The Canal that slipped into the river

This video is about the Manchester Bolton Bury canal and how in 1936 there was a landslide, canal breach and a whole section of the canal slipped down a hillside into the River Irwell. This landslide had happened before and the retaining wall had to be sured up. However 52 years later on the 6th July 1936 the canal breach happened again and sealed the fate of the Manchester Bury and Bolton canal. The landslip was possibly due to subsidence caused by the nearby Ladyshore colliery coal mine.

[@MartinZero]

Incidental music by Louis Grayson Check this very talented musician on Instagram - louisgrayson_

[@Ryan20K938]

Myself and my dad worked on the demolition of Creams Paper Mill. To the left of that brick staircase was an old chimney flue tunnel that ran from that concrete section up to the main site up the stairs. There was also a chimney that stood at the bottom of the stairs. The main building itself had a canal running underneath it which our excavator fell through! Good to see the site featured on a video.

[@MidgeMan13]

I just had a look on google and there’s some very interesting photos of the demolition it looks very different now

[@Ryan20K938]

@@MidgeMan13 There's an entire gallery about it on Flickr. Interesting to see

[@andyhill242]

Over the years of watching your videos, Martin, you have developed a presentation style that reminds me of Fred Dibnah, enthusiastic, informal, yet informative.

[@timschultz7597]

Is there a difference between manservant and valet? "James, make the tea." "James did not see the stairs. Run James Run!" "Turn the camera this way James." Then James does not even get an introduction at the beginning of the video. Poor James. Maybe Master Martin will give you half a day off for Christmas. LOL

[@MartinZero]

No day off at Xmas. He’s my servant, bollocks to him 🥴

[@maynardmckillen9228]

"I see a vacant seat in the poor chimney corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved."

[@MrYfrank14]

He has to remember to bring a spoon before he can get a day off.

[@jetsons101]

I amazed how that tree grew out of the brick canal retaining wall at 1:36, nature at its best. This shows the power of gravity / build strong or lose. Martin, you do such a great job at keeping your local history alive, your videos are such a joy to watch. James really adds to the videos, you're lucky to have him as a friend...... Thanks......

[@peterfrost547]

Yes I was amazed about that tree as well. The power of nature.

[@paulholland5270]

Over time the tree roots will start to weaker the wall. Eventually causing more of the wall to collapse down to the river.

[@margaritagerman]

Thank you for another fascinating trip thru history. I live in upstate New York, USA. I wish there was someone like you, here. There is so much history, so many stories around us. It would so enrich our lives to understand the things that shaped the world we live in. History shaped, roads, and waterways and current regulations. Thank you. I am always tickled when I get to watch one of your videos.

[@MrYfrank14]

Hi neighbor! I'm in CT. I also love his videos.

[@deltafoxtrot2]

A local who was cycling to work had a lucky escape. Mr John W. Martin, of Loxham Street, Bolton, said: “I was cycling along the bank when I suddenly saw signs of a subsidence begin on a bend in the canal. I could not stop and my only chance was to ride furiously along the two feet of earth which remained. As I passed over the earth fell away behind the back wheel of my bicycle and I was thrown off. The noise was deafening."

[@DeanWilliams1987]

so... Mr John W. Martin caused the collapse lol

[@johnnytarponds9292]

That breach washed all of the material away, right to the bedrock! Martin, you have an amazing ability to paint a story, and walk us through the actual place where history took place. Thank you!

[@LondonPower]

I'm Greek and I like the fact that the British are protecting their cultural heritage

[@dianapatterson1559]

We love irony.

[@jmarsh3347]

Fascinating video, Martin, bringing history to life. Well done. I'd also like to thank the other commenters for their true life accounts. Brings out a lot of the impact that disaster must have had on them then.

[@stephencleaves]

As always a lovely and interesting video, don't forget to introduce James, he's very important - chief brew maker ! 🤣

[@bullettube9863]

Where I live contractors were digging a sewer tunnel under the Erie canal when the ceiling collapsed causing a nasty flood that destroyed several expensive homes. A county government employee warned the contractor that they were digging uphill but the contractor called downtown and the employee was told to shut up and let the"experts" get on with the job. That he was vindicated meant that the homeowners and county had grounds to sue the contractor. Plus two of his superiors were fired from their jobs! The Erie canal is more then 3 times the depth and width of any canal in England and if it hadn't been for the automatic flood gates even more water could have leaked out.

[@johnkirkpatrick1523]

Water is unique in that it expands when it freezes. Too many winters probably took its toll on the brick faults. Each winter, water seeps into the voids, freezes, expands, and makes the cracks a little wider. Stone blocks might have been a better choice, but were probably too costly or simply not available. Hindsight . . .

[@totherarf]

Surprisingly stone walls are not as strong as brick! One thing i thought I caught was bricks laid sideways, course on course! That is NOT a good way to do it, but maybe they were thinking of lateral strength?

[@pattheplanter]

It might have been the mine pumping out the water from the tunnels underneath, dried out enough to cause shrinkage to the earth underneath. Drynesss is not natural to this area.

[@lewiscox4712]

Hi Martin, one of my former neighbours in little lever his grandad lost 2 barges down that breach in 36. The ones that are in tha news pictures

[@slimboyfat3306]

Thanks for yet another fantastic video Martin featuring our now rapidly disappearing history. Would it be possible to possibly find the site of Margaret Barlow's tea room and take James AND teaspoon. Be a fantastic place to have a brew and a half eaten scotch egg 😋

[@erikmorrison2355]

Its a part of the giants seat nursery at the bottom of folds Road Ringley @Martin zero

[@slimboyfat3306]

@@erikmorrison2355 Great to know that what's now gone, isn't entirely forgotten. I expect that they are okay for teaspoons down at the garden centre too 👍

[@joseph_oenix]

Absolutely fascinating as always Martin but I can’t get over how you pronounce foliage 😂

[@yonmons]

As I said before my old dog walking / stomping ground. Many happy hours around there with a stick ( like yours ) and a Lakeland Border Terrier that unlike James always remembered the spoon 😂. Long overdue a return visit after 50 years of living my life in that area. ( Keep expecting you to bump into my brother with his dogs out and about ) looking forwards to the next episode. How I miss living up there….

[@olr1home]

It's such a privilege as always to see an elderly gent so excited about his heritage. Perhaps get James to do the running about while you do a voiceover? You might do yourself a mischief!

[@MartinZero]

Ha ha thank you, yes I really should be aware of my age

[@stevielegrand]

Wonderfully interesting, full of information as ever too. Many thanks Martin and James. Btw, where's the spoon, James? :)

[@mileshigh1321]

Another great episode of the " No Spoon Explores!" Haha! Really enjoyed this one! Especially because you took us to the actual sites, and showed photos of the collapse then , and video of the sites now! Plus calling James a "Swine" was a bonus! 😂

[@almaxx9680]

Bloody eck martin you were like a Gazelle up and down that breach 🤣👍

[@Jackrbbt1989]

I'm no geologist mind you, but I would say the failure was inevitable and not due to the colliery. If you look closely at the picture at 15:38, you will see the bare face of of some hard rock layer. If you look closer still, you can see there isn't any evidence of the massive brick and stone sections even putting a scratch in it. Several years back, we had a massive landslide in the area of Oso, WA. It took out that whole community. The cause was an uplift layer like this with a week clay layer above it. Tons of loose rock/gravel layers were piled on top of this clay layer. The water would sift down and, unable to permeate the hard layer, would collect around the clay layer. One particularly rainy set of weeks, the clay layer finally failed. The landslide was so fast and massive that it's thought most of the victims died from the concussion blast that preceded flow of debris. I would speculate that there might have been a "slippery" layer on top of that layer of impenetrable rock. The weight of the massive retaining wall added to the strain and it eventually slid. Oso on a smaller scale. I would venture that the river follows the base of that same uplift.

[@jonathancoombes1495]

At 15:27 it looks like the spoil had been on top of bedrock, if that was the case it's no surprise it eventually slipped away. I wonder if colliery spoil had been tipped onto the bedrock previously?

[@bobsrailrelics]

Just staggering photo of that boat hanging over the edge. And to see massive chunks of the wall still there. Great find and great story. Oh, and buy yourselves a camping spoon!

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Great video Martin . I’ve fished for pike on the canal , there are some 20 lb plus monsters in there . I’d heard the tale of the collapse but no details so thanks for that detailed video on such a fascinating story 🧱👍🏼

[@MartinZero]

Pike scare me

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@MartinZero I’ve seen a 20 + pounder there in a match . Getting on for 4 foot long , beautiful fish 😍🧱👍🏽

[@DaedalusYoung]

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal suffered a breach just a few months ago. I don't know if it's accessible at all, or if they've blocked it all off, but may be worth having a look at that. There's videos of it showing the water draining out the canal at the breach. Not as spectacular as this one would've been, I'm sure.

[@MrLargePig]

One of your old photos shows just what happened- the picture looking up from the riverbank. There's a layer of stone under the whole ravine, sloped downward towards the river. The more brick and earth they piled up along the canal, the greater the pull downward. If they didn't dig deeply enough to reach the stone, and firmly attach the canal structure to the underlying rock, it was bound to give way, eventually.

[@jacquelinetaylor8683]

Someone around those parts has a sense of humour. Fairy doors in trees and a bridge which looks like its built out of giant Mechano.

[@hyper2high]

It is exactly that. I cant remember the details but it was a giant meccano set built at Nob end

[@dylangarrant3027]

The perfect way to enjoy a Sunday!

[@rbennett2739]

👍

[@normanyates6735]

Another facinating insight into the history of our region brought to life by Laurel and Hardy, seriously that’s the way to learn ,hard facts in a humourous way, thanks again Martin and spooney James, ps please introduce him as he is now an integral part of the vids!.

[@nowster]

The Rochdale canal also caused flooding of the River Irk and Middleton when the aqueduct at Mills Hill failed. There's little evidence of it nowadays apart from a memorial stone in Jubilee Park.

[@StiggysGuitarLoft]

I was about to mention that

[@dannyscott3937]

Another fantastic video Martin 👍

[@algomaone121]

Martin, I have a theory. Maybe others have posed similar. Going by the famous photo near the end of the video, it looks like the ground slid right off a shelf of shale or slate. Water had likely seeped into the top material of the big slope at high rates from the canal and began to loosen the soil from the slate, until the inevitable collapse!

[@Noidy312]

Be careful if you are there in summer - looks like the river edge might be covered in Giant Hogweed 15:55

[@General_Confusion]

You will need some tall Wellies if you are going to splash about in the river today Martin. 🌊

[@CURBEXUK]

Brilliant video told the story very well as always Martin 👍🏼💯

[@steverpcb]

At 3 mins something you can see Railway Blue bricks used as reinforcement, these date from the later days of the canals and were not part of the original construction !

[@jamie7056]

Love your old man stick Martin🤣Seriously,thanks for another great video and James too.👍

[@grahamfoster9404]

As per usual Martin 10 times better than some of the run of the mill rubbish on the T.V. Perhaps you should be awarded some of the BBC's licence fee. Cheers to you both. Looking forward to the next one.

[@82lostsoul]

I was down at Nob End today on a bike ride. It would be fantastic if they could restore the Manchester, Bolton and Bury but looking at earthworks like this makes you realise the costs that that will likely entail!

[@deltafoxtrot2]

There is a building firm that wants to build on the old paper mill land, one of the conditions to allow permission is that they have to reinstate the collapsed canal..

[@paulholland5270]

Imagine back in the late 18 century how crystal clean the water was . You could drink and wash in there.

[@simonstebbings6701]

There plans to reinstate it

[@xsm5525]

I love how the tea-&-snack section has like its own official music now :D

[@pras12100]

Enjoyed the video as always. I have a suggestion for a story you might be interested in: It was on 30th April 1945 in the shunting yard at Brookside Colliery, Wigan. Under the colliery sidings was the main shaft of a disused mine. It was mine No. 7 unofficially called "New Zealand". A large hole opened up and a shunting locomotive "Dolly", the driver called Ludovic Berry and 13 loaded coal wagons fell in. The locomotive apparently wedged in the shaft sides, at least temporarily, at about 100ft (30m) down but nothing was seen of the driver. In the end, the hole was roofed over and there is today a memorial to the driver which serves as his gravestone. I am aware of the irony that the man buried far below (some say 1200ft [390m]) has the surname Berry. There are much longer accounts and photos available online. If anyone is interested as to where this accident happened the area covered by the mine is now wooded and is off the B5237 Bickershaw Lane, Abram. Nearby is a traveller camp. From the only photograph that I could find the locomotive was an 0-6-0 saddle tank shunter (with inside cylinders). It carried the nameplate "Dorothy" although everyone called her "Dolly". I could not discern any other identifying information. I do not know whether you might be interested but I thought I would share it.

[@MartinZero]

Hi Patrick, thanks for the suggestion and yes I have heard that story its very sad.

[@davidclark3603]

Absolutely brilliant again that Martin, cheers!

[@steverpcb]

Martin, is this an old video or have you got rid of the face fungus ?

[@jonesthestone]

hi martin

[@davidberlanny3308]

Amazing photographs really helped to understand what happened. Very enjoyable!

[@jeffjones6107]

Great video Martin enjoyed it 👍

[@qrphfradio7753]

Another great video Martin, as it happens i live very close to nob end and the canal in Little Lever.. Almost in the village, so i know it very well.Also that beach is known as the Radcliffe beach lol

[@navigator902]

I appreciate James ... and his skills... glad he was properly introduced....OOOEEE mate, great tea maker and wondrous adventurer, for Martin Zero

[@MarkJT1000]

"Come on James". "Hurry up James". There's you struggling over the difficult terrain with your pole in your hand. Meanwhile poor James, is following behind, pole-less, carrying the camera and trying to keep you in shot so he can't even look where he's walking. You're a hard taskmaster. 😁

[@fraudieYT]

I just did a google search on this incident and this popped up, I am so happy you gave me a tour. Are you the guy who did a video with electric bikes? I see so many videos and I love the UK waterways and especially the infrastructure underground. I think you maybe the guy who I saw go under a town

[@nesleinf]

Why does Laurel and Hardy pop up in my brain every now and then when I watch you two? 🤣 Fantastic story and brilliant filming. Must have taken some time to ressearch. I'm impressed! 👍 Love from Denmark

[@peterfrost547]

Laugh Out Loud - yes! I love Martin and James but yes L&H reminds me now.

[@m.m.i.9586]

Haha! I’m often reminded of them too! 😂

[@navigator902]

Enjoy these treks with you gentleman so very much, Thanks. I'll return on your next adventure ... Wonderful

[@robertfletcher3421]

Martin your videos are always interesting but some are more outstanding than others. I think this one is on a par with the "The Secret Trap Door Under The Canal". It is just fascinating. What are those little coloured doors in the trees?

[@Gappasaurus]

Look to be tree scars that have been painted and have details added (hinges, numbers) to look like doors. Rather clever 😊

[@robertfletcher3421]

@@Gappasaurus But it remains as to why. Never seen this anywhere before or is it?

[@Sestra_Prior]

I think they are "Fairy Doors"...for the Folk! 🙂

[@robertfletcher3421]

@@Sestra_Prior I was thinking along those lines. Thanks.

[@mkendallpk4321]

James, if you want to be introduced. I suggest remembering to bring a spoon for the brew. Martin, great job showing what happened. Those old pictures helped a lot.

[@Gappasaurus]

His intro could be “James, brew-maker and keeper of the spoon” 😄

[@mkendallpk4321]

@@Gappasaurus Yup, that sounds right. But only if James remembers to bring the spoon!

[@janinehornby9671]

Finally a video 😘

[@keithallen4313]

health and safety work have made the picture look and bit differant in 2022

[@andrewdavis9223]

Hi Martin glad you got rid of that tash

[@daviespaulaann8913]

As always fantastic video...Martin and James.. luv the passion you show in your videos..you always make me smile..luv ya both cannot wait for next video ..stay safe guys x

[@bobingram6912]

How much more interesting stuff have you got up there to visit??!!!!!! Great stuff guys, James does a good job with the camera👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@NOMADCREATIVESOLUTIONS]

Only in the North could Nob End be a place.. :-)

[@wladniem]

Wow, I saw a face near the root of that tree at 1:38 Great viewing for Sunday night. Thanks Martin and James

[@marilynbalderstone696]

What a fascinating glimpse into the history and sad downfall of the Bolton &Bury Canal. The size of the slip was just horrifying. What a beautiful asset to the canal system it would be to have this open.

[@ValeriePallaoro]

5:00 Ohmygod, I thank you so much for this bit of enlightenment. I grew up near a weir shaped like this and in it's past history it did, indeed, feed the water into a mill, that was disused and decayed by the time I started walking the area. But this makes it so clear what was going on. Dight's Mill did flour and they build the Dight's Falls weir. But until now, I did not know how it worked, thinking it was just a normal weir to hold back flooding. Thanks so much Martin. And the intrepid James.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Valerie. Yes whenever Iam at a weir now. I alway look for the possible diversion of water. Sometimes its not always obvious though

[@peterkilvert2712]

Another great historical adventure. Many thanks. I noticed at times you were surrounded by giant hog weed (not Japanese knotweed) which is toxic when it's growing. I don't know if it's toxic when it's dead, like now. Keep Safe and Best Wishes Pete

[@MartinZero]

Yeah we know of Hogweed Peter. Its a pain in the arse

[@michaelmiller641]

I like the Meccano bridge!

[@petek7822]

Free James!

[@MartinZero]

😄

[@lilchris26]

Thanks for this video Martin, I was going to tell you about the guy on the bike but somebody beat me to it. Seeing the state of that wall is a bit worrying to be honest. During the summer that area near the river and the lower path is full of giant knott weed so care has to be taken. Its not that long ago since the cremes mill was knocked down there used to be a building near the bridge that straddled the canal too. I have never seen that before where it says on the map Church of Jesusiuism, I must investigate that. Chris

[@bigjohnthered]

At the start of the film, you're stood next to (last years) Giant Japanese Hogweed. Be careful in the Irwell Valley, as it is overgrown with this invasive species. To my own cost, the burns this plant inflict are quite horrendous.

[@Urbexy]

Can only imagine what a sight it would have been to see that lot collapse down the embankment. It's probably fortune it did partially block the Irwell. Had it not the fast moving floodwater may have caused major issues for the surrounding area. Brilliant video as always and nicely researched.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah part of me wishes to have seen it. Thanks Urbexy 👍

[@peterbrameld696]

Great video as always, but a special thank you for James for his camera work, it looks very slippery and uneven but he still managed to produce a really professional and product, thanks James.

[@rossendalecollieries7995]

Enjoyed that very much, how you used the old photos to recapture the drama of the event

[@MartinZero]

Thanks 😀👍🏻

[@LeiceExplore]

This for me personally, this was one of your best videos. And to have those old photos at hand was fantastic. And those great big retaining walls still there where they fell, amazing! We recently had a canal breach on the Ashby Canal near me. I wish I'd have filmed it now! But yeah, great stuff martin!

[@JohnSmith-zv8km]

Fascinating story telling as always, went to Salford university in the late 70s, much has changed since then not always for the better.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks John

[@martin4787]

Another fascinating video Martin & James, as are the comments, really adding more insight to the breach.

[@MrBentleysteven]

I feel like I'm time traveling when I watch your videos

[@bremnersghost948]

Hi Martin, Check out the St Aiden's Mine Flood which Breached the River Aire and almost took out the Aire & Calder Canal in 1988, Would love to see your take on it and the RSPB Reserve on the Site is lovely walk.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Great video, especially your reconstruction of the landslide using some amazing old photographs. I guess it makes any restoration of the canal impossible.

[@robertmeadows7508]

Always enjoy your reports Mr Martin ,thank you ! PS As a boy I used to build bridges very similar to that at 1:23 from my Meccanno set early 1950 s !

[@gilles111]

That H-beam construction is a little big for a sluice gate, probably the remains of shed in which a generator was? Would also explain the drop of the water at the site.

[@slimboyfat3306]

Wierdly that H - beam section doesn't look terribly old, more recent to the collapse perhaps?

[@gilles111]

@@slimboyfat3306 The age of the beams doesn't look very old to me too. Maybe build near the end of the works? Or build after the works closed to prevent the generator (or building) from vandalism? Perhaps Martin can get some more info about the surroundings and why this beam construction was there.

[@jimmillward3505]

absolutely fascinating thank you for yet another great vid. good camera work from James and great presentation form the main man

[@hanleypc]

I can imagine the locals combing the embankment picking up the fish to eat.

[@glenjones6980]

As a recent sub and having binge watched quite a bit it's good to have something familiar appear with the old bridge in the river, it makes it easier to place where everything is in relation to other videos that have been posted and adds another layer of history to the other uploads.

[@MrLibbyloulou]

I worked at creams, late 70's early 80's........on the night shift, we used to open a valve that let effluent into the river, had to be kept quiet about that, not sure what was let out, but sure as hell, we should'nt of done it.....

[@davestarkie9977]

Very interesting. Amazing how much debris is still there! I did bat surveys at Creams Mill a few years back.

[@jono30099176]

Did you realised you was sat making a cuppa around gaint hogweed. Nasty stuff it is. Great video 👍👍. Nice cuppa though.

[@MartinZero]

We know well what Giant Hogweed is we encounter it a lot. Fortunately is was dead but we still treated it with caution as we are well aware of the issues with the sap. It was behind us but we picked a spot where it was clear. Cheers 😃👍

[@jono30099176]

@@MartinZero great video, its good to see people keeping the history of our past.

[@TheMancDroneGuy]

Always wanted to know what happened. Thanks for this video Martin 📸 Great stuff

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was fantastic thanks Martin. I hope no-one was killed there. What a horrible mess. Probably sounded like an earthquake.. loved the walk I didn’t get puffed out like you too, lol. Thanks so much for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

[@Grummash]

Has anybody suggested that the reason for the retaining wall collapse might have simply been cheap-shit mortar??? Just a thought....

[@birofunk86]

I've been waiting for you to do a video on this area of the canal! Read a bit about it on the info board nearby, but tells more than the board and wiki does! Amazing job.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Jason

[@tomsurbanexplore]

Good video that Martin carnt believe James not brought his spoon with him,wish I could travel back in time & watched the collapse of the canal into the river irwell must of been terrible when it happened by looking at the pics what an incredible picture to see I hope James brings a spoon in the next video 👍

[@kennyyellop]

Excellent video lads

[@markvickers6641]

Did that walk during the Lockdown. Fascinating looking at the breach from the bottom.

[@mikerogers5043]

Great video Martin. That must have been a tremendous site to see when that happened. The engineering that must have gone into that to just shore up the canal in the first place.... wow

[@MartinZero]

Yeah that wall is emmense close up

[@nicklowe536]

Fantastic video I never knew the canal existed until I saw it in your videos. It's great to find lost history so close to home

[@TheNapalmFTW]

The Rochdale canal has had a couple of breeches. One recently when a farmer had his access removed to his fields when they restored the canal. Quite a story.

[@bobpedley8609]

1927, river irk in flood breeched the Rochdale canal at Mills Hill, the railway embankment stopped a more devastating flood reaching Middleton but the area called the Little Park was flooded and one person drowned. There is a memorial in Jubilee Park

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

Given the canals mainly rely on a clay liner to hold the water in, it could be a gradual erosion of its substructure as the liner became damaged by passing barges and lack of maintenance over the years.The loss of water wouldn't be noticeable on the canal, as the river would simply keep topping it up.

[@MartinZero]

The river is at the bottom of the valley Andi ?

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

@@MartinZero Sorry, I meant whatever source is being used to top the canal up and keep it at a set level. The river seemed the ideal source even if its only pumped upwards.

[@Tinhare]

@@MartinZero FWIW, the canal was fed from what is today known as Elton Reservoir. It in turn was fed from a feeder which did in fact come off the Irwell up near Brandlesholme at the northern end of, now, Burrs Country Park and is still there today.

[@missmerrily4830]

Thanks guys for another brilliant and informative video. It's made my day. The music is hauntingly beautiful and appropriate to the story you told. And your 'brew stops' are becoming a feature in their own right! Will there, or won't there be a spoon? Who ate all the pies (or the Scotch egg?) And where will you stop to have it. Fabulous!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yes its always a cliff hanger with James as to how he has organised the brew 😃

[@christinewilliams2035]

Thanks for some great memories...we went exploring the same area pre Covid lockdown..had our brew by the river in Ladyshore woods ....