The impassable Chamber. The Worsley Brook

In this video we explore urbex a short section of the Worsley brook in Salford, Manchester. This section of the brook is underground and host lots of subterranean historical features. We pass by the Worsley Delph, the area that the Duke of Bridgewater had his mines and James Brindley was involved in the extraction of coal from the Worsley mines. The Bridgewater canal features in our story because not only do we pass underneath it. Parts of the dry docks for the Bridgewater canal drain into it. We see drainage channels underground constructed in the 18th century. The Worsley brook also played a role in an old Corn mill flour mill that had medieval routes in the village. It is probable that the brook turned a waterwheel for the old corn mill. We see lots of subterranean Georgian engineering and architecture in parts of the brook. The brook has a beautiful drop shaft that looks to be a wonderful piece of canal engineering. We go to the Old Warke Dam and take a look at the infall. James Brindley, Francis Egerton and John Gilbeert would have played a role in the alteration and culverting of this lost waterway of Manchester and Salford.

[@MartinZero]

Intro and outro music by Dean, Sensory triggered on KZbin. Other incidental music by Mark, Reg, Dave & John aka The Chameleons, thank you for being part of my soundtrack. Genuine comments of concern welcome H&S lectures will disappear. Respect to you all. Roy = "its a walk up a brook", however no one mentioned the subterranean blues in that low section 😁

[@stephenbirchall941]

Great video. I have sailed many times over that bit of canal. I'm glad they didn't try and drain the dry dock while you were there!

[@rich_devoto]

Martin the music on your videos is always top drawer - and now you’ve just stuck the world’s greatest band (ever) into this too! Zero and the Chameleons- blinking marvellous

[@MartinZero]

@@stephenbirchall941 There is only one dock I think and its rarely used

[@MartinZero]

@@rich_devoto Oh yes 😀

[@Simon_Nonymous]

We loved the retro intro!

[@RossMaynardProcessExcellence]

"An idiot with a torch". You're being slightly hard on yourself there. You may not be an expert but you are bringing largely forgotten heritage to modern eyes. Well done to you and all your collaborators.

[@stephenjones9153]

Bloody Spray Crete Vandalism 😭😭. Thankfully we have people like Martin and Co capturing our History and amazing architecture and workmanship for future generations to see. Extremely well done. 👍👍👍

[@MartinZero]

Yeah Spraycrete does kind ruin the vibe

[@4-dman464]

Martin's delivery is more reverent, polite, subdued, even hallowed than usual in this video. This is known locally as the Posh Worsley effect. Even people with broad accents from Bolton and Oldham and Wigan, suddenly start talking posh when driving through Barton Road Worsley, and only when driving beyond into downbeat Winton does their rough-and-ready accents return. It's not affected, it's a genuine linguistic phenomenon that automatically afflicts all outsiders passing through Worsley from anywhere in the world. Last spring a visiting couple from Kentucky suddenly sounded like they hailed from New Hampshire much to their own surprise. And so this is why Martin sounds a bit posher this time. Normal Ancoats service will be resumed next week.

[@MartinZero]

I even drank Prosecco

[@earlt.7573]

@@MartinZeroI hope ya drank straight from the bottle after breaking the bottle neck off on a rock, no sense getting TOO posh, I mean, really........

[@ROSS4422]

Thank you for this explanation!

[@bernardmcmahon351]

Nicely said, everyone, sometimes in their lives uses the ‘Worsley/ Eccles/ Winton’ method. Eccles 👍

[@dilwyn1]

Fantastic .. Another great vid Martin, cheers for making Sunday special !

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@MrTylerStricker]

This was an absolutely fantastic look at the Delph and its adjacent structures. Thank you for taking all of those spider webs to the face to bring us this fascinating documentation of these amazing works!

[@boilerroombob]

Just watched it on the big screen martin with the wife and it was an absolutely fantastic journey full of history thank you to you and all your friends for this chapter......x

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much

[@yorkie2789]

Martin, you are the light that never goes out!

[@earlt.7573]

And then he goes and calls himself just "an idiot with a torch", haa--- Martin you're the best.

[@MartinZero]

😄👍

[@MartinZero]

Idiot with a Go Pro ? 😀

[@GodsOath_com]

It's a testimony to their engineering knowledge that those brick arches are still intact. Wow.

[@lonemonaro1455]

Hi Martin. You are definitely not an idiot with a torch. You are showing the World, things we are unaware of.

[@dwbunloaf8245]

You exhibited real bravery there Martin . You looked genuinely scared but you carried on regardless, that’s bravery. Well done sir.

[@outsidethepyramid]

he IS sooo brave

[@MartinZero]

Cheers, wasnt the most pleasant of places, but I am glad we went through

[@wideyxyz2271]

Cool stuff. Its what Sundays are about!

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Pal

[@Scottish1970]

Martin you walk past so many loose bricks in your videos with the makers names stamped into them , I`m always trying to pause and make them out , there`s so many Facebook pages full of brick collectors , people that know the history of where the bricks have come from , roughly when they were made etc , fascinating stuff , maybe you could mention any you come across , there`s people mad about bricks from all over the world , it may uncover some helpful history. and get you a hell of a lot more follower`s , they`ve got me hooked and really are mad about bricks ,I`ll spread the word if you where to start showing the odd stamped brick , you come across so many and we hunt for them ourselves , amazing the amount you find in stream`s/ Rivers , love you`re vids Martin and the history in them, Cheers

[@littleant9304]

Thanks again Martin I worked on the Delph regeneration and was actually one of the people involved in the discovery of the tunnel amongst others there was a winch also discovered buried under all the earth we removed from there and also under the bridge there is a couple of sealed up tunnels Keep up the uploads 👍

[@MartinZero]

Cheers, yes i did read about the winch as well 👍

[@donnawoodman6249]

The view of those hanging green leafy vines really entices me to go and wallow in it myself, that is a scene out of paradise!! 🤗🤗

[@Grantham0]

Martin Thanks for a brilliant journey through Worsley Brook. I grew up in Winton / Worsley and am familiar with the history of Worsley , in particular. In the late1940's and early 1950's us kids used to explore "Worsley Woods" and surrounding areas . I ended up as a Camp Warden of the Middlewood Scout Camp in the 1960's and spent much of my late teenage days exploring not only the ruins of the Bridgewater Estate ( of which Middlewood was part) , but Worsley in general. Fond memories indeed One significant adventure was to go to what we kids called "The sunken Barges" located near the end of the coal loader railway line at the Monton end of the Bridgewater Canal. It was a " graveyard' of derelict barges and we would jump from one to the other , and I remember one "dare" was to swing out over the water on a long derelict crane from one barge to another! Happy days . On a visit to Worsley maybe 10 years ago I went to see if the "Sunken Barges" were still there but couldn't see any trace!! I follow your excellent videos via You Tube . I have been in Australia for 50 years but every time I've returned to UK I've spent quite some time in Winton and Worsley. Best wishes to you and keep up your brilliant videos David Chadwick

[@MartinZero]

I would of loved to have seen the sunken barges David, you were lucky 👍

[@thedrainmaestro]

definitely one of our best culvert explores, mission impossible 🤣

[@MartinZero]

You bossed it 😆

[@barbaraking6980]

Thanks Martin, Roy and Marcus, this was a fantastic insight to the course of the Worsley Brook and how it's been utilised and adapted over the years. Brilliant video yet again guys , really appreciate it.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers thank you

[@amc5966]

That last chamber was like a prop for an Indiana Jones movie.

[@ponetwozerodrone3707]

Martin and your gang... i an and you supporters are very grateful and appreciative of you entering entirely.. we say thank you...

[@Dave64track]

What a fantastic piece of history again hidden away from public view thanks to you and your team for showing us this underground place. Keep up the great work and stay safe.

[@TieDyedShawn]

Martin I have to say thank you for your hard work to make your videos for us to watch. Have a wonderful day to you and your friends.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Shawn

[@ianr]

Great video! Love the opening, you should do this for all videos now Martin. 🙂👍

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Ian, bit of fun 😀

[@ynot6473]

two ian rs watching martin!

[@williamrobinson7435]

It's great that you have credited the musicians on this, Martin. 🎶👍. I've been to Worsley a few times, back in the day and it is indeed a lovely village, but Ive certainly never seen from these angles! The sheer amount of industrial heritage in the North West never ceases to amaze me. An absolutely fascinating video, nice one Martin and team! 🌟👍

[@MartinZero]

I must admit, this is a part of Worsley that few have seen

[@Josh-kb8gi]

Hello Martin, greetings from Germany. First of all, I am a very big fan of your reports and watch them regularly, with enthusiasm. Is it possible that the creek was lowered by maybe 3 meters in order to drain the coal mines more and deeper, because if you can mine more coal 3 meters deeper, that's several 1000 tons on the surface of a mine . I know that from the Ruhr area here, there they drove very long tunnels from the deepest river level into the mountain to make more coal mining possible in order to drain everything even deeper. These tunnels were called Erbstollen, because one generation would not have been able to build these up to 30 km long tunnels. I think to myself, maybe the whole underground stream was only built to free the coal mines deeper from the water?

[@Josh-kb8gi]

Another point to consider would be if you lower the level of the creek at the site of the mill by 3 meters, the water wheel or the turbine also gains significantly more energy due to the much higher gradient. So a win-win situation for the mill and the operator of the coal mine.. maybe the costs of the necessary work were shared at the time?

[@fireflyfireworks668]

Sounds reasonable and plausible, I really would love to see the worsley mines and their inner workings.... Although being German too, I have to correct you on the etymology of the "Erbstollen" (inheriting mine tunnel). It's called so not because the next generation of miners could mine coal previously not accessible, but rather because it inherits the water of all mine workings above it. Kurz noch auf deutsch, weil es die Wörter im Englischen schlicht nicht: Der Erbstollen "erbt" alle Wässer aus oberen Grubenbauen.

[@kingofcastlechaos]

Sitting here in Texas I am enthralled by the history you have around every corner. I have done a bit of underground urban exploring myself. Any time we run across something too tight and therefore too dangerous, we used a camera and light on a float. Be sure the float is boat shaped so it reduces camera wobble. We tied that to a sturdy fishing line on a rod and reel. We could pay out line to ease the unit into the tunnels and get an idea about what was in there before we got ourselves in trouble. It's a really bad feeling to be inching your way into a bad situation and find that the floor is slick and increasing in pitch! Going to subscribe and my dream retirement is to visit your lovely country and learn more about it.

[@VoteForAChange1]

You’re more than welcome here. Please head to northern England if you do visit. Peak District is lovely all year round. Plus you get warmer and warmer hospitality the further north you go.

[@christycullen2355]

Them moths were nightmare fuel. Great little documentary as usual, it's great you showing us all this architecture that was built never to be seen

[@dn744]

Just a point about Mason marks. These were done on each stone usually if large, but also in 5s 10s and such. To indicate which he laid. This was on the days where it took time, so paid by the blocks. Some managed to do 2 times as many as others, so paid higher. Also, they had band's. Masons which did elaborate work paid far higher.

[@m.m.i.9586]

Wow! The fern filled oasis was beautiful! Like something out of a painting. What an intriguing route, full of unexpected wonders! Thank you for bringing us along on the adventure.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah, I did like that bit as well

[@DEAD-DROP]

What a place, so many great features! Appreciate you taking us along Martin!

[@MrStuNoo]

You're right on my doorstep here Martin. If I'd seen you whilst passing I'd have shouted in both a brew and a pint! But as always an excellent video demonstrating local (21 Century) engineering and technology from times gone by. 😎

[@MartinZero]

No sugar and a crumpet please

[@bobjackson6524]

WOW, that section at 21:40 is spectacular.

[@AndyBsUTube]

That species of moth is found just inside a lot of mines and caves, just around the limit of daylight. I suspect those protruding blocks were put there for moth and bat habitats - hence the bat moulding on one of them.

[@williamlloyd3769]

Epic explore! Thanks for showing / explaining all this engineering!

[@Vtr1781249]

Fantastic video of the hidden Lancashire waterways, made even more enjoyable by your commentary on the various historical features 👍🏻

[@timwy]

Another masterpiece guys ! Fantastic!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Tim

[@TheRamtops]

I would speculate the dropshaft was put there to slow the flow of the water. Best I can come up with. Great video, those Months were a bit special 😊 (Martin walking home after a night out in Manchester was also a bit special 😂)

[@nacekozo]

Thank you for this - we live just up the road and regularly go for walks around here, but never knew about any of this.

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

It's most welcome to see you back in the Greater Manchester area, Martin. You yourself, Roy and Marcus are most certainly daring people going into those tunnels. Many thanks for such a most interesting film. By the way Martin, that Granada TV introduction reminds me of the old broadcasts from the Quay Street studios!

[@MartinZero]

Cant beat a bit of Granada

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

Thanks for this Martin, another fascinating look at what is clearly very old infrastructure. I know how you were feeling negotiating that low section so well done.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks, I wasnt warned about that section unfortunately 😀

[@andykopgod]

Amazing, so much history and tunnels around there, brilliant guys, nice to see Erling Haalend getting involved too 😆👍

[@sputumtube]

Your excellent local history documentaries/explorations never cease to amaze me. It's always fascinating that you show us the things that almost none of us have not only never seen before, but had no clue they even exist. What a goldmine of information these videos would be for local schools and definitely are for us subscribers. Thanks Marcus, Roy, Martin.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers 👍

[@gloriousradio]

Lovely to see what goes on under your feet in Worsley! I lived in one of the cottages on Mill Brow, built in the 1790s (it doesn't appear on the 1785 map but does in the later ones). The whole old Mill Dam is now a private garden and 'solid' ground, though it floods something rotten in heavy rain. A fastinating tour, though the less said about how you might have gotten into the brook at the end the better ;)

[@anthonycamilleri7297]

thanks martin and company very interesting indeed

[@climbthatmountainuk]

Cheers Martin. I've been watching your videos for years and enjoying them. This one was of particular interest to me having lived around this area for a long time. Just wanted to say thanks for not jumping to conclusions or feeling a need to explain everything; it's nice to see someone humble and able to admit where knowledge or research just isn't currently possible. Thanks for all your videos and all your hard work. Keep it up!

[@markwedgwood1602]

Martin, I really appreciate your videos, esp around Salford and Manchester. In the 1800’s I had some relatives who lived there. They all got christened at the Manchester Anglican Cathedral. Then they came to Australia.

[@ericplace367]

I’ve often been to Worsley delph but next time will know what to look out for. Thanks a lot for great video.

[@rheingau2011]

Thank you very much again, for sharing the results of your curiosity. The last chamber alone , i think, was worth the whole trip. Always fascinating what is hidden below our feets.

[@MartinZero]

That last chamber was amazing and thank you

[@flexsealman7096]

"Don't forget I'm not an expert, I'm just an idiot with a torch" 😂

[@missmerrily4830]

"Good God"......."God bless em, the moths, but yeah, let's leave them be'! Loved that 👍😊 Oh no... now spiders! 😆🤣 I felt really queasy when you had to pass under the Bridgewater canal. That was scary stuff, never mind the wildlife! And not so much an unhappy bunny rabbit Martin but an older wiser dog than Marcus with more highly turned preservation instincts! It was so useful to be able to see Roy's earlier photographs. What a difference. Like you I really enjoyed this video. It had everything, from mysteries to scenery to drama. You earned that visit to the pub! Thanks guys!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much. Ive never been a big fan of moths, bless em

[@DubStu]

My family and I regularly walk through Worsley woods and the kids love to play in and walk down Kempnough Brook. Where it opens into Old Warke Dam there’s a large house that belongs to Fred Doune, founder of Betfred. Only after watching the video and seeing it on Google maps it does appear that it’s built on what would have been the bottom (or at least side slope) of the original reservoir. Knowing how muddy and claggy it is round there it must have been a job and a half to get a solid foundation for it.

[@TheRattyBiker]

OMG Martin - Ive not even got 45 seconds in and I'm commenting with a smile!! Although Im a late 80's child I could still appreciate the "northern & indestructible" intro you slapped on the video 😊😊 - despite I've still yet to watch your content I just know it's going to be far superior to any media Lyon ever created 👍👍👍

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Michael 😀

[@craigja1667]

Really enjoyed Martin, thanks !!!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@davidhindle5969]

Just discovered your channel and what a find👏 always say we are all part of history and the research and lengths you go to are brilliant. Love the respect you show to the men, women and children who grafted like nobody nowadays can grasp. Keep it going👍

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much David

[@nigelericogden3200]

Thanks folks … me dad was born in 1921 and brought up in Ringlow Park Road … he would’ve loved your videos …

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Another really interesting one Martin , thanks for taking us along with you 🤜🏻🤛🏻🧱🧱👍🏼

[@MartinZero]

A few bits of remedial brickwork for you to look at if you could please 😉

[@jondee442]

Manchester's answer to Indiana Jones! Great work lads, keep it up!😉👍

[@johnathanrowley2707]

Intresting how it's changed and moved around into different uses over the years

[@markmunro4554]

Thank you Martinn and team. I had fun and did not even get my feet wet.😂😂😂

[@StiggysGuitarLoft]

Sneaky bit of Chameleons love it

[@MartinZero]

Oh yes 👍

[@markdonnelly962]

Such a travesty that they have spray creted all that beautiful brick work, I bet Roy was in awe when he got to see it in its originality

[@simally3200]

Thankyou Martin for All your videos much respect keep on keeping on top of pal

[@Drivershell53]

top notch video, many thanks to you 3 for bringing it to us.

[@gbentley8176]

Excellent work chaps. The people who designed and built our first industrial infrastructure were surely highly skilled, confident and proud of their achievements. Saying no to a challenge was a nonstarter.

[@user-hz6jp7lt7z]

great vid mart and nice to hear a sneaky bit of the chameleons in there

[@christopherescott6787]

Though needed, the spraycrete destroys so much character.Still a fantastic effort to get us there. Thanks gents for another fabulous explore.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Christopher, yeah spraycrete a pain in the arse

[@garethparr9482]

As always guys up and above the call of duty to bring us these brilliant videos. You can only imagine the conditions those navies must have laboured in when they were driving those tunnels and culverts 300 or so years ago.

[@MartinZero]

Hi Gareth 👍

[@jetsons101]

Putting Spraycrete on all the original brickwork would be like putting a coat of old house paint on the Mona Lisa, "Lame" At (17:48) is that what looks like corrugated steel, from the 1700's or the 1800's ??? Martin, it's amazing to think all of the building of the culverts and canals was all done by hand "no powered machines," I tip my hat to the long-forgotten WORKERS that built it. This vid was fantastic, thanks to all of you..........

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yes that spraycrete was a major disappointment

[@jetsons101]

@@MartinZero You're being polite, I would use a word a bit stronger than disappointment..... Thanks again. Someday I hope to buy a coffee.

[@gordonbeattie4864]

I'd LOVE to go down there!!!🤩🤩🤩

[@kielspeakman9794]

That drop shaft must have been to control either the flow rate of the water or the level of the water in the upper section. Great video. Love seeing local places explored.

[@paulbrown1022]

Cracking little film for an ‘idiot with a torch’! Loved it, well done Martin 👍

[@steveneastland4128]

As always, excellent, quite mad intro too

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

Great exploration. Good to see Marcus again! 🌈 Cheers, guys.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers

[@littlechris5656]

Your face at 15 minutes in mirrored my expression just watching this, I don't know how you do this but I'm glad you do. Love watching your videos, keep it up 🙂

[@Bivolari]

Always good to see Marcus to remind us how nice it is to be young! lol

[@MartinZero]

and have hair 😀

[@user-yd5zo9dg8x]

At 03:40 ish you enter a part of the Brook that was strengthened by a company called VolkerStevin in around 2015, these concrete units were pre-cast off site and then lifted down into the Brook via a crane and then manoeuvred into position.

[@user-yd5zo9dg8x]

If you Google “Waterprojects online - Granary Culvert” you’ll find some info there. PS This is Bill Horrocks that commented a good while back on your River Medlock series. Keep up the good work mate.

[@paulstewart3216]

@@user-yd5zo9dg8x Cheers for the pointer to the article Bill

[@davidmicheletti6292]

another great visit

[@whatevernamegoeshere3644]

31:40 They usually instal drops in drainage because the slope needs to be a specific angle. Let's say you want a culvert that can carry plant waste too, like leaves in autumn, it needs 0.5% of slope but the two points you are connecting are 200 meters apart and 7 meters apart vertically. That makes for 3.5% slope, too high, which leaves solids behind on the edge, gets too shallow in the pipe and speeds up erosion. On the 200 meter run you want exactly 1 meter of drop, but you have 6 more meters to work around. If you install 2 drops, each at 3 meter depths, with a deep pool under them as damping to fight erosion, you end up with your exact slope and you even get some benefits as it aerates the water.

[@kevinpalmer7452]

We’ve had a right job another absolutely wonderful production.

[@sianwarwick633]

Very interesting. What a puzzle of different tunnels and penstocks to control the water. Wouldnt like to be near there after the rain. I see by some of the articles, 'they' are trying to clear out the silt of the first part of the tunnel. Excellent photos to show the woodwork, and your historic maps very helpful. Gah, the tunnel height.

[@VanaPica]

Gold! For a guy (and crew) just with a torch you make very interesting and entertaining content.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@davidflamee]

Intrepid explorers and backed up with maps and local history. Brilliant. Many thanks for your fascinating video. Well done.

[@adrianlydiate7197]

Great vid , u guys have got some balls going down there 👍

[@ruthbrierley1798]

Wow! What an amazing explore. Thanks for taking us with you!

[@MrYfrank14]

Thanks for showing us that you are normal and you do get scared sometimes while going on these adventures.

[@tonysicily2687]

A really great upload, thank you for sharing and doing this fr the rest of us

[@Peter-MH]

If Martin is in his 50’s and this daring, can only imagine what he must’ve been like as an 8 year exploring abandoned factories and warehouses around Manchester!

[@MartinZero]

Nah, I had no confidence as a kid

[@hovermotion]

Wow Amazing video, been past this building loads of times , there must of been over a 100k worth of tables left there..stunning building..Great vid

[@markiangooley]

Ochre, ochre, ochre! It’s so easy to believe that there’s a lot of iron in the Earth’s crust!

[@MartinZero]

Yep its oozing out

[@malcbury9739]

Yet another brilliant video, Martin and gang! Amazing to find out just what is under your feet when you're out and about getting along with life, like walking the dog, going for a stroll, etc! lol

[@fredMplanenut]

Nice one, interesting, and without any expletives!

[@monkehbitch]

Well done, it's flipping hard doing these underground bits. We're not wusses on these, remember, we go places that others think we're insane on exploring! As much as RCP or SCP is boring, it's reassuring that you know it's concrete underneath!

[@stephencleaves]

Great video Martin, I have a phobia of deep water so I don't blame you for being cautious in that deep section ! Always put instinct first and stay safe, nice to see Marcus out with you exploring again. 🙂

[@blueneeson9888]

Thanks Martin A The Gang A Brilliant Video From Blue

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Blue

[@bennybongosbigolebonanza894]

I love that area of the brook with the natural rock bed. Reminds me of an old Hammer Films set. Surreal. I can see why you don’t like the Spraycrete.

[@johnmeasures583]

Amazing industrial history brilliantly presented. Thank you. ❤️

[@richmiller7834]

Fascinating piece of canal and mining history. The Victorians were at the forefront of just about everything, especially water management...😀

[@adrianstansfield]

Great video again Martin& the lads & I never knew that the history of the canal ☝

[@pappakilo3965]

Just watching and you're saying about 'hard hat' but they always make you bump the roof a lot more. Something to bear in mind is a 'bump cap' like you're supposed to wear when working beneath (or on top of) a train. They're like a baseball cap but the shell is moulded GRP or similar. I've found them to be quite comfortable and much better than hard hats for confined spaces and you're not forever banging your head. I now wear one if I'm working in our cellar or attic for more than a few minutes - they keep spiders' webs off your head too

[@MartinZero]

That actually sounds quite a good idea, thanks

[@martinmarsola6477]

A great video today, Martin. A interesting tour into the past. See you on the next! 😊