Manchester Town Hall Clock Tower

In this video we visit Manchester Town Hall Clock Tower. We set out from the top floor of Manchester Town hall and climb the clock tower. The stair tower itself is wonderful. We visit the ringing room, the mechanism room and finally the balcony and look out at the great aerial views of Manchester city centre. The town hall was designed in the Neo Gothic style by Alfred Waterhouse in 1868. The great ringing bell is called Great Abel after Abel Heywood the famous Radical Lord Mayor. We see the clock mechanism and the amazing Carillon machine that can play the chiming bells. A donation to the we love Manchester Charity will be made from any revenues made from this video. Thank you Tony and the Team at Manchester City Council.
Music: By Dean Facebook/sensorytriggered
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[@chunkychunks857]

Great to see a man who is proud of his home city and showcasing it to the world.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much

[@nickpodas5636]

@@MartinZero martin this tower also has 12 bells for change ringing

[@ichabodon]

Don’t you just love the Victorian engineers. Their accomplishments should last many centuries and indeed for thousands of years

[@jakeforrest]

They put so much more work into the design then, than we do today. Another thing is that back then, workforce was cheap and materials were expensive. That also explains why they could put so much time into perfecting something. Today it is the opposite way, expensive materials often used carelessly. When you look at old brickwork, you can often see that each brick has been laid with care !

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Ditto

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

@@jakeforrest these days it won't last 10 years or so it seems and there'd be so many whiz-bang things going on the first tickle of static electricity or lightning strike to the building would knock everything out and probably the clock would need internet to keep time you'd have to use an app on your phone to set the time and then when the power goes out the clock can go nuts when it came back on or the system goes out of date and well the app no longer works and you have to buy a whole new clock mechanism instead of just having it work for what seems like forever. The only thing now with these clock towers they're illuminated would probably be led failures which are a thing as everyone knows If you've heard anything about the history of Big Brand well that one has stopped a few times and has gone a bit off as well here and there but there are some clocks that have been running for over 100 years without any major repairs as well which just is a testament to how well things are built and how well things were designed back in the day not like that cheap plastic Chinese junk these days don't get me wrong yeah to make some good stuff but still most of the cheap Chinese junk and the plastic that if you look at wrong would probably break into a million pieces that sort of thing for certain is a real thing in some cases nowadays you probably just have a gearbox connected to a synchronous motor and good luck if the gear train lasts for in a few years if it there is any plastic in it yeah I guess there could be a brass gear or two but now even if it were something that will quality gearbox longer than well something that's meant to be basically disposable like most cheap things these days that if they could just make something that be repairable it could be kept going and yet something that could just last much longer than the typical life of anything these days or at least not decent things that were not meant to last or deliberately made this way and yeah that's the thing as well now if you could make something out of say cast iron and Steel versus plastic that's going to break in a year or less yeah sure you'd only sell one to each person but you could charge a premium because it's something that's going to last a lifetime at least that's what I think should be done and actually put more Pride into like what it used to be not this cheap stuff that you need an app just to turn on your lights and the lights don't work if the internet goes down yeah those sorts of things nowadays those Town clocks are set by GPS and even though they can't keep going well eventually there's going to be some sort of technical trouble that's going to make that clock stop even the old systems that had the synchronous clocks or the minute in pulse or whatever system they're running used to be technically Superior to what's nowadays in place. I had heard about one place where essentially everything in a town was kept in sync but what would look like and Telegraph lines or possibly lines for something on gamewell fire alarm system I don't know why everything in the town was like this it might have been some prototype system who knows. It was either the railroad or possibly telephone company or thereabouts or even the old Telegraph company hard to say but everything was their time to at least one or more Master clocks. Essentially there's a pulse every so often and possibly a longer pulse or something to use for synchronization and every building that would need a synchronization of some sort would have a couple of wires going to utility poles. Essentially what was at the telephone company back in the day was installed initial location and tied into their clock system apparently originally the system was still going strong but later on there were individual clocks that were disconnected into this that kept everything in that building in sink although some systems were still tied into others that kept those in sync which is just wild. From what I remember there was like three or four wires I never heard anything like this before but there was all sorts of things in that town that we're just odd like this apparently they also had a still functioning time ball in the central area but I don't know if that was still functional at the time since I had heard about this through others I'd seen some pics and stuff years ago so I brought this up since they know I was into electrical and electronics and just about anything else. And apparently there was a common system that at noon there were mobile horns and other things that would sound simultaneously throughout the entire city and apparently there was some sort of emergency alert system that was fairly early they could also be sounded centrally as well and apparently this could send out coded blasts if there was a fire in the Town indicate where it was possibly to a connection to a game while system which I believe is what was in place I had heard there was multiple diaphone horns throughout the city as well but I don't know what that was connected to whether that was the fire or something else and I do know originally there was steam whistles Titans system powered by local boilers some of which also ran fire pumps at one time and some of the borders that were used for heating and other uses also drove the fire pumps as a backup for another boiler if that one was not operating. Apparently some of the buildings provided Steam for others and even wasting was used to heat another building and this was not centralized but this might have been something that was attempted to be something that was for the future and maybe the whole thing was something of the designer's dream to be able to do elsewhere but this is the only time I've ever heard anything about this was one area I'm thinking the whole thing with some type of prototype system for the future that never really took off perhaps one designer was trying to think outside the box and well that's as far as it got was the Prototype installation hard to say. However I did hear about somewhere else that had a central clock system in the town that the main Clock Tower kept all the other City clocks and sink at least as far as some of the public clocks and a few other smaller clock towers that were kept in sync but the little corner clocks downtown clocks whatever you want to call them were kept in sink in the same way. Interestingly enough everything has illumination even the other clock towers and the thing is all that was operated together as well it was wired like the serious Street lighting of the day with the large lamps on constant current this included eliminating the individual Street clocks as well! Just interesting choice to say the least had heard about this through more than one person so yeah interesting to say the least and I remember where I used to live they had remnants of the old systems of serious Street lighting here and there

[@jacobstraessle5874]

Even as an American, videos like this give me goose bumps in awe of the history involved in accomplishments such as your bell tower. Thank's for sharing.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Jacob.

[@ioKarush]

Big bell is cool and the best

[@stephenwarhurst6615]

Strange how much Time very was important for those living in years past that people would wait for the town clock to ring on the hour so they could flip and synchronize their hourglasses because clocks where only for the very rich. Now today we take for granted the time shown in the corner of our smart phones.

[@MartinZero]

Yes True Stephen. Its a very subtle but important change

[@stephenw2992]

Here in Hobart Tasmania they used to fire a cannon once a day for people to set their clocks and watches to. Supposedly it could be heard around 40km away.

[@freesaxon6835]

Yes and don't forget the time of day actually varied from place to place in Britain, it was set locally by the local clock

[@Tuberuser187]

@@freesaxon6835 This is true but by the point this tower and clock had been built wasn't the case for most of the country, one of the safety measures steadily introduced by the railway board of trade in the 1840s was a more unified railway timetable which had set in motion most connected parts of country using the same time regardless of longitude (synchronised by telegraph signals) for the sake of accuracy. As the railway clocks where the most accurate anyway, plus to make sure they operated as close to railway timetables themselves most regions adopted the time as defined by railways. The process was well underway by 1847 when the time recorded by the Royal Observatory at Greenwich was adopted as national time (which later became the international Meridian), as a more unified national time became more important the more connected the country became. There would still be a second or twos difference from region to region, due to the technology but clocks being set around the difference in day break and sunset as you travelled from east to west where over before the 1850s.

[@VoklstWestie]

The movie 'Longitude' has insight on all that!

[@simonhewkin8418]

You konw wen you're doing a great job of Manchester history wen the council invite you to things like this Super job Martin

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Simon

[@liamcosgrave5410]

This video moved me to tears. That last couple of minutes after the bells rang was absoloutly stunning . You are fast becoming a true mancunian legend . I know people keep saying you should have your own TV show , but I am so happy that you have complete control of what you make films and tell storys about . Merry Christmas to you and your family and everyone in the comments !

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much John your very kind. All the best

[@RiojaRoj]

D i t t o ... couldn't agree more !

[@RoperGaming]

The engineering and construction that goes into these 150-200 year old buildings is amazing. Now we just live in a concrete jungle and all these old gems are being removed and buried. Absolutely amazing video as always

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Steven

[@6yjjk]

Your enthusiasm and, yes, your love for the old girl shines through. Had me transfixed.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you yes I was so lucky to see this

[@adamshaw2932]

Im from Leigh myself, so not a Manchester lad, but the way you cut to the "Concilio Et Labore" carving after the chimes really sent a shiver down my spine! Manchester, what a city!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Adam. That motto is on all the Fireplaces in the Town Hall

[@bobmcdermott9535]

Leigh town hall is another to visit

[@adamshaw2932]

@@bobmcdermott9535 It really is! ive had to fortune to have a short tour around it and be in the basement. Its a beautiful building. Its also undergoing restoration at the moment but it shouldn't take as long as Manchester's :)

[@triffidgrower]

Once again, thank you for the fantastic glimpses of old Manchester, the city of my forbears. Very best regards for the Festive Season from Australia.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you best regards to Australia

[@BilisNegra]

I really want to thank you for this captivating experience. I'm no British guy (or even a native speaker of the English language for that matter), yet I think can relate to what you must have felt while in there. What a joy to behold, this made my day.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it 👍

[@laszlofyre845]

Hickory dickory dock, Mr. Zero went up the clock, The clock struck three, And what did we see? Another excellent vlog. I apologise, couldn't resist it, been at my home made ginger beer again, which came out quite alcoholic! Hurrah!Ggod save The king!! Hic burp phew. Martin, the chimey thing you refer to is a CARRILION, Note the second 'I'. We aren't too big on them over here for some reason, but in the Low Countries, they are much more appreciated. I've happy memories of listening to many Belgian ones donkeys years ago on my beer trips to Ghent,and such places, they have a spectacular one there. An early example of analog binary code, on the puch rolls, like a Jacquard loom. Thanks for the vid mate, I envy your access opportunities. All the best for Christmas mate. Cheers.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Laszlo the Ginger beer sounds quite tempting

[@laszlofyre845]

Indeed it was. New batch in the offing any day now. Lots of work but can't buy good stuff now, since sugar tax! A happy, safe, and interesting New Year to you, Connor, and everyone at Zero Towers. Cheers.

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

I figured somebody would do something like that but yeah myself probably wouldn't have resisted either what are you giving them to temptation I know it says not to give into temptation but when somebody comes up with something like that you're talking about a clock tower or some spectacular clock it's going to be there somewhere. Also has anyone heard the gag with the mouse went up the clock. About more than one Mouse going up to clock the Clock Struck One and down the others come or something like that I've heard a few variants but it always gives me a chuckle every time I hear something about that I always remember about the Muslim I still have to clock and one getting struck there is so many ways to go on something like that it just brings out your creative juices. Also at some history museum somewhere I went to my father happened to point out something that I was not aware that would be there he wasn't either. Otherwise we would have probably gone there before that. There was a mechanism from a clock tower in the museum itself but not in the town 8 hour but just set up and running and it was one that had been either electrified at one time or was originally electric cannot remember. I have seen more than one Clock Tower mechanism in my life time. But I have a feeling that one was electric originally because they use mercury switches to operate the chime mechanism. Although the belle of course had wrappings Around The Clapper so it wouldn't be as loud as it was originally you should have seen the size of those Mercury switches and the size of the solenoid that operated the Bell mechanism probably the largest solenoid I'd ever seen. It must have been what over 4 in in diameter the nap was just a coil wrapping itself. I do believe it was line voltage? Although I'm thinking. The mechanism had originally use DC power because the motor had a tag on it that said something earlier or DC in terms of current and voltage so chances are it was back when they use DC power for everything! This was a weight driven clock except it was rewound electrically so the motor would only be energized intermittently to rewind the weights I think it could run for a few hours per winding but don't know for sure. Also looking forward to seeing the video on the hydraulic power system I had heard something about that previously and had forgotten to check KZbin! There's also a great video on Big Bear and yes I know that's not the official name of the clock tower it's the largest Bell but everyone should know the Clock Tower by that name! Also check out the article on big band on Wikipedia as well even more details and info fascinating article.

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Yes pretty much like those automated Looms that was actually really the first programmable computer one could say at least that would have been at the time at the time there's a big innovation. But of course computer is in the eye of the beholder. For example the old mechanical gas pumps that use the mechanical register they had sets of Gears that could be swapped out for different gear ratios in order to program the price of gas per gallon. One could even consider the coin box on a bus that used the mechanical mechanism to count change as a computer as well because pretty much anything that can take inputs of one form or another and produce something as an output could be considered a computer. Which includes carillons that play punched tape AKA music roll or even the player piano. Even an electromechanical pinball machine could be considered a computer even though it's electromechanical the inputs or switches the output is Chimes Bells in the scoring rails and other relays that do other functions and the lights of course. Technically anything that would use either electrical electromechanical or mechanical logic would be technically a computer even if it were simple logic gates so pretty much anything that would have a specific program function even if it's fixed even mechanical so could be considered a computer! Even things that existed before the term computer was coined could still be considered computers me not be Electric or electronic

[@URTonemanclan]

Thank you Manchester City Council for having Martin do this video.... Thank you Martin... loved the mechanism.... Merry Christmas to you!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Daniel and a Merry Christmas

[@highpath4776]

@@MartinZero Is The Town Hall essentially a Steel Frame building - or is it stonework and brick throughout?

[@credenza1]

Glorious. A testament to the industry and capability of the people of Manchester.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much

[@suzantonn1188]

WOW! I can't imagine what it must have been like to plan and execute such a building. It's amazing to me that the carillon combines intricate machinery with simple perforated rolls of paper like that of a player piano. My favorite part are those massive ancient unadorned wood beams. Simple and timeless.

[@rickgustafson2647]

hey Martin! Love your videos! I live in Utah U.S.A., and barely know where in England Manchester is, but love the history of your great country and bumped into your channel early last year. Keep up the passion!!

[@valerielongmore5040]

Bravo Martain, exceptional, spine tingling goosebump bell by Taylors of Loughborough. I think Abel Heywood was also a book publisher. The views from the tower reveal much beauty in the design by waterhouse. You did us proud lad!

[@mickd6942]

Wow that ex mi6 covert survailance camera on your head is undetectable , if you hadn't told us no one would have known you were wearing it lol, Merry christmas and happy new year

[@MartinZero]

Rather subtle wasnt it 😆Happy Christmas Mick

[@gablia2002]

Lmfao. ...... I read the comments before I watched. . I actually lol'd 😂😂😂

[@nojhampton]

What camera?

[@simontay4851]

How heavy was it. Did your neck hurt after filming this?

[@nunnaurbiznez8815]

So cool. I praise those folks who called you to document this. This kind of video and channel are what make KZbin so awesome. Without this platform so many truly beautiful parts of our history would keep quietly wasting away. Hopefully channels like yours are bringing up a new generation that will value their history!❤

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Nunna

[@mikeclarke3882]

Hello Martin, Sat up late to watch this (due to the time difference between Manchester and Western Australia)...fan-bloody-tastic mate, well done! Looking forward to watching what comes next. Great choice of music too! All the best....

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Mike really appreciate you staying up. All the very best

[@credenza1]

Another West Australian fan!

[@mikeclarke3882]

You can take the lad out of Manchester, but it's a little harder to take Manchester out of the lad...even when he lives on the other side of the planet.

[@ericjackson364]

Martin, that was wonderful. Thank you. For more information on the finial at the top of the tower, see if you can contact David Rhodes or anyone that knows him. He worked in the Architect's Dept. at the Town Hall and basically ensured that it was taken out of storage in the basement and placed back where it belonged. It was known by Town Hall employees as Rhodes' Folly. I knew David back in the late 70s but haven't seen him since.

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

With that finial the spiky ball what I was thinking is as you probably noticed in other parts of the video there were these ginormous copper cables and splice connections everywhere which of course are used for various lightning rods on the towers and the building I was thinking in that racially is that that ball on top may have actually served originally is a lightning rod for the top of the tower which might probably be its original purpose which sometimes things like that that seem to be decorative do have a functional purpose such as gargoyles were initially used could divert rainwater from the roofs of large structures also sometimes they were abused by Powers Boothe ventilation slats as part of ventilation for buildings that's why on some farm buildings and Barnes there would be Easy's structures sticking out the top with the louvers although some of those were strictly for looks but others were a ventilation shaft!

[@djkelly7778]

As an ex-pat Manc who loves her home city, and especially the town hall, I really enjoyed this little tour of the clock tower. I visited the town hall a couple of years ago with two former school chums (Notre Dame) and loved the bust of Sir John Barbirolli in the lobby. We had the privilege of singing at the Free Trade Hall many years ago in a concert conducted by Sir John. So many happy memories of a great city.

[@DavidJones-hi3xp]

I had the privilege of working in that wonderful building in the late 1990’s. As part of the Town Hall Building Services team, I was able to explore the whole complex, it wasn’t a job-it was an absolute joy. There is so much history and architecture there. I am really looking forward to the other videos. I have so many memories of my time there. Great stuff Martin.

[@MartinZero]

Its great isnt it David. Thank you

[@carolinegray3150]

Nice sound of the bells

[@FoxDren]

You just don't get beautiful architecture like that anymore. It's all steel and concrete boxes maybe clad in glass

[@MartinZero]

Yes true. The place is truly incredible

[@highpath4776]

@@MartinZero Needs an external clean, about half of manchester, somewhat less if you include the greater manchester towns and cities, has been given a wash from the smoke fire days, probably three quarters in Lonond.

[@plhebel1]

I know what I will be talking about the next few weeks to my friends, What a place, I got a bit choked up watching this video. I never have seen anything like this before, Manchester and it's iconic town hall has just become my favorite place that I will probably never get to see in person, Your all very blessed to have leaders in that past with the kind of ideas that makes dreams a reality.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Paul, yes nothing but reverence for this place

[@jackbarnes3041]

The Town Halls an impressive building but those shots of the inside of the clocktower and over the balcony show the scale of it that you don't really appreciate from street level

[@MartinZero]

Yeah its amazing Jack

[@10p6]

Awesome Video. As a 7 or 8 year old kid, around 1980, I actually managed to climb the clock tower with my mum. I am not sure if they allowed people to do it back then, or if my uncle working there helped, but it brings back some awesome memories. Thanks, and have a Merry Christmas.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much, that would have been great at that age !!

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Car reminds me once being a lighthouse I even got one of the old bulbs that was burned out years ago as a souvenir. Having full access to the whole area even parts that were almost never gone in because they were condemned at least technically so but still stable enough to actually go inside I did get all the way up to the very top of the tower as far as you can go and everywhere else that was safe to do so was even greed by The Keeper of the light at that time and a couple of the maintenance Engineers as well very special trip I can tell you that apparently this headed arranged there's no way that it could have just happened if you know what I'm saying and yes evidently someone somewhere had connections but don't know the whole story still scratch my hand on this

[@exileinderby51]

Yet another superb video, your love of the city shines throughout it. If you fancy travelling further afield, Taylor's bell foundry is still going strong in Loughborough and is well worth a visit. All the best for Christmas and the New Year.

[@MartinZero]

I would love to go visit it thanks very much

[@rowly132]

@@MartinZero That would be a fantastic add on to this film Martin.

[@simontay4851]

Yes, go there. Do it!

[@UnbeltedSundew]

Dude this is so cool. I'm very glad Manchester City Council invited you to film there.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much. Yeah incredible place I am very grateful

[@darreno9874]

Hi Martin, the company who cast the bells are still going in Loughborough, and do tours, so if you ever venture that far south they may even be able to show you the moulds that the bells were cast in. Love what you do. God bless

[@terryengland1880]

What a fantastic town hall, great video

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Terry

[@mroconnell1775]

love it , I always knew angels watch over Manchester.

[@cargy930]

I must admit, I first thought it was a high diver until I saw the wings!

[@MartinZero]

Indeed they do

[@johncarold]

Since the last time I watched this video, I have seen some beautiful pictures of the UK, and clock towers have become my favorite thing to see. I watch urban exploration, and I love it when they have a clock tower, but it is also sad that they will never play again. Thanks again

[@chrisspain5411]

You are so lucky to have been invited to see such a wonderful tower and bells.

[@MartinZero]

I was Chris and Iam very grateful

[@cargy930]

Manchester Town Hall has fascinated me since I saw a documentary about it many years ago (I think Dan Cruickshank did one in the early 2000s too). I kept wondering (and hoping) that you'd give it the "Martin touch" one day. Best video ever. Production quality was off the scale, and the music was sublime. Thanks to Manchester Council for allowing us this glimpse into a beautiful civic structure, and I hope that this is just the start of them working with your channel regularly. Finally, Have a great Christmas, Marty.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you. yes there is more to come

[@catherinefall2696]

Thank you for sharing another of Manchester’s magnificent buildings, the workings of the clock and chimes were just fascinating. Happy Christmas from Tasmania, Australia 🎄

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Catherine and best regards to Tasmania

[@pauldevey8628]

Martin, great video. I reposted links to it on a local Ottawa mechanical clock and watch facebook page. Hopefully more viewers.

[@jetsons101]

Hi Martin, just watched this video again and forgot how good it was... There is nothing like the Westminster Chimes. The music towards the end of the video was great, it really set the mood of the history of the tower. Thanks for all your time and as usual a other great watch.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Mike

[@SarahGreen523]

What an absolute treat that was! I think I could spend four hours in there too. I've always been fascinated by gears and clockwork, and I'd probably spend an hour just watching that. But the architecture! Those timbers! All those tiny doors leading out to secret spaces! What a treasure Manchester has!

[@MartinZero]

Yes it was great and thanks Sarah

[@gingerbread6614]

This is kind of a Christmas present for a lot of people. That is so neat. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you and all the best for 2020

[@VoklstWestie]

God Bless you Martin! You bring me & the world such Great History while documenting your hometown of Manchester. The Industrial age of water, electricity, logistics, trains, ships, residential & commercial all crammed into one city. You bring it to us all on your beautiful videos. I look forward to each & every one! Thank You from Chicago Renee!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much Renee and best wishes to Chicago

[@markmatthews1569]

Great video Martin the insides of the TOWN HALL are also nice to look at, The STONEWORK/MASONRY, THE WOODWORK and the huge doors with high quality BRASS HINGES

[@MartinZero]

Cheers mark, yeah amazing place

[@philtimson5449]

Of course you did it justice Martin Lovely film, thanks for sharing and thanks to the ‘thoughtful’ council. Enjoy a bit of time of now fella

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Phil

[@bazstrutt8247]

Fantastic as always.... Happy holidays everyone!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Baz. Happy Holidays

[@Dan23_7]

Baz Strutt Merry Christmas

[@SavfkMusic]

This is so incredibly beautiful.. Thank you so much for using my music as soundtrack.. I'm truly honoured and grateful! Hope you guys like my music :) Keep creating!!

[@Tony-xx2vs]

Your music is beautiful and magnificent thanks so much for creating and sharing it.

[@doncoffey5820]

Simply wonderful Martin and good on you for donating to charity.

[@MartinZero]

thanks very much Don

[@colinc5269]

Martin , it was a quality production . Nothing less than one would expect from you .........well done .

[@johnathanrowley2707]

Would be great if all Martins videos was on dvd, tv as he is good as Fred dibnah and his videos are really intresting.

[@LittleCarol]

I would buy all the DVD's definitely a great thing to have. I don't have a smart tv.

[@englishcat19]

Johnathan Rowley yes, I’ve said before he reminds me of Fred Dibnah, the passion they have for their subject is very watchable

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Jonathan. I walk in Freds Shadow

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

@@LittleCarol by the way I often passed these videos full screen to my TV just because of detail involved instead of watching on mobile normally not worth it for just any ol video although few exceptions but this is one of those times yes at least just for me.

[@stephenmeadowcroft8463]

Just recently found your videos. the commitment to your passion and quality of your work is inspiring. thankyou for sharing

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Ditto on that probably came after a lot of those exploration videos have been watching and history videos Etc probably a trigger the algorithm I'd say now if one could only know what to search for to get things they wanted for real in the algorithm positively stuff they be interested in it but not the other crap

[@andrewschmitz9707]

Had to watch again, and what I would do to explore this beautiful part of Manchester history.

[@rydermike33]

You certainly did that wonderful clock tower justice Martin. What a beautiful 'living' mechanism. Great Able can certainly 'speak' loud and clear. Very many thanks for another facinating video.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Mike

[@soulfabuk]

Another wonderful video Martin and a chance for others to share in this rare opportunity. Maybe Manchester Council could make you their official videographer for all things historic ;-) Merry Christmas to you.

[@MartinZero]

That would be good. Thank you Jim

[@LittleCarol]

Brilliant idea, Jim Ashbridge, perhaps we should write to the Council and suggest it

[@soulfabuk]

@@LittleCarol I'm up for that. They must have many buildings and treasures that Martin could vlog about. Manchester born and bred and with a professionalism and enthusiasm to bring any subject to life...his work would be educational and a valuable historical asset.

[@garethmitchell8140]

Great vid Martin. Some great perspectives of the wonderful building that is Manchester town hall. I particularly like the cameo appearance of Tony! He’s my brother! Glad to see our kid being of assistance.😄

[@Tony-xx2vs]

😎

[@Tony-xx2vs]

Share it Gaz

[@MartinZero]

Ahh yeah, great Cameo 😄

[@guychallis9427]

I love the music accompanying all your videos Martin, & of course the videos themselves. Well done sir.

[@tomboulton9104]

Very cool to see the movement and the bells! I am a bell ringer!

[@jon99t]

great video Martin. I look forward to see you in the new year with moor great things about ower city Manchester

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Jon, back next year

[@highpath4776]

@@MartinZero Yep. plenty of moors around to visit

[@whiteeaglewarrior]

Oh wow....that was one helluva Christmas geek treat - that was awesome how the engineering behind the bell, and being in the actual belfry....sometimes, there are no words. Thank you for sharing

[@MartinZero]

Yes incredible and thank you

[@lindamccaughey8800]

Oh wow and wow again, that was fabulous. What a wonderful structure. Thank you so much for taking me along

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Linda

[@williammullenholz431]

Totally awesome! Martin, you are an invaluable credit to Manchester, about which we in the States we know so little, but owe so much.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much William, your very kind

[@johncarold]

Iove this video. I am in the USA and we have nothing like this we're I'm at. You have to remember that the US is only 250 years old so I would love to see this tower. I also want to see Russia Churches. Thanks for the video.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Johnny. I think the tours will be back on in a couple of years

[@lawrenceflanagan5037]

Absolutely great,why one thumbs down?. We built it,paid for it and never get to see it,Thanks Martin. Where did we go on our only school trip? the Odeon Cheetham Hill for Henry V.,much rather have seen the Town Hall.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you lawrence. they used to do Trips up the tower but they will be on again in a couple of years when its done. Cheetham Hill 😃

[@English_Dawn]

But it must have been the Laurence Olivier version so there is that. 🙂

[@ChristineCope]

You certainly did it justice Martin. Part of this fabulous video made me fill up. What an incredible city Manchester is. Thank you

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much Christine thats very touching

[@maryrobins8246]

Great video Martin. You surely did it justice. The music fantastic. What an honour for you to go into the workings of the clock tower. Well done!!

[@notsohairybiker]

Hey Martin, wow, well jealous, you do get to go places where us mere mortals could not get access to, fantastic stuff yet again. Now I know how a bell tower looks, lots of supporting timbers and metal holding everything in place. Bet you enjoyed that one! Keep them coming.

[@MartinZero]

It was brilliant Simon and I felt very lucky. thank you

[@zeberdee1972]

I take it the two thumbs down are just jealous of such a amazing building , dont feel sad we cant all have such an impressive building . If we did then they wouldn't be so impressive .

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Nathan. 😀👍

[@heathhealey7049]

What a fantastic building and amazing views from the top showing some fantastic old buildings and some new modern ones great video well done Martin

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Heath

[@teabag1954]

Outstanding Martin. I left the UK years ago, you bring me home. And good on the Council for inviting you.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much Bob

[@tommoran1301]

Wow just wow absolutely outdone yourself there Martin loved every second of that video well done and happy Xmas and new year all the best

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Tom. Merry Christmas to you

[@hestine7845]

Truly amazing work Martin, always intrigued to watch!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much really appreciate it

[@richardwills-woodward5340]

All I can say is, in response to all your videos I have been binge watching since discovering you, is the Georgians and Victorians in particular, left us with a legacy, a legacy that built the modern world, a legacy we should be worthy of in their shadow.... and we're not.

[@TDIMAXDIESEL]

Very interesting and beautiful ! Thanks for sharing !😊🇨🇦

[@TheSadButMadLad]

Those scenes of Manchester from the top deserve a Gigapixel camera to catch all the detail.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah it was an amazing view

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

But how to Uplink that to the internet? Well you might have noticed possibly ethernet cable up there somewhere in the room with all the equipment for the carillon you could try that LOL.

[@Brutalwhan]

Hey Martin. Happy Christmas buddy

[@MartinZero]

Merry Christmas to you 👍

[@Raffles666]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all #teamzero :)

[@ChurchOfTheHolyMho]

Another beautiful episode. Anytime you can experience such great architecture and end up inside a musical instrument - life is good. The views from the top were pretty good too. Thanks for sharing.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much

[@Kneichion]

I was smiling a lot watching this. I have had the Honour of doing similar local to me. The Church dates back from the early 1400s. Initially, with my father’s business, we were asked to replace and repair Fluorescent Lights in the Clock Room and Bell Room. Was a long way up, had to use make-shift safety ropes. I am glad my father insisted we took ear protection and was watching the time. Was an amazing experience. As a photographer, I was approached to take photos of the original wood carvings of the Angels around the Church, as they were so high up you couldn’t really see them clearly by eye. I also took photos of the wooden beams inside. 36 shot to gain a detailed ultra-wide and high resolution. My photos ended up in a book and are in the National Archive in London. The Church originally had a flat roof with the spire later added. Getting up to the roof was hanging on nervously on an old metal ladder pinned into the wall. Now replaced with a wooden ladder. When you stood on the original roof looking up, looked just like your video, breath-taking. The Next Step was an old ladder going up to just one window/doorway, very narrow, also high up. Was tricky with the ladder slipping on the sloped roof. Being a big chap, getting through the opening was a challenge. But the View was stunning 360 all-round the town. Unlike the Town Hall, the walls narrower and only just above your knees. Taking some photos, my legs shook. A made a good relationship with the keeper as he was a keen photographer.. Went up many times. Loved watching as it brought back memories as well and loving seeing the bells and architecture from back then in Manchester.

[@MartinZero]

Fascinating but scary places arent they Andrew

[@Kneichion]

@@MartinZero For sure, not fit enough to do it atm lol Best ever was inside a Wind Tunnel before they stripped it down, no cameras sadly.

[@SueGirling68]

Oh wow Martin, this has to be the best video you have ever made, what an absolutely stunning building and the architecture is outstanding. I loved your narration as you took us round telling the history and inner working, fabulous. A fantastic, well researched and well made video. I'm spellbound, thank you. I want to wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and an even better new Year, big hugs. xx

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Sue. Really appreciate it. All the best for 2020

[@SueGirling68]

@@MartinZero Thanks Martin. x

[@t_ruth555]

Fantastic martin! Just beautiful . So much to take in , a beautiful building in the heart of this great city. The struture where the bell (great abel) is housed reminds me of the large Hadron collider. It's amazing. Thanks for sharing. ❤💛💚

[@MartinZero]

Yes its incredible. I was awe struck. thanks very much

[@eefjuh5533]

You did it justice. With compassion❤️ Thank you for a beautyful video!

[@michaelgamble296]

A beautiful video Martin - thank you so much for making it

[@petersheridan2993]

I got to be very old! Remember making Gun Brass bearings or Oil ringer bearings for line shafts in the sixties. The power for the line shaft is a small steam turbine. bet it would still work. Fantastic Vlog Martin.

[@stephenw2992]

So that machine Martin thought might be run by the town hydraulic system, would have been steam powered, and connected via a belt to the line shaft system on the ceiling, that would have belts back down to various bits of machinery powered by its rotation?

[@highpath4776]

@@stephenw2992 Belting Drive systems can be run by any source of power, steam direct drive or turbine, diesel engine, leccy, or water for example. The hydralic pressure system certainly would do the trick too.

[@stephenw2992]

@@highpath4776 I know that, I have seen plenty of pictures of them being run by steam stationary and traction engines, and there were gas and oil engines with a pulley to do the same thing. I just wanted to confirm whether Peter was saying the machine in this video and its plumbing was a steam turbine.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Peter

[@petersheridan2993]

@@MartinZero Looking forward to next year!! May your Subscribers grow!! Happy New Year!

[@cosmicwartoad2587]

One about the Central Library should be interesting

[@MartinZero]

Yes, be good to get in there as well

[@ianbrown9108]

Marvellous video. Fascinating subject. We love visiting Manchester, such a friendly city,proud of its history and its people. Keep these videos coming. 👏

[@peter15871]

absolutley cracking video, very kind of the council to let you loose in the clock tower, great intro well worth the effort to climb up to the top .Well done martin..

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Peter

[@davidkennedy5044]

Amazing, superb again Martin, why your not on the history channel or discovery is a bit of a Mystery, all the best

[@davidkennedy5044]

Typo put a full stop instead of A, oh well lol

[@leew8812]

@@davidkennedy5044 shame there isn't an edit function

[@davidkennedy5044]

Just realised just how much work you put into this, you must have made this over at least 4 months.

[@davidkennedy5044]

Lee Williams I didn’t realise there was, but there is so I updated it cheers

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much David. I did film it over two separate days

[@HarryCoal]

Another great video Martin. I look forward to your explores. Merry Christmas to you and yours and all the best for the New Year.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Harry Merry Christmas to you

[@frankintegrity706]

Wow! Your hard work is paying off Martin some amazing access gained .Town Hall tower,Alderly edge copper mines too name bur two.One day the underground canals at Worsley maybe .

[@MartinZero]

I would love to go in the Canals at Worsley Frank but I think Danger and gas would prevent it

[@davekauffman8727]

I'm pleased that the City of Manchester has recognized your devotion to its history. Yes, I can tell that you were humbled by the sense of historical greatness, It's a credit to the City that the building still stands after so many years, seems they build things with the intention of tearing them down!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Dave, yes it was a very humbling experience to be in such a magnificent place

[@stephenc6648]

Great work as ever. I lived in Manchester for a few years and had no idea that there was a carillon in the town hall. Taylors of Loughborough are still going and the town itself has a war memorial tower in its main park that contains a carillon. Looking forward to your next one. How about Rochdale Town Hall? That is less well known and probably as interesting. Have a great Christmas.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Stephen. I would do Rochdale if I was allowed in

[@digofthedump]

merry xmas martin gl happy searching.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much Merry Christmas

[@johnallright6847]

Fantastic that ,I have been in town hall on a couple of occasions as a tourist and had my eyes opened today. Good job.

[@hongtenjonh2301]

This video let me learn a lot about the Town Hall clock tower history, thanks a lot.

[@CarlaHolley]

The bell was created at a Loughborough Bellfoundry. And now, the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust (LBT) was established to hold the John Taylor Bellfoundry site in perpetuity to ensure the last remaining bellfoundry in Britain would not be lost.

[@highpath4776]

I think Whitechapel is still casting bells, just not in Whitechapel (did they move out to Suffolk area recently?)

[@MartinZero]

Wow thats great Carla. I am glad its being protected

[@josephhill12790]

Whitechapel are not casting anymore

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

@@MartinZero yes I would agree wholeheartedly. Has anyone ever seen Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs with the one with the McShane Bell Foundry that might be an interesting watch pretty sure it's probably on KZbin Somewhere as long as Discovery has not taking it down since they now have their own streaming service yeah Discovery Plus. I was wondering how long it would be until they have something like that I always thought if a channel like that would have streaming content of everything they ever produced on might sort of Navy but not likely be willing to pay for it. Although and now there are some TV networks can't remember which one it's a local off of air station that does actually carry some of the Discovery Channel shows can't remember the name of the channel but I do watch it here and there! By the way I either do streaming or off air I do not use cable or satellite provider or dedicated the TV from other providers let's just say because the one I'm with is the worst let's just say U-verse cough cough cough. It's down more than it's up we are locked into it where I stay only getting worse seems when weather is bad especially or it's been wet or still wet out after bad weather. Even sometimes very windy weather suspect somewhere there is water Ingress somewhere in the system or something else that would the influence by weather conditions. Definitely outside of the residence for sure! Had so much trouble with that content provider Aki phone company over the years multiple people Fed Up wish I had Comcast can I get you to being locked into you-know-who. No fault of mine but where I live that it Monopoly that for some reason is allowed to persist!

[@TerminusVox]

Excellent video! I'm curious about the walls of the spiral staircase. Has there been a fire in the clock tower? The walls in there seem blackened.

[@6yjjk]

I'd imagine that's just from being in a British city before anyone gave a damn about air pollution.

[@highpath4776]

@@6yjjk Every room would have had a coal fire, either open, or some brazier type smaller ones . plenty of soot carried up and around by warm air.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yes I think it was just the air quality

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

@@highpath4776 by the way if you're ever in any old buildings if you go to the right places that would not be really seem to the public and or usually not even open and it was far enough back even here in the United States especially if the place was heated by Steam or at least at some time for example the old church where I used to go to and my father used to work I do remember in some areas and also in the organ Chambers the walls were very very dark you could see just suit from all the years because originally the boiler with fire by coal as a fuel. I still remember in the Boiler Room at the ferry back if you kept going and through a doorway if you were to look up you would see what apparently is a manhole. And some places that would be called a coal hole. That was the original coal bunker. Where to cold truck would pull up swing a shoot over normally kind of like they would for concrete truck you could say and unload coal into that area. As a matter of fact my parents first house they owned was originally heated by coal. In the Basement foundation just above ground there was a what looks like a brick window well sort of except there was a metal door which was originally used as a coal hatch for the same purpose. Also on my mother's side The Farmhouse was originally heated by coal as well I still remember for longest them heating with coal then later on they switch the wood but in the transition they burn both coal and wood in the furnace. I remember one morning or maybe early day? And there was smoke coming up from the heat registers was a little bit worried you could say. Didn't know what was going on or if something had gone wrong or something like that because I've not seen that before anywhere at all. Turns out they had not significantly warmed up the furnace in preheated the chimney enough to get a decent grass going before firing up the furnace full bore and us until warmed up and got enough breath going the smoke was coming out of the heat registers it looked as though originally it was meant for gravity feed heat but I do know it did have a blower but I don't know if that was an add-on or not at some time. Probably the most dangerous thing of all was above that furnace there was a sheet of asbestos for good reason if the power was out that furnace the top of it could become red hot I don't know if that was yours or furnace or not hard to say. Also for the control over heat output of the Furnace there's a will black Bakelite knob on a little black plate in the master bedroom on the baseboard there a pulley attached to Dad with a loop of Jack chain and that pulley was designed to engage that bike gear rack. It went through police went to the damper of the air intake and also a damper on either an air Inlet into the chimney flue pipe or inline cannot remember long time ago. It's been converted to LP gas now same with one the fireplaces as well that fireplace have been unused for years but that's the first thing that used LP gas there. Rural Farmhouse of course! I have fond memories of that house was hoping to go down there this year but of course could not! I think this has been at least the first time in a very long time I've not been to my folks for Christmas perhaps one other time in my life?

[@marklawson8346]

👍🏻 thumbs up great Martin

[@MarkJT1000]

Ah great video Martin. As soon as I saw the title I knew this would be right up your street. I did the clock tower tour a few years ago when I worked for the Council. I see it still only receives the minimum amount of decoration and maintenance, but that's all part of its aura. It looks like you were stood under the main bell when it rang? Incredible the way it vibrates your whole chest cavity. Fortunately it was only 2 o'clock when we were there. 😀 Too late now I know but I bet you could have done a series of videos on the Old Town Hall building. Your love of Manchester shining through again.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Mark, yeah I went in the tower whilst it was ringing 😃

[@timdaugherty5921]

That’s more impressive than London!!

[@MartinZero]

I loved it. Ive never seen Londons Tim

[@cargy930]

@@MartinZero I'm an ex-Londoner, and I agree with Tim.

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Yes much more impressive than Big Ben and yes I know it's the name of the largest bill not at our but everyone knows Big Band by the name Big Ben so yeah. And for anyone that's interested there is of course at least one decent KZbin video on that if not more than one. Also people may not realize that the the Chimes from Big Ben or broadcast all around the world! There's microphones for that exclusive use in the tower!

[@gerardjones7881]

Trap door is safe as long as you don't put the rope around your knack. Many a ringer has become a pendulum.

[@highpath4776]

Is the trap door like many in flour mills, etc, where it opens for things coming up to the top, rather than to swing to allow most things down ?

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

I hope that was a joke but theoretically in some circumstances that might just happen in some bell towers that are run manually with pull ropes I actually once heard a story about that actually happening it had been passed down centuries but to this day can not confirm if this was an actual occurrence or Notch it have something to do with also a story about the bell tower being haunted supposably a bell ringer round up some helm getting a bell rope around his neck or something in some way don't remember but there were even people that at that time had reported seeing that ghosts of the bell ringer which of course is unsubstantiated and you would have to somehow be able to document it in photographs or video 2 ruled out but of course there was no evidence of an existing at that time so that could just be one of those stories has passed down to the church all those years or an embellishment about an injury in a belt in the Bell Tower. There was one in the town I used to live in about a phantom light in a bell tower that no one could explain and there was no electricity up there either it was in the top of a tower that for years no one could even get to because the original ladder had rotted away also in that Tower there were no bills but originally they were intended to be but a church across the way had gotten Bells also that was the case with the Bell Tower at my folks church as well because originally there were going to be Pals but another church across the way had over a had Bell's or something like that also when they did the update and new construction they wanted to use the belt AR for the elevator butt course was not structurally appropriate.

[@nickbenke3306]

In the first few seconds I expected Marty McFly to walk in. lol. Great work as always mate!

[@MartinZero]

Ha, I know what you mean

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Would have been a great gag to include that in some Clocktower video from someone I bet you it's been done at least once in the history of KZbin

[@stevecunningham8818]

Hi Martin. Another great video. What a building that is. I was amazed to come across the frontage of the original town hall standing forlorn in Heaton Park.