Manchester & Salford. Five MORE Historical survivors

In this video we visit five historical survivors in Manchester and Salford. Firstly we visit the town of Radcliffe and look at two Industrial weirs on the river Irwell. These weirs provided water to two goits. Hutchinsons Goit and Bealeys Goit that fed Bleach works and a Paper mill in the town. Secondly we look at an old pack horse bridge. the old Blackford bridge on the river Roch near the town of Bury. Then we go to Weaste in Salford to look at some salford corporation surviving tram tracks for the early 1900's. Off to castlefield in manchester to look at some Roman remains. Finally we look at an old water drinking well, possibly Georgian in Manchester city centre. This well was situated near the infamous Little Ireland and most certainly played a role in its history.

[@Charstring]

At some point before 1 June 1907 Bury council had claimed that half the old bridge was theirs - and demolished “their” half. The locals were upset because it was a right of way and they used it to get to the bleach works or to Radcliffe. They asked for it to be put back, but Bury council wasn’t admitting anything (or paying for it) and no other council wanted to pay up either, so it must have stayed demolished… (Bury Times 1/6/1907)

[@rossdtool]

I’m glad that James is a mainstay in your videos now, it’s like when Dr. Who teamed up with Maryanne, it just works. Love your work

[@LondonPower]

12:10 Archimedes' screw The screw pump is the oldest positive displacement pump.The first records of a water screw, or screw pump, date back to Hellenistic Egypt before the 3rd century BC

[@Hairnicks]

I really enjoy these mini explores as much as the big ones, history is all arounds us and you help show the little signs from our past, wonderful Martin, well done to you and the guys.

[@rowgli]

When you said "lower Chatham Street" I shuddered, having lived in horrific student halls there for a year almost 25 years ago. Can't believe I walked past that well almost every day.

[@Oddball1976]

I deliver on Lower Chatham Street every day and I never knew about the well. Absolutely fascinating! I will be taking a look tomorrow. Thanks for sharing Martin.

[@st04bez]

Social History at its finest. Great work Martin!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Paul

[@alanpartington2540]

This may not be the place to ask this, but as I can see your enthusiasm for Manchester gone by, and it's architecture, I wonder if you would be interested to have something my mother gave me, which is a scrapbook compiled by her father around 1910, consisting of about 50 newspaper articles talking about the buildings and parts of Manchester. the articles are all written by a Mr T Swindells, described as the author of a book entitled "Manchester Streets and Manchester Men". Some of the later articles are headed "Manchester of the Past", and are said to be specially written for the paper. Titles include such things as "The beauties of the sylvan district of Ancoats". I live in Haslingden, but could probably post it to you. My mother has no idea why her father compiled this book, which is self bound, with brown paper pages, and I did have a handwritten note with the book explaining that it was made around 1910 in my mothers curlicue script handwriting. Let me know if you think it may be of interest to you. Regards Alan Partington

[@ShawnD1027]

You might want to prompt Martin again if you haven't heard from him by now!

[@ch1ppie2167]

Not so much pieces of historic trivia as small nuggets of historical gold Martin. Many 🙏

[@radio-ged4626]

This sort of stuff is brilliant. Places you just walk by, literally under your feet, without knowing. Keep 'em coming! Love it.

[@martindooley4439]

Awesome history but please stop running ! I'm knackered just watching 😜. Come on time for some regional variety. Warrington, Widnes, StHelens and Runcorn still have some really interesting industrial heritage hiding in plain sight.

[@mattg56]

Hi Martin. Great video, I've only just seen this for the first time. I live near the Old Blackford Bridge, it's behind my house. The oldest historical records for the bridge go back to the 1600s, which specifically say the current structure was repaired with funds from Manchester. So there's been a bridge there for at least 500 years, there must have been something there for quite a while before the 1600s repair. I suspect it might go back to the 1300s, it must have been wide enough to move cattle across, of course. As for the route to Bury, you are 100% right. This went down Lilyhill Street (think it was called 'Hollow Street' before that, you can see it on various old Lancashire maps), straight down over the old bridge. So the bridge was a fundamental part of the route between Manchester and Bury. Furthermore, an original section of the original Manchester/Bury path still exists not far from the bridge, it's a continuation of Hollow Street that you can walk down fairly easily, it's a now nameless narrow pathway tucked behind houses on my street, this must be an absolutely ancient route, if you think how old Bury is. You can join the path from the bottom of Highfield Lane, and if you follow it across Middleton Drive at the other end and down into the woods you'll end up at the Old Bridge. If you want any more information let me know, cheers.

[@missmerrily4830]

Excellent social history. It may be small but it's very important! 👍

[@Gappasaurus]

Sunday with Martin, James, and five more bits of history… it’s a good day 😊 Edit: 5:01 Brilliant 😄

[@MartinZero]

😃

[@swampthing20]

Couldn't agree more, such a treat to sit down on a Sunday evening. And the five interesting things series is just a fab format.

[@Wedgedoow]

Just love this history of Manchester thanks Martin and James

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

Great to see the large weir and archimedes (arky-me-deez) screw, at Radcliffe. Also, the old pack horse route. We still have the Pack Horse pub in Royston, South Yorkshire. Our old pack horse bridge is above a long disused quarry, behind the Co-op car park. Excellent to see the original tram depot clock tower kept. More developers should take note. Caligula, Martin? Tut. Chuckle. Lower Chatham Street well - fascinating. Best of all, thanks for having a shave.👌 Let's not be going there again, okay?

[@Aengus42]

How'd you know it wasn't pronounced "Are-kimmy-deeze"? It's like the Radio Times should be the "Raddy-otto-meeze"! 😆

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

@@Aengus42 As a post-graduate qualified teacher of Functional English, Dyslexia specialist and 17 years experience has taught me, amongst other things, how to 'sound out' words to make them easier to pronounce.

[@Aengus42]

@@quickclipsbyjmj No doubt. But did that experience rob you of a sense of humour too? I fear it may have done...

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

@@Aengus42 No. Not at all. You might have been joking, instead of extracting the urine. I couldn't take the risk. I thought it better to show the correct pronunciation for in case one of Martin's viewers wasn't sure how to say it.

[@stephenjones9153]

So that must mean an Arch is actually an Ark.🤭🤭

[@otiselevator7738]

I like this guy. Enthusiasm! Passion! Knowledge!

[@andyh8150]

Hi Martin, Hutchinson's goit supplied water to the East Lancashire Paper Mill in Radcliffe, where I worked as Mill Chemist. It fed into the 'city tea' lodge which was just alongside Church st. I remember the 'watermen' who looked after the lodges and goits that fed the mill. They would regularly clear the weeds from the goit - happy days !! Andy.

[@pdtech4524]

Cracking little gems! That collapsed bridge was my fav and that well, how fascinating, you wouldn't want to lose your keys or phone down there! 😳😁

[@Chrisb2986]

I love the industrial heritage , the dank , gloomy , and gritty past

[@AdamMacleod83]

Haven't even watched this yet, but I KNOW it's right down my alley! 😍

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Adam

[@fishman494]

So glad you covered Bealeys weir, occasionally I’ve delivered to DHL opposite, when you exit and turn right you can’t miss the weir. When there’s little water going over, it’s a beautiful structure. Loving your channel, excellent work

[@joseph_oenix]

You should do a video on Compstall, just over werneth low in Hyde - sandwiched between Tameside and Marple. It’s a mill town built by George Andrew in the early 19th century. One of the mills is still there and there’s a huge weir and plenty of industrial remains at the man made reservoirs that supplied the mills

[@robertschmitz8036]

Another Smashed It production by Sir Martin.I love all your work,but this truly appealed to my imagination. As you walk through Angel Meadow.I literally see the hardworking people who lived and too often died young there. You know I hate romanticizing poverty so I think honoring all of this city’s past both rich and poor is critical.Too often today people think they have it bad.and ok there is more than some acknowledge,but your work honors this city l fondly say adopted me. When I walk into Salford my first time,a bloke from across the pond,due to your incredible work I shall feel a kinship. I know it is an old promise,but yes pints are on me mate, I shall be honored to meet you when l fly into Manchester sometime in 23,and I hope it is ok to say your work and friendship from afar have gotten me through a lot. Survivors Manchester based in Salford brought me back from a rough place,and your videos have been equally of my heart. Thank you Martin,,

[@mysticalmisty9772]

Thank for posting this, I was born in Hope Hospital in Salford & lived in Eccles, when I was 5 we moved to Wales but still have Family on my dads side so go up now & then!

[@DavidLee-yu7yz]

I am not from your area but I do love the Industrial and urban history of the British Isles, and your Anneka Rice impression, now to find the clue ;-)

[@peterkilvert2712]

Loved it. I visited Bealey's Goit some years ago and noticed (I think) that the sluice mechanism was made in Kilmarnock, so I contacted the museum there for further information. Loved the well and the bridge - not seen before. Often pass Weaste "tram depot" on my way to Weaste Cemetery, but had no idea that they only kept the front wall ! Many thanks Martin and James.

[@Alan_Watkin]

i really like these ones you do like this Martin, as always good work chap, an many thanks for all your endless perseverance putting these together for us each week i do love a little bit of history on sunday, top marks :)

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@Randy_Loafers]

Spring Gardens and Fountain Street. Now I know where the names came from. Thanks Martin.

[@markwall6651]

Excellent Martin! All Five!! I live near the old bridge and when I went for a walk down there I had funny looks from the residents in the houses, so Put me off! Lol. Well done !!!

[@martinbarrick9339]

I worked at Bealeys bleaching and dyeing company on Dumers Lane Radcliffe in the late 1960s and early 70s It was a very old fashioned company, using lots of river and towns water water for processing fabric. They had been very forward thinking at times - supplying their own water from the river originally - and had a steam turbine to produce their own electricity. During the 3 day week in the 70s[ due to union unrest across the country] the company were not allowed to run, even with producing their own electric, as this would have been seen as having an unfair advantage over other dyeing plants. The company closed in the late 1980 - 90s period and is now a housing estate. On the of the road was Bealeys Maternity Home. Started by the original mill owners.

[@nigelericogden3200]

Well said Martin … I certainly appreciate the “trivia” you’re bringing light to … thank you 🙏

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Nigel

[@stevenrielly240]

Think I may start following these dudes.... never boring and, in my book, every day is a school day.... great information. Well thought out.... run, James, run... n get the tea on!

[@gerryegan4872]

Fantastic guys, this is great. 15 mins walk from my home have walked some of this route.. Thanks guys. Being in a wheelchair I can't walk it anymore. Keep the trivia coming

[@gilles111]

23:02, that's the mechanism to manually set the points. At every tram (not only back in the days but modern trams as well) all have an steel "stake" to switch the points. Sometimes because the automated switching fails, sometimes because they only can be hand switched. The old(er) systems around depots were all manual switches. The rebuilt of the backwall of the depot was not only because of the new windows in it but also because backwalls of depots have a hidden feature in it. Those walls are build as "easy to break" - when a tramcar wouldn't stop in the depot, it would break through the wall/doors at the end instead of crashing into the wall. The wall was build in such way the bricks would come easily out of the wall, preventing the depot from collapsing if a tram would hit the backwall. A tram crashing into the street behind the depot would effect less casualties or damage than the collaps of the depot.

[@DJShadesUK]

You beat me to this reply by 4 months. That'll teach me for not scrolling down before adding my own comment about the points 🤣 These switches look like they were single bladed too.

[@gravygames5945]

I remember looking in the woods next to old blackford bridge and finding the old dye works along with a massive dump of bottles, some still with what looked like dye inside, its probably still all there!

[@jameslynch5716]

Another belter our kid.

[@Littlewing6was9]

The Why's and The Weirs.... Sending love Martin, James and squad 🌼

[@algomaone121]

Fascinated by the well!

[@royfearn4345]

I absolutely love industrial archeology and thar old fallen bridge is indescribably romantic, just the sort of thing Turner or any of the romantic painters would have used as inspiration. Great stuff.

[@Andy-From-England]

And another great video buddy 👍 👏 👌 😀 thanks

[@Drivershell53]

just fabulous. great watching, brilliant.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Great to see more tram track. The well looks like it has a cover as there is a straight line by hole 1. Also learned that the word Goight is not just an insult used in Red Dwarf.

[@mrlister2000]

Love Red Dwarf!!!!

[@nesleinf]

The metallic box next to the tramtrack are the box to shift the track i two directions. The tramdriver had a long stick with a "key" that fitted into the hole. When turning it he could make the track shift from side to side...

[@Electra7241]

With apologies for adding to the shoals of interesting comments on this excellent video, I'd like to add a bit about Weaste tram depot. The mystery cut-off track continuing on Hessel Street was part of a "3-point turn" triangular layout used to reverse trams. I have a photograph showing the back of the tram depot, with the tram track behind, it before demolition. The track inside the depot was like new, and we wanted to preserve it when the depot was in use for warehousing, but were told we'd have to reinstate the floor to high and unaffordable standards, so presumably the track was scrapped. We did manage to preserve the 62-ton Grand Union tram junction from "Ship Corner", near Weaste, when the M602 was being built though. The story of that junction would make an interesting episode, which I could help with. The box alongside the points on Hessel Street contains a spring toggle mechanism which holds the points in whichever position they've been set by inserting a point iron, carried on all trams, into the gap either side of the point blade. The hole in the mechanism lid is for inserting a finger or lifter to remove the lid and get at the mechanism to oil or adjust it, or to convert the points into spring-activated mode. The track paving is formed of (pothole-proof!) granite setts, commonly and insultingly referred to as "cobbles". Setts are made in quarries, and form a smooth surface. Cobbles are found in rivers or beaches and form a knobbly surface. I can supply photos to illustrate all of this.

[@SirSidley]

Excellent historical snippets of Manchesters past. ❤️

[@evilborg]

Love old tram lines history

[@peterstecks7660]

Hi Martin. Excellent, as usual. You are right. They are not TRIVIA - they are ESSENTAILS. So you can rename your excellent five historical survivors as Essentials. Cheers mate. Keep 'em coming and stay safe.

[@rogerbarton1790]

At 16:48 I think you're describing a railway line. you can see the curve junction just above the road junction. That thing at 23:10 is most likely where they inserted the lever to change the points. A quick Google tells us concrete was invented around 7000BC. It'd be nice to drop a plumb line down that well. I love these "trivia".

[@rontanser9369]

Wow Martin you took your life into your hands walking over the old Stonebridge

[@stevesmith994]

Well done Martin. Loved this👏👏👏

[@ed659]

Hi Martin, What a great series of videos, what was even more interesting to us was when you visited Blackford Bridge, where we live.. in fact more to the point , you showed a series of photos and in one of them photos, with the houses, in fact our house was in that photo, where could i get a copy of that photo. I’m not sure if you were aware but we found out that the demolished works buildings opposite from us did in fact used to be a bleach works, also it used to be a tannery, the houses we live in (in the photo) were originally built in 1842 and are addressed as ‘Old Bridge End’ and were of course, just off Manchester Old Road. Another snippet we were told was that the reason the bridge was half demolished was originally from an agreement between the Manchester Old road ran between Whitefield & Bury and it a boundary between the two areas, Bury and Whitefield agreed to demolish the old bridge, Bury did their part, but Whitefield decided not to complete their part, so hence it is half demolished.

[@s.rmurray8161]

The interesting thing about the weaste depot tram tracks is what they were connected to. The tracks that you showed us turned into Hessle St which was the street behind the depot. There it split into two tracks which entered the building through two seperate doors. Immediately inside was a "traverser" which was a set of sliding tracks that slid in a recess in the floor. The tram would go onto the traverser and this slid along sideways to line up with one of nine "track lanes" in the garage. The tram then drove off on to its allocated lane. In the morning the trams would drive off through points at the front of the garage though one of two doors out onto Eccles new Rd. There are pictures of this traverser, Hessle St and a garage track plan in the book Salfords Tramwasys vol 2 by Edward Grey.

[@nilo70]

Thanks Guys for taking me along with you today !

[@cecilwilson5442]

Glad to see that they didn't take the makeup of the areas away as they were what made the industrial revolution possible and it put the great in great Britain,, brilliant video thanks for taking the time to put these things together for us to watch top job from Belfast Northern Ireland greatly appreciated ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️most cobbled streets away salvage yards one pound fifty each cobble

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Cecil,

[@pit_stop77]

Lovely tour again Martin, ps the goatee suits you sir 🥰

[@francisthomas1971]

Just found your channel.very good to watch. The part of salford where you found the tram lines and said about the landslide, the actual place we used to call the lanny , short for the landslide. We used to play there as kids. we lived at 325 great clowes street

[@jonathanchalk2507]

Fantastic video 📹 and history of Manchester, and they wonder why people don't watch TV anymore. More please.

[@Mark-ww9sb]

I'm really enjoying your videos. Great historic insights! I'm a Mancunian, born and bred hut haven't lived there for ages now. Presently living in South West France but planning a pilgrimage to visit some of the old sites you have kindly uncovered. Please keep this up. Thank you very much.

[@boilerroombob]

1st class martin I'm watching this in a commercial boiler house while I'm waiting for a intermittent fault to show itself although I think I've found it ....I will see the rest tonight ... if i ever climb Into my crisp bed with my crisp filly x

[@MartinZero]

Good luck with the fault finding

[@AnEnglishmanInNewYork71]

Another brilliant video Martin! You guys do Manchester and it’s storied history PROUD

[@exploringwithaaron2.066]

Loved this Martin always go to that weir in Radcliffe

[@seemorebeer2848]

Point turning Martin 👍🏼 The conductor would use a metal bar in the hole.

[@MartinZero]

Ahh thanks

[@jimmycburfield5997]

The bridge is really beautiful

[@dancedecker]

Martin. Excellent mate as ever and very interesting. The wording on the points at Weaste that you couldn't clearly read, would most probably have read "Edgar Allan of Sheffield," the makers of many of the UK's tram track and points and the world's too for that matter. And yes, that box next to the track with the unclear writing on it, would operate the points with a "points iron" or bar.

[@shepsavagetv]

Love these little finds, thanks Martin, brilliant as always.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers 😃

[@ivanhockenhull2604]

A triumph! Especially the authentic Roman footings. I love this format, Martin, well done.🇯🇪

[@wacholder5690]

It's the small things that make up the big picture. These trivia artifacts are the pixels in it. Thanks for sharing !

[@theradiomechanic9625]

Martin, Another great video. Love the History of the U.K. Miss the Beard. Gave you an air of Authority and Wisdom. Your friend from Manchester, NH U.S.A

[@MrSteffen2020]

Thanks you Martin for a nice video see you next week

[@bullettube9863]

They may be trivial but they are still important and I'm glad that they haven't been destroyed. That well obviously got it's water from a spring and thus would be hard to keep from flooding as ground water can have a constant pressure. Before they bricked it in the spring may have been the source for a small creek flowing toward the river. When they built Central Park in New York City they had to reroute creeks fed by natural springs and as many people lived in the area the creeks became open sewers. So I can imagine what "Little Ireland" must have been like.

[@petersimms4982]

Great double act Martin & James marvelous film

[@jamparker11]

Thankyou! Fantastic as ever!

[@nacekozo]

I used to live in the Czech Republic, and in the days before the tramlines were automated the driver would hop out at junctions with a long metal stick which he would insert in the hole and change the points manually. Presumably the same mechanism was used here.

[@bobingram6912]

Keep these up Martin, five times as much history in one hit, superb👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@iLuvTenerife]

Glad you had a shave- you started to look like Techmoan's grandad 😲. Great video as always Martin - the well was the highlight for me as a real connection to the absolute poverty of the time.

[@MartinZero]

I loved the Well

[@LittleKenny]

Another good one. Thank you Martin.

[@grimern69]

Brilliant Martin. Thank you. You tell the stories so well. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@SlurpyDave254]

I remember the old tram lines , was having a wander round there a while ago. Smashing video again Martin, cheers, Slurp

[@pjsequipmentservicessouth]

I gotta tell ya, I’ve been watching your channel for a while now. Came across it by KZbin suggestions while looking at mine exploring channels . I use to live in Pennsylvania, now in Florida, and have been a history buff since I was in elementary school. Pennsylvania has a lot of historical buildings and mines. But compared to the UK it’s nothing. I love the way you explain the sites you visit, not just go there and say what it is and leave. Someday I would love to visit there and just tour the country, not for the ‘touristy’ places, but for the hidden architectural things. Thank you for showing the places you do, it really brings to light how old and beautiful your country is.

[@rontanser9369]

Thanks Martin a very interesting video as usual but you did make me smile when you were running down the embankment and James was running behind you with the camera you reminded me of Anneka Rice and treasure hunt years ago although sorry to say she had a nicer bub

[@titaniumman1493]

Excellent. Absolutely fascinating as always.

[@douglasthompson296]

Hi Martin, James and the crew. Some further trivia there is a capped off well in the Cruz101 club in the village. When the club first opened it was just an iron grid on top but as clubbers used it dump empty cans/bottles it was capped off with a solid capping. I am sure I can remember the Weaste tram/bus depot had opening doors on the frontage with Eccles road with tram rails running onto Eccles Road as well as on that side road. Also I am sure these double height doors were part of an attempted preservation order as they were ornate and metal? coated. Perhaps something to whet your curiosity. Cheers DougT in Mancs

[@MartinZero]

Thanks for the info Doug, interesting about the well

[@kernow..exp.]

Hi Martin great video and greetings from Cornwall

[@MartinZero]

Greetings to Cornwall

[@djp120970]

Really good Martin great watch

[@ste03]

Hi Martin, thanks for the shout out 👍 glad you managed to do the goits/ weir in Radcliffe. Great video as always. Ste

[@MartinZero]

No problem, thanks for the info

[@MarkJT1000]

Loved the bit about the well. Can't believe I walked past that several times a day for years when I worked in town. I've got a 1849 OS map of Gaythorne and it shows the Medlock still open curving round little Ireland, and Hulme St curving round the river where it meets Lower Chatham St. So that well would be very close to the bank of the river when it was culverted.

[@leemorris3805]

RUN JAMES RUN!!!!! Classic footage!!! Had us in stitches!!! Well done Martin....another brilliantly put together video capturing these little glimpses of our past. Love looking at the old maps !! Sundays with Martin Zero reminds of the days of Time Team with Tony Robinson. Cant give higher praise than that. All the best . Lee.

[@andyhill242]

Wonderful little gems Martin, I think it's important that you are documenting them before their meaning is forgotten forever.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah, I think I may have at least another 3

[@junepeasgood1907]

So we've just watched you're first live stream and we have a few nostalgic things that didn't get named - Name that Tune, Sale of the Century, Tom Foolery, Dr Who!, Grange Hill, Button Moon, Clangers, Stig of the Dump, The Book tower, Rosie and Jim, the one with Magnus Pike?, Newsround, there was also one that was a late night Tiswas (it had more "naughty" bits). I remember the boy who won the pools! Morph, the art program with Tony Hart that Morph was on, On the road (was a public help program to teach people numbers, reading, time etc.) Some mother's do 'ave em.

[@theaethelred3427]

There's so much history hiding in plain view or just beneath our feet.

[@TheBanana93]

Thanks for doing these videos Martin. It saves me ever having to go to that hell hole called Manchester myself haha

[@briandobson9272]

what an interesting video martin it got better the more you watched ,and the well at the end brilliant. thank you. brian d.

[@amacca2085]

Well that well was brilliant the things you must walk past daily and not know Cheers Martin 👍

[@The_Robert.Fletcher]

Thanks for another great video. That well has me intrigued.

[@philtt5698]

Wow! Another great video. That well is amazing. Keep up the great work Martin.

[@pilpelet100]

Thanks for another great video. Have a happy and healthy 2022.

[@kevinhone4048]

Brilliant loved the film

[@welshmanjasonpatrick8607]

Great video Martin like history of great of Manchester like u channel

[@martiehensley4452]

thank so much for more U.K history.