pal.
@@duncanhowarth9514 if your familiar with the area, Penine studios was located off Ripponden road near the Black Horse pub in the 1990s the converted church was demolished and there is a row of social housing there now. I don't know of any studios down near Mumps pal.
I really love what you do Martin. Iv been on a binge watching your videos constantly. I have a passion for history and know Manchester well.. Thank you for sharing your passion and talent for what you do.. I love your videos you have helped me out of tough times. What you do is so educational and inspiring.. When I found out where an coats and miles platting got there names from I got so excited I got the shivers I used to live in the area.. You should do a video to the ares of Manchester and where they got there names from.. It would be very interesting.. Thank you for the experience Martin.. Keep doing what your doing you are incredibly talented I am a huge fan.
After at least 2 years addicted to your vids, still have to stay, Brilliant, as per usual, how you scope these things our, etc beyond me mate. Thank you. Best habit I've ever had, an I dont wanna go to rehab, no, no, no!!!
Saw a report yeeears ago from some lads who took a rubber dingie underneath hartshead power station and into the underground reservoir and tunnels beneath, was amazing. Never found it since though!
I saw that one (idk where it is but I saw it) and that tunnel goes far, and apparently the water and mud is really deep there. Believe it or not the entrance to the tunnel got recently opened up. It was just a tiny hole with some huge chunks of concrete covering it that you had to ease yourself under to get into, and now some absolute unit of a human has pulled up those bug chunks of concrete and exposed the entrance. It’s dead cool
"There's nothing to see...and it stinks." But yet totally engaging. Thank you Martin for bringing to life a part of our history that died some time ago.
Stuff like this needs to be preserved. Once these magnificent structures are gone, that's it. There's no getting them back. This place would make an amazing museum or heritage railway
Good bit of exploring once again Martin. It's such a pity that where ever you go these days the empty heads who can't go out without a spray can in their pocket have beaten you to it.
It’s also a shame that people like to take bigass souvenirs. Those sort of people are the main reason why rooms like the switch boxes have nothing on them anymore
Always a great day when there is a Martin Zero vid! I'm flabbergasted by the skill of the masons of England and their beautiful brickwork. Thanks, Martin!
You was right about the tunnel being cable routes, someone clearly stripped the steel wire armoured cables, took the aluminium or copper and left the steel in the tunnel
Yipee, it's Sunday and we get the two top history teachers on TH-cam👌 All neatly explained with maps and B & W photos and a relaxed delivery. This is how history should be learnt. Thanks for getting down and dirty boys!!! ❤ (Good to see Ant in wellies after last weeks tunnel trip!!)
A great explore! You certainly do get intrepid, I'd have noped out of that tunnel the second I saw the mud! Awesome stuff, another happy Sunday evening's viewing!
This is fantastic, thank you for producing this. I use to live in Mossley and can recall being with my mum at a very young age watching the cooling towers being blown up.
Those tunnels reminded me of my cellar when the wall busted open during a storm the other week. It crossed the Atlantic and played havoc with all of you just a few days later. Saw where it blew over a full sized lorry on the old Severn bridge. Nasty storm! I appreciate you doing all of this dangerous stuff for our entertainment Martin. Some times I am thinking "no Martin, you don't really have to go in there," but I'm surprised by the footage when you do.
That goods building was amazing! It had a brick ceiling, and with that inspection pit it made me think they must have run the coal burning locos through it at one time. So in addition to being for the storage of goods, it was also for servicing of the yard locos. They would have brought in goods wagons (what we call box cars in the US) right inside to load or unload. What upsets me about seeing these videos you make, is how various companies walked away from their infrastructure without caring what impact the wreckage would have on the surrounding community. I've seen the same scenes here in America, the investors pocket their profits, the management find other employment and everyone just walks away. Now it's up to the taxpayers to clean up their mess and take care of the people who lost their jobs. Wether its a former railway station, a tunnel, or industrial site, it's just so sad that all that is left are ruins.
Bullettube I live local to this and I believe the building was used in the 70’s by Firth Transport. I recently walked inside myself and there is a green board probably a wagon side with Firth written on it. Sad as you say it is beautifully built.
Something I discovered that I found very weird about this place, is after it’s abandonment (and demolition), for some reason, most of the remaining machines were apparently left behind, and actually quite a lot of possible functional parts (including those switch boxes before urban explorers used parts of it for souvenirs), and the hopper and conveyor still had ACTUAL conveyor and machines That is until Caseys took control
Nice one Martin , on my many trips over the Pennine's i used to vary to route and upon using the Lower Mosley /Huddersfield Road would wonder at the enormous brick embankments on that side , i knew they were Railway and apart from studying maps never went any further ,this was long before me and computers . Our Railways and Municipalities were built to last a thousand years and by better men than the one's who try to get rid of them , that's why no matter what, our industry always seems to leave a scar . A thought on your tunnels and it is a educated guess , them cables carried some juice and to keep the size down they would water cool them believe it or not, I remember them in the old Woodhead Steam Tunnels this way . Great work Thank you for sharing..
Amazing tonight Martin, really interesting. Hasn't the landscape changed. I wonder what all those men would think 100 years later. Brilliant, keep them coming best thing on TV( :-) ) all year!!!
Wonderful Martin.As a kid I grew up and played round there .Its a wonderful old place.I remember when the blew the towers up in 89.Glad it’s been recorded for posterity.I fear it won’t be long till it’s all built over.
Funny was thinking about this place the other day. Me and my mate used to go up there when I was younger with our air rifles. Can't believe it's still there.
you finally got to Millbrook! Fantastic stuff! I Never knew about the cable tunnel so well done on finding that! I've done so many model shoots around the remaining power station buildings, the first building was a staff canteen and offices. When I first went to the control room it was populated with loads of timers and dials protruding out. Sadly gone now. Great work as always!
Martin, another great video. I am envious that your Manchester retains so many artifacts. While we do still have many of the turn of the century mill buildings in my Manchester, most of the infrastructure disappeared long ago. Thanks for sharing. Vern
I love all of these videos that you put up. I am from Adelaide South Australia. My parents were born in Northhampton in the very early 1900s and I here in AU and I love the UK and its history. Thank you for sharing all these moments from the past, you do it so well, Thank you Mark
I remember when they closed this,my mate was working in the site office and he took me round one day,late eighties, was such a huge site I just recall huge piles of rubble and wiring,like something from a science fiction story...... great video,cheers
Good memories there Martin. I used to work at a lot of power stations in the North West as a contracted welder. Before any new job I would do a test run comute on my old BSA 500 with my lovely wife on pillion. We met up with the gate keeper at Hartshead power station on this occasion who invited us into his cottage for tea, biscuits and a long chat. Happy days and fond memories of a page turned once more of my personal history book. About 1970 as near as I can recall.
Glad to see you two wearing helmets, good idea when exploring buildings in such condition. I loved the elegant detail in the brickwork on the goods shed, incredible, something we will never see again. Just think of each brick, set by hand, each brick and hod of mortar packed up onto the scaffolding to be set by master hands.
Another lovely report Mr Martin ,thank you ! Once again you highlight craftsmanship that once done may never be noticed again, the beautiful converging brickwork of the tunnel is a perfect example !
Wow Martin think that has to be one of my fave videos. Those tunnels were fantastic and brickwork awesome. Great to see Anthony too. Thank you so much for taking me along I just loved it
Brilliant video, I have lived in the area all my life and remember the cooling towers in operation, the coal trains used to pass my old school St Paul’s , when we played football in sports class the steam trains went by at the side of the playing fields, we always ran to the fence and waved at the train driver, we used to thrill when a diesel train came past thinking they were special. I did an historic walk recently with a local historian and he confirms the information you give, the coal was dropped in a hole / hopper in the ground and conveyed over the canal and river to the power station. You’ve got to imagine the whole area had no trees in its heyday and the sidings of concrete are still in the woods now. Brilliant area we live in. STALYBRIDGE. 😊
wow this brought back some memmories i remember going into that second tunnel about 1973 and going up that tower and having a look around top video Martin
Hey Mart, interesting vid. I have never seen a goods shed built like that, so much more substantial than anything I’ve seen before and it looked like it had an inspection pit for loco’s and what was with the cast supporting upright’s and heavy duty vaulted arched ceiling, you only put that in if there’s gonna be a lot of weight in a building, also the recessed floor to one side, and the pillars would suggest mounting’s for something. It would be worth doing a bit more digging into the history of that building and its uses as I think that they would have changed over time, to put it into some sort of perspective it would be like finding a church with railway lines running into it and saying oh look a goods shed. Great vid mate thanks alot👍🏴
You need the windows to see what you're doing. Gas or oil lanterns are not as effective as modern electric lights! Similarly there was nothing like a fork lift truck. You had to bring the loaded wagon right in and use a crane to lift things out... there may well have been a steam crane built into the building.
😀👍First time one of your videos has been in my recommended videos for ages. Nice to see some of your work Martin. Hope the weather has not been too bad this weekend, though I saw your Instagram pic of the collapsed Irwell bridge. Take care.
If you want to be notified of all uploads, from channels you subscribe to, you now need to click on the bell and select "ALL". That was TH-cam's way of changing things but not telling anyone.
Another great video and the drone footage was great too. All that metal in the tunnel was the protective armour from high voltage cables. It would seem that they were left in the tunnel and people came in and chopped it into sections and stripped it for it's copper.
Great upload, I remember this lot when I was a kid. I can remember seeing trains on the Micklehurst line. I think Micklehurst station is still there....
Great video Martin it’s amazing what history is out there to be found . Hidden in the under growth it’s timeless when you think we were kids & the places were alive & working now most are gone & forgotten . Well of course that is till you find them hiding . I await your next instalment keep them coming . Was just scrolling back through your older stuff The canal trap door good grief man 3.6 million views is great it prove your a master of information .
Hello My Friends Another most excellent video. I always enjoy Martins looks and explanations of ruins. It astonishes me that some sort of use was not found for beautiful old buildings like this goods shed. It's sad to see its current state. Time marches on though, and what was once a hub of activity is now decay and ruin. Jack
Another top video waited so long for this . Must get out and see some history more and the canals. Must do Manchester and Yorkshire canal and historic walks. Love Huddersfield and the canals. Loved my time in Yorkshire for uni. Miss it a lot but so many good time. Regards
Nice to see Ant again! Great drone work! For a sec i thought he was going to fly it right into the coal conveyor haha! I love that you found pictures to match up with the present site locations! Again the music brings it all together! Thanks again Martin!
There's a scene in the film Yanks that was filmed at the nearby golf course ,1979 ish I think ,with the cooling towers in background. Just thought id give it a mention , another cracking film Martin ,stay safe .
Brilliant video Martin. Hats off to you for putting this together and sharing. A great illustration of our bygone industrial heritage and the bastions of British engineering and construction we were once famous for. I have worked in the power generation industry for 35 years and did my apprenticeship in the 1980's at an old coal fired power station, which is still operating today (just). This video took me back, seeing remenants of the layout, infrastructure and equipment - all very typical and standard of the then CEGB at the time. 👍👌
Walking these areas with you and your friend Martin , is like being in a dream... you can imagine the people and activity..... Even though I cannot fully understand what was actually going on in this place... Riveting....
Brilliant Martin i didn't realise so much of this was left. It just shows what is still around if you look for it. I've been to the northern end of the Micklehurst loop at Diggle and you can still get to the portal of the tunnel but unsure if you can get in as it was about 10 years ago. cheers John.
Positively heroic guys. I'm okay with hights but those tunnels I definitely wouldn't be cool with. This video brings to mind a sort of modern day version of Ozymandias. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly nature reclaims even the most massive man made things!
great stuff, as always...the massive girder is a column, because it is verticle, and shall have a square section, because why wouldn't a column _ the load is uniform, down...girders are horizontal, or at an angle, and the greaater the load/unsupported length , the deeper the section , the heavier the weight per yard, -and the beam or girder will be greater in the vertical orientation than it is wide, cos that's the direction of the load...PS I just went back to check those girders/columns holding up the structure...they are indeed square in section, as you can see from the fact that they are either welded to circular base plates, with the same chord front and side across the circle, which ( weldind of that sort ) is somewhat unlikely for anything that old, so the whole lot - column and base must be a one piece casting of cast iron or steel, and mounted upon those square ribbed/ gusseted - iron foundation-footings (also cast in one piece) -probably with a pin and socket, nothing other is visible...that's solid Victorian over engineering in all its splendid magnificance
A few yards from the power station is an abandoned house it is beautiful iv always dreamed of buying and doing back up. I grew up in mossley (micklehurst) iv been to all 3 of these buildings with my husband and we loved adventuring around.
Worth watching just for your dextrous 'arse first' exit from undercroft. Also the lionisation of your £5 steel-toed wellies was a must-see. Another triumph, Martin.
It really does bring a tear to your eye What a testament that the place is still standing The Victorians really make you feel proud to be English , must have a been an exciting time to be alive during the industrial Revolution where life was rapidly changing
And a time with loong workdays, illness, no social security etc... No doubt it was a pleasant time if you were rich ! I also love victorian style and era, but I would only like to live in such a time if I belonged to the 1% richest :-)
Aye, another great video, Martin. With so many openings it looks as if the Goods Depot had a number of loading/Unloading bays. Fantastic structure. Thanks again, Martin. New places and historical information is always appreciated.
Another Brilliant video by my favorite Manchurian.... did I get that right. Its sad to see all this history rotting away, being overgrown and vandalized... people worked there, depended on the electricity ... lived lives there... and, probably died there as well. That is why I love history and think its a pity that it cannot all be saved. :(
Hmm 23 hrs old and just appeared in my TH-cam home area and I don’t remember getting a notification but I have them on. Going to watch now just thought it was weird usually it pops right up in my home when someone I’m following with notify on publishes a video. Especially one of my favorite ones!
Another place I remember from my childhood, as usual fascinating, I must start exploring again I used to do it regularly when I was younger, and it's an excellent reason to keep fit ,thanks again rooby X
I bet everysingle piece of material to build that "shed" was made somewhere here in Britain. Real engineering and construction. These days hardly anything is made here anymore and it's a massive shame. We used to be one of the best in the world at construction. Wonderful video as always.
Many thanks again Martin. I went past there several times on the way to the Calder valley and even remember the cooling towers and Micklehurst station building. However, when you are going into holes in the ground, (confined spaces), you ought to test the air quality first. Rotting vegetation can lead to oxygen deficiency and production of methane gas, which of course is explosive. There could also be toxic gas. An instrument to measure all three is easy to use. I don't know how much they cost nowadays, but if you need to set up a crowdfund, I would be happy to donate. Best Wishes and stay safe, Pete
Blinding video, Martin. There's a wonderful melancholy about sites like that. There is a real sense of people scurrying about like ants, busy, busy, busy, whilst in reality, nature has grabbed the site back. It's called 'Kenopsia' - the eerie feeling of a place, once a hive of activity, now silent and empty. Great drone footage, too. Nice one.
When "ordinary" people can produce this quality of content, the television has no future.
Thank you Min
I agree. It's quality like this that puts the final nails in the politically-motivated BBC's coffin. The beeb is more interested is destroying and denying history rather than producing content that appreciates and sheds light on it, these days. This stuff is golden, and the production quality and tech is now on par with anything we'd get back in the day on the TV. Hats off to everyone doing this!
I now spend more time watching TH-cam than I do ordinary TV, and you're right, the quality of a lot of stuff on here is as well produced as TV.
min bannister agreed, another interesting video. Well made
but Martin is far from ordinary !
Thanks Martin .... yet again something archived before its demolished.... thank you 👍
Before I retired I used to pass this area every day whilst delivering along the A635, I saw that conveyor daily and never knew what it was. Thank you for your excellent videos Martin, keep them coming
These old buildings are almost spiritual. Cathedrals of power !
Indeed. A book about old coal-fired power stations around where i am: "Palazzos of Power" www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZZRQOL
Indeed. Forgotten monuments of the industrial revolution and the age of steam.
If you believe these buildings where used for what they say they where used...
"when routine bites hard, and ambitions are low". Nice nod to Joy Division, Martin.
I live in Oldham and didn't even know it's here . Great video as ever, pal.
@Bobby Banana yes, it was recorded at a converted church on Ripponden road, sadly long gone.
Ian Curtis lived in Macclesfield
@@darrenmartin1049: Was it recorded there or was it at Pennine Sound Studio (I think) down at what was Mumps (near the old bus station)?
@Bobby Banana: Was that at Pennine Sound Studio (or something like that) near the bus station at Mumps (and the "Setons" rail bridge).
@@duncanhowarth9514 if your familiar with the area, Penine studios was located off Ripponden road near the Black Horse pub in the 1990s the converted church was demolished and there is a row of social housing there now. I don't know of any studios down near Mumps pal.
I really love what you do Martin. Iv been on a binge watching your videos constantly. I have a passion for history and know Manchester well.. Thank you for sharing your passion and talent for what you do.. I love your videos you have helped me out of tough times. What you do is so educational and inspiring.. When I found out where an coats and miles platting got there names from I got so excited I got the shivers I used to live in the area.. You should do a video to the ares of Manchester and where they got there names from.. It would be very interesting.. Thank you for the experience Martin.. Keep doing what your doing you are incredibly talented I am a huge fan.
Well said, 👍
Well said 👍
As always liked before viewing. Always beyond excellent! 🙂👍
After at least 2 years addicted to your vids, still have to stay, Brilliant, as per usual, how you scope these things our, etc beyond me mate. Thank you. Best habit I've ever had, an I dont wanna go to rehab, no, no, no!!!
Saw a report yeeears ago from some lads who took a rubber dingie underneath hartshead power station and into the underground reservoir and tunnels beneath, was amazing. Never found it since though!
That sounds amazing.
I saw that one (idk where it is but I saw it) and that tunnel goes far, and apparently the water and mud is really deep there.
Believe it or not the entrance to the tunnel got recently opened up. It was just a tiny hole with some huge chunks of concrete covering it that you had to ease yourself under to get into, and now some absolute unit of a human has pulled up those bug chunks of concrete and exposed the entrance. It’s dead cool
"There's nothing to see...and it stinks."
But yet totally engaging. Thank you Martin for bringing to life a part of our history that died some time ago.
😆Cheers Jack
Sunday night, a brew and a damn decent documentary. Keep up the good work!
Loved seeing all that again 👍 That mud was beyond belief. Thank you 😀
Stuff like this needs to be preserved. Once these magnificent structures are gone, that's it. There's no getting them back. This place would make an amazing museum or heritage railway
As a fellow Manc I really love your documentary style videos, keep it up brother
Good bit of exploring once again Martin. It's such a pity that where ever you go these days the empty heads who can't go out without a spray can in their pocket have beaten you to it.
Mike Ede : s'only a bit of tag signing and before any chuff gave a fk, when gear heads had nowhere else to go.... Dint tha ever go t'Casino?
@@suzyqualcast6269 I might be missing the point here, what has Wigan Casino got to do with defacing everything that doesn't move.
It’s also a shame that people like to take bigass souvenirs. Those sort of people are the main reason why rooms like the switch boxes have nothing on them anymore
Always a great day when there is a Martin Zero vid! I'm flabbergasted by the skill of the masons of England and their beautiful brickwork. Thanks, Martin!
Bloody brilliant, urbex crossed with abandoned engineering
Great Explore Martin And Ant.......Really enjoyed that loads of history too loved the timepix pics ...Frank & Lee....
Cheers Frank 😄
Thank you
That brickwork was ace in the tunnel. Being safe is the main thing mate good job you turned round didn't wanna get stuck in that mud.
You was right about the tunnel being cable routes, someone clearly stripped the steel wire armoured cables, took the aluminium or copper and left the steel in the tunnel
Best Urban Explorer channel on TH-cam. Its a world of difference from what I do on this platform but really enjoy watching your videos.
Yipee, it's Sunday and we get the two top history teachers on TH-cam👌 All neatly explained with maps and B & W photos and a relaxed delivery. This is how history should be learnt. Thanks for getting down and dirty boys!!! ❤ (Good to see Ant in wellies after last weeks tunnel trip!!)
Those wellies got christened in that mud 😂
Absolutely brilliant Martin! I live so close to where you have been filming. There is more to see but the area is massive. Thanks for the documentary!
A great explore! You certainly do get intrepid, I'd have noped out of that tunnel the second I saw the mud! Awesome stuff, another happy Sunday evening's viewing!
This is fantastic, thank you for producing this. I use to live in Mossley and can recall being with my mum at a very young age watching the cooling towers being blown up.
I have ridden past that on my bike with my besty 1000s of times and wondered, not anymore SHAMAZING Mr Zero
Those tunnels reminded me of my cellar when the wall busted open during a storm the other week. It crossed the Atlantic and played havoc with all of you just a few days later. Saw where it blew over a full sized lorry on the old Severn bridge. Nasty storm! I appreciate you doing all of this dangerous stuff for our entertainment Martin. Some times I am thinking "no Martin, you don't really have to go in there," but I'm surprised by the footage when you do.
That goods building was amazing! It had a brick ceiling, and with that inspection pit it made me think they must have run the coal burning locos through it at one time. So in addition to being for the storage of goods, it was also for servicing of the yard locos. They would have brought in goods wagons (what we call box cars in the US) right inside to load or unload. What upsets me about seeing these videos you make, is how various companies walked away from their infrastructure without caring what impact the wreckage would have on the surrounding community. I've seen the same scenes here in America, the investors pocket their profits, the management find other employment and everyone just walks away. Now it's up to the taxpayers to clean up their mess and take care of the people who lost their jobs. Wether its a former railway station, a tunnel, or industrial site, it's just so sad that all that is left are ruins.
well said,and now you pay a penalty for dropping a toffee wrap. These places ,by the way were owned by the nation.
Bullettube I live local to this and I believe the building was used in the 70’s by Firth Transport. I recently walked inside myself and there is a green board probably a wagon side with Firth written on it. Sad as you say it is beautifully built.
Something I discovered that I found very weird about this place, is after it’s abandonment (and demolition), for some reason, most of the remaining machines were apparently left behind, and actually quite a lot of possible functional parts (including those switch boxes before urban explorers used parts of it for souvenirs), and the hopper and conveyor still had ACTUAL conveyor and machines
That is until Caseys took control
Nice one Martin , on my many trips over the Pennine's i used to vary to route and upon using the Lower Mosley /Huddersfield Road would wonder at the enormous brick embankments on that side , i knew they were Railway and apart from studying maps never went any further ,this was long before me and computers . Our Railways and Municipalities were built to last a thousand years and by better men than the one's who try to get rid of them , that's why no matter what, our industry always seems to leave a scar .
A thought on your tunnels and it is a educated guess , them cables carried some juice and to keep the size down they would water cool them believe it or not, I remember them in the old Woodhead Steam Tunnels this way .
Great work Thank you for sharing..
Amazing tonight Martin, really interesting. Hasn't the landscape changed. I wonder what all those men would think 100 years later. Brilliant, keep them coming best thing on TV( :-) ) all year!!!
Loving it Martin, cracking stuff.
“And resentment rides high
But emotions won't grow”
Always get a kick at looking at old maps and seeing what was/still there.
Wonderful Martin.As a kid I grew up and played round there .Its a wonderful old place.I remember when the blew the towers up in 89.Glad it’s been recorded for posterity.I fear it won’t be long till it’s all built over.
Funny was thinking about this place the other day. Me and my mate used to go up there when I was younger with our air rifles. Can't believe it's still there.
So it was you that shot me up there one time!
you finally got to Millbrook! Fantastic stuff! I Never knew about the cable tunnel so well done on finding that! I've done so many model shoots around the remaining power station buildings, the first building was a staff canteen and offices. When I first went to the control room it was populated with loads of timers and dials protruding out. Sadly gone now. Great work as always!
I need to catch up. Haven't been well. It makes me feel better seeing places I love and all history and hidden et n places. Love ya.❣❣
Martin, another great video. I am envious that your Manchester retains so many artifacts. While we do still have many of the turn of the century mill buildings in my Manchester, most of the infrastructure disappeared long ago. Thanks for sharing. Vern
Cheers Vern
I love all of these videos that you put up.
I am from Adelaide South Australia.
My parents were born in Northhampton in the very early 1900s and I here in AU and I love the UK and its history.
Thank you for sharing all these moments from the past, you do it so well, Thank you Mark
The building with cable runs in the floor reminds me of exploring one of the woodhead route substations now long gone
I remember when they closed this,my mate was working in the site office and he took me round one day,late eighties, was such a huge site I just recall huge piles of rubble and wiring,like something from a science fiction story...... great video,cheers
Good memories there Martin. I used to work at a lot of power stations in the North West as a contracted welder. Before any new job I would do a test run comute on my old BSA 500 with my lovely wife on pillion. We met up with the gate keeper at Hartshead power station on this occasion who invited us into his cottage for tea, biscuits and a long chat. Happy days and fond memories of a page turned once more of my personal history book. About 1970 as near as I can recall.
Thanks sounds great 👌
First class report again, very interesting, a bygone era of British excellence, if only walls could talk.
What a marvelous find. Thank you for sharing it with us.
So interesting! And you are lucky to have such a history to explore! Thank you for sharing.
Glad to see you two wearing helmets, good idea when exploring buildings in such condition. I loved the elegant detail in the brickwork on the goods shed, incredible, something we will never see again. Just think of each brick, set by hand, each brick and hod of mortar packed up onto the scaffolding to be set by master hands.
Another lovely report Mr Martin ,thank you ! Once again you highlight craftsmanship that once done may never be noticed again, the beautiful converging brickwork of the tunnel is a perfect example !
It is channels and content like this that proves the bbc isnt needed, keep up the great work Martin Zero :)
Wow Martin think that has to be one of my fave videos. Those tunnels were fantastic and brickwork awesome. Great to see Anthony too. Thank you so much for taking me along I just loved it
Thank you Linda
Brilliant video, I have lived in the area all my life and remember the cooling towers in operation, the coal trains used to pass my old school St Paul’s , when we played football in sports class the steam trains went by at the side of the playing fields, we always ran to the fence and waved at the train driver, we used to thrill when a diesel train came past thinking they were special. I did an historic walk recently with a local historian and he confirms the information you give, the coal was dropped in a hole / hopper in the ground and conveyed over the canal and river to the power station. You’ve got to imagine the whole area had no trees in its heyday and the sidings of concrete are still in the woods now. Brilliant area we live in. STALYBRIDGE. 😊
Yeah the amount of trees almost transforms the place. Cheers John
the amount of work that just went into the cable tunnel is staggering
wow this brought back some memmories i remember going into that second tunnel about 1973 and going up that tower and having a look around
top video Martin
Hi Martin, Really interesting as usual. Thanks, for braving the stinky mud and all again!!! xx
Hey Mart, interesting vid. I have never seen a goods shed built like that, so much more substantial than anything I’ve seen before and it looked like it had an inspection pit for loco’s and what was with the cast supporting upright’s and heavy duty vaulted arched ceiling, you only put that in if there’s gonna be a lot of weight in a building, also the recessed floor to one side, and the pillars would suggest mounting’s for something. It would be worth doing a bit more digging into the history of that building and its uses as I think that they would have changed over time, to put it into some sort of perspective it would be like finding a church with railway lines running into it and saying oh look a goods shed. Great vid mate thanks alot👍🏴
You need the windows to see what you're doing. Gas or oil lanterns are not as effective as modern electric lights!
Similarly there was nothing like a fork lift truck. You had to bring the loaded wagon right in and use a crane to lift things out... there may well have been a steam crane built into the building.
It all ran on conveyor belts. I saw it and remember it before it was totally destroyed. I have been up onto the roof of that building.
😀👍First time one of your videos has been in my recommended videos for ages. Nice to see some of your work Martin. Hope the weather has not been too bad this weekend, though I saw your Instagram pic of the collapsed Irwell bridge. Take care.
If you want to be notified of all uploads, from channels you subscribe to, you now need to click on the bell and select "ALL". That was TH-cam's way of changing things but not telling anyone.
My neck of the woods, I remember those cooling towers and I also remember them being demolished. Great video Martin 👏👏👍
Another great video and the drone footage was great too. All that metal in the tunnel was the protective armour from high voltage cables. It would seem that they were left in the tunnel and people came in and chopped it into sections and stripped it for it's copper.
Great to see you both exploring together, fabulous video too. Thanks.
Thank you 😀🥰
Great upload, I remember this lot when I was a kid. I can remember seeing trains on the Micklehurst line. I think Micklehurst station is still there....
It always amazes me how quickly nature reclaims these industrial sites. Thanks Martin fo another atmospheric and interesting video. Get some waders!
I remember going there when I was a kid. Don't think it was active but looked so impressive in the 70s
Great video Martin it’s amazing what history is out there to be found . Hidden in the under growth it’s timeless when you think we were kids & the places were alive & working now most are gone & forgotten . Well of course that is till you find them hiding . I await your next instalment keep them coming . Was just scrolling back through your older stuff The canal trap door good grief man 3.6 million views is great it prove your a master of information .
Hello My Friends
Another most excellent video. I always enjoy Martins looks and explanations of ruins. It astonishes me that some sort of use was not found for beautiful old buildings like this goods shed. It's sad to see its current state. Time marches on though, and what was once a hub of activity is now decay and ruin.
Jack
Another top video waited so long for this . Must get out and see some history more and the canals.
Must do Manchester and Yorkshire canal and historic walks.
Love Huddersfield and the canals. Loved my time in Yorkshire for uni. Miss it a lot but so many good time.
Regards
I have got to stop saying"amazing, brilliant, fantastic" but I can't.. love the story about the wellies
Thanks Jo
Simply amazing Martin' you took us there and we spent time in the past' ...although you got the muddy feet'
Tunnels , bridge and a canal ! Old industrial infrastructure ! Good work !
Nice to see Ant again! Great drone work! For a sec i thought he was going to fly it right into the coal conveyor haha! I love that you found pictures to match up with the present site locations! Again the music brings it all together! Thanks again Martin!
You have such an artistic way of seeing the world around you. Thank you for sharing
Thanks Marie
There's a scene in the film Yanks that was filmed at the nearby golf course ,1979 ish I think ,with the cooling towers in background. Just thought id give it a mention , another cracking film Martin ,stay safe .
Never knew that Andrew thanks
Most of Yanks was filmed in Stalybridge.
Thoughroughly enjoyable Martin. Thankyou x
What a fantastic place. Lots of interesting architecture and infrastructure to see 🧱. Great video Martin 👍. GWR
Another fascinating video Martin , the old photos were priceless for reference points 👌🏼🧱👍🏼
Brilliant video Martin. Hats off to you for putting this together and sharing. A great illustration of our bygone industrial heritage and the bastions of British engineering and construction we were once famous for. I have worked in the power generation industry for 35 years and did my apprenticeship in the 1980's at an old coal fired power station, which is still operating today (just). This video took me back, seeing remenants of the layout, infrastructure and equipment - all very typical and standard of the then CEGB at the time. 👍👌
Thanks Danny
Walked that towpath November 19,a lock was being refurbished,thanks for showing us what that convay
Walking these areas with you and your friend Martin , is like being in a dream... you can imagine the people and activity..... Even though I cannot fully understand what was actually going on in this place... Riveting....
Brilliant Martin i didn't realise so much of this was left. It just shows what is still around if you look for it. I've been to the northern end of the Micklehurst loop at Diggle and you can still get to the portal of the tunnel but unsure if you can get in as it was about 10 years ago. cheers John.
I love how nature is taking over. So much history in the new #rustbelt woods.
Positively heroic guys. I'm okay with hights but those tunnels I definitely wouldn't be cool with. This video brings to mind a sort of modern day version of Ozymandias. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly nature reclaims even the most massive man made things!
That was brilliant - very brave going into those cable tunnels...!
Conveyer did, Millbrook mill is still there with its chimney.Thanks again,from a Yorkshire man!!
Thanks Martin
Great post as is the norm!
Dave.
keep safe.
great stuff, as always...the massive girder is a column, because it is verticle, and shall have a square section, because why wouldn't a column _ the load is uniform, down...girders are horizontal, or at an angle, and the greaater the load/unsupported length , the deeper the section , the heavier the weight per yard, -and the beam or girder will be greater in the vertical orientation than it is wide, cos that's the direction of the load...PS I just went back to check those girders/columns holding up the structure...they are indeed square in section, as you can see from the fact that they are either welded to circular base plates, with the same chord front and side across the circle, which ( weldind of that sort ) is somewhat unlikely for anything that old, so the whole lot - column and base must be a one piece casting of cast iron or steel, and mounted upon those square ribbed/ gusseted - iron foundation-footings (also cast in one piece) -probably with a pin and socket, nothing other is visible...that's solid Victorian over engineering in all its splendid magnificance
A few yards from the power station is an abandoned house it is beautiful iv always dreamed of buying and doing back up. I grew up in mossley (micklehurst) iv been to all 3 of these buildings with my husband and we loved adventuring around.
Worth watching just for your dextrous 'arse first' exit from undercroft. Also the lionisation of your £5 steel-toed wellies was a must-see. Another triumph, Martin.
Grew up in heyrod!! Used to mess around as teenagers in the old buildings all the time!!
It really does bring a tear to your eye
What a testament that the place is still standing
The Victorians really make you feel proud to be English , must have a been an exciting time to be alive during the industrial Revolution where life was rapidly changing
And a time with loong workdays, illness, no social security etc...
No doubt it was a pleasant time if you were rich !
I also love victorian style and era, but I would only like to live in such a time if I belonged to the 1% richest :-)
I think this was built after the Victorian age... but still a messy and dangerous place to work.
Aye, another great video, Martin. With so many openings it looks as if the Goods Depot had a number of loading/Unloading bays. Fantastic structure. Thanks again, Martin. New places and historical information is always appreciated.
Thanks Bill
Another Brilliant video by my favorite Manchurian.... did I get that right. Its sad to see all this history rotting away, being overgrown and vandalized... people worked there, depended on the electricity ... lived lives there... and, probably died there as well. That is why I love history and think its a pity that it cannot all be saved. :(
Hmm 23 hrs old and just appeared in my TH-cam home area and I don’t remember getting a notification but I have them on. Going to watch now just thought it was weird usually it pops right up in my home when someone I’m following with notify on publishes a video. Especially one of my favorite ones!
Thanks Dennis, not sure why youtube is behind
Another place I remember from my childhood, as usual fascinating, I must start exploring again I used to do it regularly when I was younger, and it's an excellent reason to keep fit ,thanks again rooby X
I bet everysingle piece of material to build that "shed" was made somewhere here in Britain. Real engineering and construction. These days hardly anything is made here anymore and it's a massive shame. We used to be one of the best in the world at construction. Wonderful video as always.
Great video, always nice to see the area i grew up in and played as a kid many times, remarkable place
Many thanks again Martin. I went past there several times on the way to the Calder valley and even remember the cooling towers and Micklehurst station building. However, when you are going into holes in the ground, (confined spaces), you ought to test the air quality first. Rotting vegetation can lead to oxygen deficiency and production of methane gas, which of course is explosive. There could also be toxic gas. An instrument to measure all three is easy to use. I don't know how much they cost nowadays, but if you need to set up a crowdfund, I would be happy to donate. Best Wishes and stay safe, Pete
Blinding video, Martin. There's a wonderful melancholy about sites like that. There is a real sense of people scurrying about like ants, busy, busy, busy, whilst in reality, nature has grabbed the site back.
It's called 'Kenopsia' - the eerie feeling of a place, once a hive of activity, now silent and empty.
Great drone footage, too. Nice one.
Great video by my 2 favourite you tubers! Beautiful aerial footage by Ants Drone complimented by Martins commentary just great. ❤😊
Excellent quality as always fascinating to see what is left behind. Beats watching ordinary TV hands down
Fascinating vlog guys really enjoyed it, you always capture "the then and now" atmosphere of these places. Many thanks.
Fantastic footage always and well narrated. Really interesting to see our past. Well done 👍
i can smell that from huddersfield lol good work lads !
Great collaboration! Trekking and Towpaths put out some great viewing. Well done!
Cheers John 😀