What remains of Agecroft Power Station

In this video we explore the remains of the once mighty Agecroft Power Station in Salford/Manchester. We initially started out Photographing The Thirlmere aqueduct and this led to us getting a tour around the now abandoned former Power station in Manchester / Salford. In this Urbex, Urban explore we get to see the remains of this once Industrial giant. Agecroft was linked to Agecroft Colliery and took its coal from there. We looks at the shunting steam locomotives, Industrial Locomotives. That resided there and see some old photos of the Turbine hall and the old control rooms. We finally get into one of the control rooms of the power station and see the urban decay that has taken place. Agecroft was opened in 1925 and was finally demolished in 1994 in a controlled explosion that felled the cooling towers and the chimney stacks.

[@JimmyLemon]

Legend has it that Martin is never more than 300 yards from the River Irwell

[@oakknobrocks1772]

Corrections: Rivers Irwell OR Medlock

[@alantaylor2019]

Haha that's right haha

[@johnkelly516]

Eeerm...

[@TheAlfsterino]

Definetely, huge history around the ship canal. Well worth taking the 6hour cruise up or down it.

[@Gribbo9999]

Martin doesn't even know there are places that exist beyond the sound of the waters of Irwell.

[@MrStephen54]

Thanks Martin...and you've saved me from watching shite on the telly....

[@C345OFR]

Exactly. Finally cancelled the TV Licence a couple of months ago and am only gutted it wasn't done sooner. There's enough free content online and on demand if I need something to watch

[@a.davidson3002]

Hi Martin. The first building you entered was the former North Western Regional Training Centre for the CEGB. It's primary function was to train instrument/mechanical and electrical apprentices. It closed in the 90's. There's a pic' of a bloke in white overalls in 'C' station control room (the green one) holding a clipboard .. it's Brian Hill (unit operator). Also the head loco driver (who's featured in a couple of pics) was Ken Corfield. Sadly Ken passed in 2018 aged 93.

[@davidroberts2307]

Nice one mate, giving the video a bit of life.

[@chriswilkinson5796]

Do you know the names of any others who worked in C station control room?

[@BestUserNameUK]

​​@@chriswilkinson5796 Sam Morris, Bob Pirie, Bernard Burns, Tom Bennett, Alan Berwick, Johnny Plum, Steve Brindle, Bill Hobson, Charlie Armstrong, Adrian Townley, John Critchley, Ken Topping... all 'C' shift.

[@mickd6942]

Fair play on the guard , hope he doesn't get into trouble for it , the security at doncaster locomotive works used to do the same on sunday afternoons , I once was security on an eddie stobart depot and one sunday morning was amazed to see loads of people with cameras taking photos through the fence of the trucks that were lined up , so i did the decent thing and let them into the yard on condition they stayed together and didn't wander off , they walked over to the tractor units took their photos and left all good and they were genuinly chuffed to bits.

[@lisab9550]

Filled with pride when the control/operations room was shown and especially the Turbines. My Dad gave over 30 years committed service to Agecroft Power Station. He worked on the Turbines. He loved his job and worked alongside some amazing colleagues. So proud of him. X 👷🚜🏭 Thank you Martin for making this film and enabling us to see some interesting history of an amazing place.

[@a.davidson3002]

With a username like yours, I assume your dad is Charlie? 👍🏻

[@davestarkie2794]

He probably knew my Dad too. He was an electrician there for many years til the day it closed.

[@a.davidson3002]

@@davestarkie2794 What's your dads name? Some names he'll probably know are Nigel. B, Dean. W & Trevor. B (Foreman).. all electricians.

[@davestarkie2794]

My Dads name is Albert. I remember going to the Christmas parties and the open day as a kid. Last couple of years have brought back a lot of agecroft memories for the wrong reasons (see my comment yesterday).

[@a.davidson3002]

@@davestarkie2794 I've got a photo of your mum & dad at Gerry Slaters wedding in Walkden.. Small world mate. He deffo knows the names I mentioned as a couple of them are on the photo too.

[@mikeede49]

That brought back memories,I used to live on the Prestwich side of the river. Living on the hills overlooking Drinkwater Park I had a clear view of the power station. On the day of the demolition I was in the back garden with my camera at the ready, unfortunately I forgot to take the lens cap off. I did manage to get a shot, so if anybody wants to see what is possibly the finest picture of a dust cloud in existence, I'm the man to contact.

[@fredbloggs545]

LMFAO. I shouldn't laugh though, I didn't put a roll of film into my SLR once.

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

Thanks Martin for more essential Sunday night viewing but a big thanks to the security guard for placing his trust in a more ethical social historian.

[@Tiger351]

I've been around many different switch rooms as an electrician and can say with a reasonable amount of confidence the picture you showed would have been the main control room for Agecroft C (very early 60's look to it), whereas the room you filmed in may have been the main control room (or a secondary switch room) for Agecroft A, the switches and meter equipment are a dead giveaway to it being 1920's/30's.

[@rogerwhittle2078]

Robert Leitch. I agree. Those pictures of the 'green' control panels had a sixties/ seventies look about them, but the room you went in to was definitely much earlier. If 'A' was first built in 1840, then that kit was rather later - I'd say 1930-1940. I have to own up and say I've never been 'generation' or 'transmission', but given how many actual 'controls' - switches and the like - there were, I'd say that was where the output of the plant was monitored and controlled. Some of those dials were calibrated in Megawatts and that is real 'big boys power'. That was a haunting video Martin and props to you and your mate for staying with it, despite the light. Props too, to the Security Guard who could, according to stereotype, have just told you to 'fornicate elsewhere'. Such a lot of history in one place and, like all of it, destined to feel the sharp edge of the bulldozer before long. That Aqueduct was beautiful too. It's a shame it's hidden away behind a common or garden brick built road bridge, when there is such lovely ironwork all over it. Great vlog.

[@malcholden5357]

Working for GEC Turbine Generators in the 80's and early 90' as a draughtsman, when doing my apprenticeship (80-84) I went in the Overspeed Test House as did many apprentices. From what I recall the dials in there looked something similar to those shown in the pictures. I guess the 70's may well have been the last update to the OTH.

[@wetdogFBK]

What a find. Those info boards should be saved before demolition.

[@robyndolanbooksandmusic]

Definitely! Very interesting history and vintage pics.

[@freakstate]

I made them! I've still got the artwork somewhere, also a booklet version in PDF format if anyone would want a copy.

[@LazarusUnwrapped]

That’s what i love about this channel, Martin takes care to always qualify and explain his images and findings, like a professional historian or historical archaeologist he does not make careless assuptions or claims but presents the evidence and exhibits the implications.

[@BestUserNameUK]

Interesting fact: The chief safety officer at Agecroft (and other North West power stations) was Jim Halliday, an ex Japanese PoW and olympic weight lifting medalist. Prior to becoming safety officer, Jim worked on the coal gang at Kearsley Power Station near Bolton.

[@cliffthewanderer]

I trained with Jim Halliday as a weedy 16 year old in 1961 he had a weightlifting class upstairs in the Bowling Green Pub in Farnworth.

[@hongkongphooey78]

I bet you was raving in the Hacienda, when them towers were blown martin. That's why you couldn't remember them being blown up.☺

[@gilgammesh1]

When you see places like this, that were an absolute hub of life at one point, rotting and decrepit. Makes you realise how fleeting time can be.

[@neilthomas9244]

Wonderful serendipitous video, all stemming from the fact that the security guard thought you looked a bit dodgy .Well done Martin.

[@MrKiwi1960]

Wait... he doesn't look dodgy? This is Martin, right... LOL (Sorry Martin)

[@derekmills5394]

Good judge of character that guard - lol

[@SteveW139]

Looking at the age of the equipment I think you were in the Agecroft A control room. The green control room in the photo is probably Agecroft C.

[@BestUserNameUK]

You are correct and the bloke in the white overalls, holding the clipboard is Brian Hill (former unit operator).

[@helenandhermaninlawrence7983]

The meters are defiantly pew WW2

[@keeperofthegood]

Beauty like this should never be fronted by the word: Demolition.

[@petergray6055]

Ask and ye shall receive. You’ve just got to know to ask, hence the need to be a chancer. Fantastic video as always, yet more industrial heritage about to be lost, from a time before wriggly tin sheds and featureless glass curtain walls. Thanks for keeping the memory of these places alive and on record.

[@gzk6nk]

This makes me feel old! I remember going to Agecroft power station probably in the mid '80s when I was a computer hardware project engineer for Systems Programming Ltd. We were doing a site visit so we could bid for provision of an industrial process control system. I can't remember just what we were bidding to control, and we didn't win it anyway, but one memory is standing in the turbine hall looking at one of the massive turbo-generators and the late Alastair Ross (my project manager had we won the job) cast his eyes around all those control panels and, pointing at the main shaft of the generator, said "all this just to turn that shaft at 50 revolutions per second". Much later in life, after I'd retired, steam loco 'Agecroft No.1' played a part in my life as I joined the MoSI railway in Manchester as volunteer, firing and sometimes driving that loco (which as you say now gives rides at National Railway Museum, York) and the replica 1830 'Planet' (which is out of use but still at MoSI). No1 was in scrap condition when MoSI bought it, and it was fully restored to immaculate condition by volunteers at MoSI. Thanks for the video!

[@BestUserNameUK]

Just one small correction, the shaft did 50 revs per second, not 50 per min'.

[@gzk6nk]

@@BestUserNameUK Of course! Blame old age! Now edited. Thanks.

[@BestUserNameUK]

@@gzk6nk You perhaps bid for the auto boiler control system? Ended up using Instem G-Range and Cutlass full turn-key system😉

[@gzk6nk]

@@BestUserNameUK Quite possibly. We'd have been proposing DEC PDP11 and in-house I/O and software back then. No wonder we didn't win it - PDP11 was an expensive solution! I suspect it was won by Instem with a PLC-based solution.

[@richardbourne7360]

Great video Martin. Imagine how the people felt that worked in that dial room the day the panels were switched off for the last time.

[@LittleCarol]

That is one smart security guard, it must be a pain for them to have to put up with some of those other so called urban explorers. I have seen some of their foul mouthed offerings of break in's. Nothing but ignorant young morons, with nothing to offer a viewer. I love the knowledge, research and sheer enthusiasm you have for your home city Martin. Has the demolition taken place yet? Would be great if you could get another tour in the daylight? Great video on the hop though. Well Done. x

[@nigelblair2182]

Hi Martin, I did my electrical apprenticeship with the CEGB starting in 1975 in what was the 'A' station, but by then was the North West Reagional training centre. I went on to work at the 'B' & 'C' stations for about 18 years. Happy times there. Thanks for bringing back such great memories. I worked in all types of power stations until I retired in March this year. Been in lockdown since. Just my luck. If you do anymore power stations and want to know what things are that you have filmed, feel free to get in touch. Keep up the great work. Cheers.

[@davidjack9217]

Analogue meters were always 'beautiful' compared to digital meters and ultimately computer screens. Pity they were virtually always 'destroyed' along with the panels in which they 'resided' Loved your video!

[@hamshackleton]

If I recall correctly from when I used to deliver there, that small building at 6.57, with the shutter doors and side entry - used to be the site fire engine shed. The room with all the dials and meters was not the transformer room, but the control room, where the staff regulated the gennys for voltage and matched the phasing with the National Grid. The transformers would be massive things that were kept well away from wandering people, as you didn't want to get 'tickled' by 40,000 volts!

[@roytabberer7427]

Great Vlog as always Martin. Thanks also to the security person for allowing you to go in.

[@johnhowson6326]

Hard to believe I worked at Agecroft back in 1968 and the "A" station was still operable ,also did some wok on 2 of the locomotives .In 1968 the West end of the office building at "A" station was a mechanical workshop with the machines ,lathes ,etc still driven off line shafts . It was then converted to the CEGB North West apprentice training centre in 1970.

[@BestUserNameUK]

Did my apprenticeship at Agecroft (MMD) in '84. The CEGB was a great employer.

[@stevesrepairs3815]

Thanks for that Martin, I know it sounds bonkers but I saw a UFO over the towers in the winter of either 1978-1979 or 1979-1980, strange but true. All the best, Stevie

[@petemoss1938]

My dad, Auntie, Uncle and Grandad worked for Metro Vicks at Trafford Park before and during the war, and probably saw those alternators being built. (Agecroft A)

[@malcholden5357]

I worked at what became of Metro Vickers when it became GEC Turbine Generators between 1980 - 1995 . All that gone now too.

[@Sieffre_Tawr]

I worked at Agecroft "C" in 1985 in the Chemists Laboratory for about a year before leaving to work at CERL. I loved working for the CEGB.

[@triodehexode]

All or most of this infrastructue was funded for the national good by government. British companies were used to made this fine equipment back in the day. We have lost this capability. London hedge fund louts bought over many great innovative companies asset stripped them flogged the technology to the highest bidder and moved production abroad. Held the land that was once ours and then sold it for housing when the market was high.

[@davidroberts2307]

I know, it's shocking that they still walk free. Demolished the UK from within for pure selfish greed.

[@theurbanlegenduk1760]

Hi Martin thanks for the great job on agecroft. At the beginning of the video you talking about some pipes I think I found them on my last video tunnel of death do you reckon them pipes are the same one's? Let me know what you think cheers👍💖💯

[@markhunter3175]

Remember going in to Agecroft, with my mate in his tipper wagon, loading fly ash from the boilers, it all went to help build the M65 motorway near Burnley. 1000s and 1000s of tons from the CEGB.

[@COIcultist]

The fly ash was also used by the factory next door to the power station it was used to manufacture Thermalite blocks en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoclaved_aerated_concrete I used to occasionally work at the road weighbridge at the colliery (Landsale) At some point there was a problem with the weighbridge and I spent a few days at the power station using their weighbridge. The fly ash was moved on internal roads between the power station and the Thermalite plant. A trip of no more than 1/2 a mile but all these internal vehicles had massive "Greedy Boards" and springs on them were straining with the mass of ash.

[@tomicarr90]

That transformer room is something else! Apparently there was a power station in Chadderton just off Broadway, my grandad told me he watched them pull the chimneys down one Sunday morning. I think it's where junction 21 of the M60 is now.

[@johnrooney1860]

Hi Martin that1st building was I think a fire stn back up .the ash from the power station was converted by a polish man &made in to thermlite building internal blocks eventually sold the patents to John laying construction used every day.house building. He mixed a clever type of bonded in the heated ash &compressed to size. Use to ride my enduro.motor bike there. Loved the video Martin. John Rooney st.annes Lancashire UK

[@michaelbygrave7643]

Agecroft No 3 is now fully restored and working at Whitwell and Reepham Railway not far from me, I see it regularly.

[@scousedavies565]

I worked there a couple of times during 1970/71. We used to reline/refurbish the interior of the boilers in Agecroft B. When a boiler was shut down for maintenance (in the summer), we would go in and blow fresh refractory cement on to the interior walls, in places such as the inside of the combustion chamber (huge!), the economiser and superheater chambers etc. The pool of water found beneath the metal grating reminded me of an incident one day. We were busy blowing cement up to the work area, using a system known as gunnite and I was fetching and carrying 1cwt (50Kgs) bags of cement from the stack to the gun. I walked over a similar grating and it gave way under me. Because of the big bag of cement I was carrying, I got jammed half way down the hole. I looked below my feet and there was a channel of running water and this was used to carry ash from the boilers to a tip and passing just below me were big red hot burning chunks of clinker. Scared the life out of me!

[@a.davidson3002]

The building at 06.50 was used for scaffolding courses by the CEGB. I noticed you shined your torch up to the ceiling, if you'd have looked at bit closer there's loads of graffitti up there because when the lads on the course reached the ceiling (on the scaffold) they wrote their names along with the date. There's a noticeable date of 1979 and maybe some earlier dates too?

[@davidbaker352]

Quick! “Put another Shilling in the Meter”...... I want to watch the rest of Martin’s video about the Power Station!

[@zw5509]

One of my fond memories too! Pay as you go. Quick, Mum said, ask Mrs. M if she has change! In our flat over the fishmongers shop.

[@charlehpock]

Less interesting than the more historic stuff, but I worked there in the main building until a few years ago (there for around 10 years). The company moved to Swinton a few years ago - interesting to see the reception desk again and the fact the open plan office upstairs was stripped down to bare walls. The part of the building at 4:35 on the right (the long flat roof) was used as a bistro and had a kitchen fitted out. Many a cake was purchase/consumed there. The info boards at around 5:22 were put up for visitors to showcase the history of the building (the sales team did a fair few tours for new/visiting clients). Interesting to see the history put together in a presentation instead of being a sales angle :) Wonder if my office chair is there still.... was a good one, might go back for it!

[@MrKiwi1960]

History is worth saving, even in photos and video... but sadly, its also like old people... its cast to one side when they become obsolete and the forces that be will crap on them like the pigeons have done... the music you played added to the sense of abandonment... people worked there... people probably met wives or husbands there... and the power station provided a need, electricity for families from the 1920's, through the depression years, the war years, the cold war years.... and beyond... history like this should never be forgotten. Thank you to you and Danny, and the Security guy that let you in... why the BBC doesn't hire you to record this before its lost forever, I don't know... but they are fools. You should pitch the idea to them, Martin, you've got nearly 60,000 subscribers that would start a letter writing campaign supporting you 100%... again, Thanks for another brilliant video... you ARE a National treasure... they should give you a gong, Sir Martin has a nice ring to it. :)

[@Walksandwanders]

Well done! Difficult to film indoors in failing light when that wasn’t even what you went to film! Great story about the security guard. Great you captured all that info before it is demolished. Right time. Right place. Right attitude! 👍

[@freakstate]

Hi Martin, I designed those boards you found with all the information! I worked in JMC IT / IT Labs (the company that were last in the building) and did alot of research on the place for it's 90th Anniversary back in September 2015. We had some of the power station workers visit and had a fun day, even a bit of dress up. Theres some pictures here: facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.956400624420207&type=3 and a blog post here: www.itlab.com/news/lab-manchester-celebrates-historic-building-roots Glad you found them useful!

[@seasidesandles]

Wow! Thank you for the video Martin. One of my earliest memories was looking out of my gran's back window and looking at two cooling towers (yeah I'm that old), asking what they were. She lived on Bolton Road near Irlam's o'th Heights so quite a grand view over the valley. We could also see the horse racing course down I think it was Kersal during the 1950s. Anyway. Thank you so much again for such a great video. Keep em coming! x

[@sharonstuebi8181]

Brilliant Martin! What a delightful mix of very interesting places LOVED the decorative bridge Definitely needs to be seen a few times. THANKS FOR YOUR WORK

[@eastangliantraction1034]

One of the locomotives is at the Whitwell amd Reepham railway as I've seen it a couple of times

[@OnlyTheTony]

Thanks for this. My dad worked there back when the C.E.G.B was still a thing. Good memories.

[@MarkJT1000]

Did you notice the terrified look on that control panel at 12:57. 😂 That was a great video Martin, really enjoyed it, lots of great info and none the worse for being an unplanned visit. Loved those pics of those old locos. Yeah they'll be worth looking up. Thank once again.

[@stevejones8665]

Blimey Martin that was an Amazing find.. It brought back Memories of my Apprenticeship the place I worked for as an Electrical engineer used to do a lot of work all over the North west and North Wales for the CEGB and the Mines. The most Amazing Power Stations I ever went to where the Nuclear Power Station at Trawsfyned and The Hydro Station Nr Tanygrishiau Blaenau Festiniog. I am Suprised you haven't done a Video of the Slate Caverns and Power Stations down that neck of the woods or should I say Mountains. Trawsfyned power Station was Amazing to think just beneath my feet was the Reactor with an Eeree Humming noise as I walked over the Charge Face of the Reactor where they Replaced the Fuel Rods. Keep up the great work buddy.

[@redlock4004]

May be you could arrange with the guard for another visit?

[@richardtierney7724]

Fabulous :-) When I lived in Little Lever in the 70/80s one of the two Ladyshore housing estates was built on around 30 feet deep fly and cinder ash from Agecroft. they used it to make a foundation on marshy ground around the Bolton-Bury Canal. My next door neighbour was one of the loco drivers on one of the 3 coal trains shown in your video. Great vlogs, always look forward to latest post Martin. BTW I was a press photographer on the Bolton Evening News 68-73 and was lucky enough to photograph a lot of the Back o'th Bank power station in Bolton before they demolished that one...

[@BestUserNameUK]

Ken or Jimmy?

[@hovermotion]

Once the guard realized who you were (The king of urban explorers ) who also knows a lot of people in high places he left well alone...lol....great vid again..jim

[@followthetrawler]

In 1976 I was leaving school and had an interview for an Apprenticeship at CEGB Agecroft - weirdest day of selection tests I ever had. Interestingly, later that year I started work at GEC Trafford Park, the site of the old Metropolitan Vickers. I dont remember much about the visit to Agecroft back then, but I do think that I remember that 'temprorary' flat roofed building was where the tests were conducted. Nice video Martin, and how cool is that security guard to invite you in.

[@davidellis5312]

Thanks for making this video. I will make sure my Dad watches it as he started as a CEGB apprentice in the early 60's. I am pretty sure he spent some if his time at Agecroft along with Stuart Street (now Manchester velodrome)

[@laszlofyre845]

Back in the late 70's, me and Mrs. Fire (to be.....) had a friend, Ken, who was an engine driver at Agecroft PS. We used to have days out down there with him, and he let us shunt the coal wagons with the green engine (usually the green 'un anyway). I was a mainline driver so he knew I wouldn't embarrass him, but for some reason Mrs. fire got more time on the regulator than I did, lol.They were very strong little engines them RSH tankies, IIRC tractive effort about 18,000 lbs. Still have some pics.... I remember the day the towers were bombed, we could see them from my mums place, and I was not happy to see them go. Wouldn't those instruments in the place look good in a man cave, or make a super movie prop? And what the hell are MEGAVARS?? Never heard of them before, but I need some! Off to Google then. Cheers Martin, lots more to dig up down the valley, pray carry on sir. Thanx.

[@BestUserNameUK]

That would be Ken Corfield. Sadly he passed away in 2018, aged 93.

[@diogenesegarden5152]

Back in 1989 my ship (HMS Active) was granted the Freedom of Burnley. As part of the visit some of us were invited to Agecroft Colliery. It was an awesome trip as we got to go down to the coal face on the conveyor belt, with a slap up tea to finish off. I hope the miners who came along to the reciprocal visit to our ship (and beers in the mess) had as good a time as we did. Happy memories:-)

[@digofthedump]

may i add a note agecroft hall used too be situated on the site! now the house lives in america) gl martin

[@jeannerodgers]

Should we ask for it back? Seems most countries are doing that! 😁

[@digofthedump]

@@jeannerodgers if only there's a prison on the site now! )) gl

[@simonwilson1237]

Thanks Henry Walton Jones jr oh sorry I mean Martin good videos

[@colwichjunction3366]

Great stuff👍 old power stations are fascinating, just the scale of them. There’s one by where I live currently being demolished (Rugeley) - shame that there seems to be a rush to go green when some of these stations were shut down even having had millions spent on them to “clean them up”.... Great work as usual, grab any opportunity that comes your way👏👏👏 Cheers John B

[@hullhistorynerd]

What a brilliant and unexpected thing to happen! There's something about power stations that you grow up near. It was memories of the one that used to be at the bottom of my street when I was a kid that spurred my interest in industrial history!It's long gone now, but I still remember the concrete cooling tower and the massive wooden square ones that loomed over our house. Oddly evocative!

[@lisab9550]

A. Davidson, yes my Dad is Charlie. What is your first name? I will mention you to him tomorrow. I tried to reply to your comment personally but the text came out backwards! had to delete it and comment here. Lisa.

[@BestUserNameUK]

My step dad was Peter Crook who worked in the stores. We lived on Dorchester Rd in Swinton.

[@robbarrows900]

Some of the coal crushing mills that were supplied to Agecroft by International Combustion Ltd of Derby still exist and are still used in other industries around the world today. Agecroft A - had 4-off Boilers operating 3-off Lopulco Lm12-2 Mills each Agecroft B - had 2-off Boilers operating 4-off Lopulco Lm16-2 Mill each Some of the Agecroft Lm12-2 Mills still exist, though many mills were eventually sold off for scrap, most canabalised and the useful sub-assemblies sold onto other existing mill users.

[@PNEKarl]

I absolutely love your music!

[@reubenlongworth5961]

That's the remains of agecroft no a the original power station, latterly was a training centre for the cegb, you know when we all were owners of public utilities, should be a museum not be left to go to dereliction, ive ridden on the footplate of that engine the shed was further down the road, also went on an open day on the big station before it was decommissioned.

[@BestUserNameUK]

👍🏻.. the loco shed was near the dog kennels. It used to be called Mayfield kennels, but it's summat else now.

[@hotbutteredcrumpet]

Hi Martin, isn't Forest Bank Prison built on the demolished newer sites of the Age croft Power Station?

[@a.davidson3002]

Yes.

[@neilwilliams2409]

Bonus footage. Great to see the colliery complex in the photo. Looking forward to the forthcoming colliery video.

[@scottstenhouse3578]

Built on Capstan Full Strength 💪 another great historic video

[@King786_]

Great Video Martin. Well done.

[@sandmanjono1239]

Really interesting- get back soon with decent lightening before it’s demolished? Thanks as always 👌🏻

[@Swearengen86]

Thank you for this Martin, when I was 8 years old my Grandad took me to cobden street tip, we parked up at the end of the road and walked next to the train tracks all the way down to Agecroft Cemetery and sat on a grass hill to watch the four cooling towers being demolished. This brought back great memories and the old picture of Drinkwater park was lovely to see too as I'm on there most days walking the dog.

[@judithsmith9274]

Brilliant. Were off to the Ribble steam railway in February. Will look out for Agecroft 2. 😊

[@andycroston]

Great video Martin. The agecroft cemeteries are a great explore too.. I was told of a real life "Prince in a paupers grave" there. If memory serves me right his name was Peter Lo Bengula, an actual African Prince who settled in the area, and was buried in the banks of the river irwell in the cemetery grounds. Interesting stuff...

[@andycroston]

Just found this... www.ourmigrationstory.org.uk/oms/exhibiting-foreigners-in-19th-century-britain-the-case-of-the-performing-prince-peter-lobengula-

[@rjmun580]

As always a first class video. I hope the Science and Industry museum are aware of the existence of this control panel and are able to save at least some of it.

[@colin5296]

Good do that, i remember driving past it when i first started work , you think these things will always be there . Love that control room i, always try to imagine the last shift they shut it all down , must have been sombre.

[@peterking2794]

Hi Martin. Brilliant video, as always! I worked in a couple of power stations years ago. Namely: Ince 'A', and 'B' which were near Stanlow refinery between Ellesmere Port and Frodsham. The abandoned, pigeon crap filled, room looks like the metering and plant control room where the supplies to various parts of the plant were switched and controlled. These would include the forced draught and induced draught fans, cooling water circulating pumps, boiler water feed pumps, condenser vacuum pumps , condensate extraction pumps, and more besides. Also plant output metering was recorded there too. There would also have been a large battery room somewhere, to provide emergency DC essential supplies in the event of a total black out. Yes, it can happen in a power station! At Ince 'B' station, we were trained to bring the station back on line from a complete black out using two gas turbine alternators to start things off. Hope this is helpful, and not too 'anoraky'!. Cheers, and beers, Pete.

[@a.davidson3002]

Known as 'black start' capability.

[@peterking2794]

Yes, 'black start'. I left the generation side if the industry in 1994 and have forgotten a lot of the terminology. Thanks for reminding me.

[@frankintegrity706]

So many memories.My Gran and Aunties lived on Dutchy rd . I used to drink with an old Agecroft miner.Just before the pit shut my first job was a tire fitter.One job was a tyre change on one of the big diggers moving the slag in the soil heaps.Managed too get a glimpse of the inside of the Lamp Room as we were taken for what now they call a H&S assessment .Then watched the cooling towers get demolished a few years later.Lots' of random gibberish from me there Martin, I apologise for that :) .But like my Gran ,Aunties the old miner the Pitt and power station all just memories now. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be eh .

[@markrobinson1458]

I delivered mail to that building at the start of your film, it was the training facility for Agecroft and other power stations, across where the prison is now is where the action was, I started to deliver mail there once the training facility had been let out to other businesses, in the main building was equipment that looked like a Bond film set, it fascinated me, the size,smell and noise, It was great, but why they wanted their mail in there just dropped against a wall i don't know 👍

[@follyfour506]

My dad's house overlooks where Agecroft power station was . When they let off steam at the power station the sound was unbelievable. We watched it being demolished from my dad's house but unfortunately only got a few pictures . Also I met a couple from Rusholme in Gran Canaria last October and the bloke said he used to work in there . Small world . Just watched the video again with my dad and at around 9:50 mins you can see my dad's house in the back ground below the coal chute .

[@michaelryan6884]

Very interesting....sad that it will so go...Thanks!

[@geoffc1385]

Fantastic. The information boards you found are from an open day they had approximately 35 years ago. I went with my father in law who worked at metro vics to have a look round.

[@a.davidson3002]

They're from September 2015, exactly 90 yrs after the Mayor of Salford officially opened Agecroft Power Station in 1925. The buildings then occupiers, IT Lab Manchester, held a function for former employees to mark the ocassion.

[@ivanhockenhull2604]

I used to live there when The Power Station was operational. If memory serves, the cooling tower demolition was delayed because a nesting peregrine falcons had to be relocated. Another triumph, well done Martin.

[@petrlizatko1794]

Great job

[@mikestoakes]

my father lived in the lodge for agecroft hall just up the road where my grandfather ran a kennels - which it still was for many years after. there were bomb splinters in the house as i suppose the power station must have been a target. we visited from kenya when i was six years old and the power station and being in an enormous industrial city made a big impression on me.

[@oakknobrocks1772]

What a lucky break Martin! Cheers from the USA!

[@Oldgamingfart]

Bet that security guard was probably bored out of his brains and wanted some company! I believe the camcorder tape format you were eluding to is VHS-C.

[@chucky2316]

The plague of many a family wedding or do. Always one relative that had to show off their enormous Sony cam Corder 😂.

[@BestUserNameUK]

All gone now. Everything 'skipped'.. not a thing saved😔

[@melcooke2198]

You're more than an urban explorer Martin, you're a documentary maker. You're passion in making top quality video far exceeds the competitiveness of some urban explorers of KZbin, whose main aim is to get as many views as possible with little regard to the history of the places they visit

[@markb9013]

Martin another great video... also love reading comments from your knowledgeable followers... Have you explored the idea of creating a book?? I know I'd buy it.. Thanks again..

[@LeoStarrenburg]

Great shots of the control room, the darkness gives it that bit of extra eeriness. May not be the correct phrase but you catch my drift ;) The controls/meters could very well be from A station given their looks and age. And thank you mr. security guard !

[@nickbenke3306]

The big building has a live substation humming away inside the basement, the upper floors are pretty bare with just cable containment.

[@bobjackson6524]

OOOHWEE😅 Ive paused this at 4mins. CAN NOT WAIT, to see what happens next. (But kidsve just got in from school) 😣

[@JemTheWire]

Wonderful. Love the atmospheric music with pigeon accompaniment!

[@daftmonkey7296]

That was brilliant mate! The ghostly carcass of what once powered a generation of salfordians! Amazing 👏🏼👏🏼

[@davidgambill71]

For a Richmond, Virginia tie-in. Agecroft Hall was a Tudor manor house in Lancashire that was dismantled and brought, in sections to Richmond VA, in The 1920's.

[@thomascharnock]

Wow. Used to live in a flat that's now near where Agecroft used to be in Swinton. Was always curious about the power station that used to exist there.

[@bobingram6912]

Don't you dare stop the commentary, us band of industrial history followers are hanging on your every word!!👍 Lucky you came across a Jobsworth who wasn't!!!!! Cracking stuff even with a torch.

[@TheWacoKid1963]

Summary of Agecroft colliery including fatal accidents below ground www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/a216.htm#top

[@antonyfisher6694]

Hi Martin, great video, I live a short distance away and I’ve often wonder about its future whenever I pass. The first small building you entered was a loco shed I believe which housed a small electric/battery loco??? I wonder if anyone out there could confirm this as I’ve never seen any photos! The area is full of history, especially Agecroft Hall. I remember attending that last open day with the three locos, they allowed visitors onto the footplate, something that would be unlikely today. There was a great little engine shed next to the main road which was demolished soon after shunting was discontinued.

[@malcholden5357]

It has been suggested it might be what was the site fire station.

[@robcol800]

Two Daleks Martin, you're catching up mate 😬😜😜

[@travellifewithjobo5740]

Unfortunate that the concrete cooling towers are life expired at most stations and are crumbling.The hot water from cooling the turbines was re-circulated after cooling by dripping down the inside of the towers.Agecroft also passed the ash from the boilers through a conveyor bridge to a Company,next door, named Thermalite Ytong to make breeze blocks to insulate buildings.How about that for a kick in the teeth for ecologists.Also the "Smoke" from cooling towers is "Steam".Never mind the jokes about you being near the Irwell all the time.Have you yet explored the valley between Agecroft and Kearsley,lots of tunnels ,canal remains and Brindleys Wet Earth Colliery.I was born 1/4th mile from Agecroft ,as a teenager me and my mate Bill Connett expored endlessly on our bikes.Anyone know where he is.Have a look in news records of the time(in the 70s ?) Martin and see the huge flood on Agecroft road when the Thirlmere Aqueduct burst.A-Z of Manchester used to show the full route of the Aqueduct through Manchester suburbs.Have you nodded off yet ?

[@tomkinzel4854]

Great video of the power station! I was hoping for a closeup of those meters, especially the Power Factor meter, and you did but you have to look quick! I have one just like it in my basement lab. The one you show was made in 1903 or there about. Judging by the amount of many duplicated meters, this looks like a monitoring for a distribution center sending power to many different area substations. It would be interesting to see close-ups of the other meters such as Kilowatts, Kilovolts, Vars, Syncroscope, etc. Thanks for the impressive show!

[@steveblick168]

Spot on about the locations of the Agecroft steam engines Mart. No.1 is based at the National Railway Museum. South Yard is where i think it is currently being displayed.

[@engineslovetostartmatthew]

love it again true fan Matthew im from Leeds west Yorkshire and would love to go with you one day love the train lines and industrial of any type your a star for finding all these treasures.