The underground world of River culverts

[@MartinZero]

Music; Drone from Artlist. All other music by Dean and Myself. Franks theme is the Melody from Electricity by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Played by Dean. Additional filming and Photography by Roy. Thumbnail by Roy

[@4623620]

Fascinating video 👍 (the music near the end reminded me of Phaedra by Tangerine Dream 👍). Marvin says: Don't panic and wear your Mask. 🖖😷👍 ❗

[@LittleCarol]

Hi Martin, without wanting to sound like your Mother. Please will you and James wear a hard hat when you go on adventures like this. I did caving and potholing when I was younger and I had it drummed into me..Don't go underground without a hard hat. Great video. xx

[@4623620]

@@LittleCarol I'm worried about that too, please wear a hard hat Martin.🙏 Marvin says: Don't panic and wear your Mask. 🖖😷👍 ❗

[@philburr4075]

Sorry only just commented on the upload, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, pls can you try and make all other videos this length, say hi to Frank sidebottom for me lol.

[@K-Effect]

Would it help to bring a can of HD spray paint to mark directions just in case anyone happened to get lost down there?

[@JoeArcher]

My wife just walked in the room and said "is Martin in a culvert AGAIN?"

[@MartinZero]

You must invite her along 😀

[@JoeArcher]

@@MartinZero she's a long time fan, I'm sure she'll be joining you later. Thanks for the video, you're much braver than me!

[@martin4787]

pmsl

[@donaldcooper2787]

And you said "does a bear s**t in the woods ?!*?"...

[@fracnis6309]

I'm willing to bet that "choke" is actually more of an air trap like you find under your kitchen sink. Because of the state of the gore brook back in the day when it was culverted, it probably stank quite badly and you don't want that air, now building some interesting character inside a closed underground pipe, bellowing out and making everyone's day more colourful than it needed to be.

[@everhope6364]

Victorian engineers were just on another level

[@MartinZero]

Definitely 👍

[@patrickmccarthy5462]

Yes and it was often underground

[@gerardhand1954]

Very masonic

[@johngansler6487]

i think you will find modern day engineers are just as clever.just use more modern methods

[@everhope6364]

@@johngansler6487 I think you will find computers do most of the work today and they used a pencil, paper and math also most modern engineers only know their trade as a result of what the Victorians had already worked out and built plus the Victorians made a huge effort to make it look as good as they could even sewer pipes, which is sadly lacking in alot of modern engineering

[@RustyNailsadventures]

That ladder you were all climbing up looked seriously nasty, with all the stuff hanging off it. Great video.

[@markwillmer5799]

You know, when civilization ends and there is no one left this will still be there with water flowing as it is now. Fantastic video it really makes me think, well done guys. From Adelaide Australia.

[@stewis]

The quality of work, engineering, and the craftsmanship that was put into building something that will never be seen. Amazing. Thanks for taking us with you!

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Wow ! Where do i start . This is probably my favourite video so far . The craftsmanship down there is stunning but such a crime it’s buried away from view . The waterfalls , the stone bullseyes, the brickwork merging from 2 tunnels and then the choke is just a thing of beauty and such a clever idea . And last the Aqueducts ! I wonder how many people have wondered just what they are . Thanks for the amazing stills of the tunnels under construction too as a bricky they were gold 👌🏼🤩🧱👍🏼. Thanks Martin 🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱👍🏼

[@seany84uk]

Big props to you all for this video! With that current there was a serious risk of danger! Glad you all enjoyed it and covered it for us all to see! :)

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Sean, I have seen pics in there with nearly no water, much better with a big dramatic flow

[@seany84uk]

@@MartinZero where in oldham are you from? I am from waterhead

[@seany84uk]

@@MartinZero you find the most obscure but interesting places to cover that gets passed by thousands of people everyday :)

[@shirleylynch7529]

That was hair-raising. You are all so brave. The “enchanted forest” was scary. Thank you isn’t enough for what you do. You should be in tv films and documentaries. Well done. Amazing stuff.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Shirley. Loved the Forest

[@leestanway2119]

😊😊😅😮😊😢😢😮😅😮😢😮😮😊😢😮😅😢😢😅😢😮😅😮😮😅😮😢😅😮😢😮😢😢😮😮😢😊😮😢😮😮😢😅😮😅😮😢😊😢😅😮😢😢😮😢😢😢😮😢😅😮😅😢😮😢😢😮😅😢😮😮😢😊😅😮😅😢😢😅😢😅😢😅😢😊😢😢😅😅😅😢😅😢😮😢😢😢😮😢😢😢😮😢😮😢😅😢😅😢😅😢😢😅😢😢😮😢😅😢😅😢😢😅😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😮😅😢😢😢😢😢😅😢😢😅😢😢😢😢😢😢😮😅😢😢😢😅😢😢😅😢😢😢😢😢😢😅😢😅😢😅😢😅😢😢😢😮😢😢😢😅😢😅😢😅😢😢😅😢😢😢😮😅😢😮🎉😅🎉😮😢😢😅😢😢😮😢😮😢😢😢😅😢😮😢😅🎉😢😅😢😅😢😢😅😢😅😅😢😅😢😅😢😢😢😢😅😢🎉😢🎉😢😢😮😢😢😢😅😢🎉😢😮😢😢😢😢😅😢😮😢😢🎉😢😢😢😢🎉😢😮😢😅😢🎉😢😮😅😢🎉😅😢😅😢😢😅😢😢😅😅😮🎉😢😅😢😢😢🎉😢😢😅😢😅😅😮😢😢🎉😢😅😢😅😢🎉😢😮😢😢🎉😢😢

[@SirWombat]

The slide of death, leading to the pretty fountain of death. Pretty cool.

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

Quite an ominous start, Martin, but it turned into a real gem. That huge vertical piped fountain is a real engineering masterpiece. Incredible to think it's still there and working dozens of decades after the Victorian's built it.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah there are black and white pictures from the 1960's of it

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

I don't know if you will read this Martin, but I have been subscribed for a couple of years, and for some reason, the settings were at personalised. I've changed it back to all. The result is that a random video of yours came up, and I'm 3hrs down the rabbit hole that is Martin Zero. Thank you so much for what you do. I'm amazed at your explores and footage.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Chris, hope you enjoyed the 3 hours 😀

[@KidCurry666]

Brilliant vid Martin, you can't beat drains and culverts. All that hidden engineering, fascinating. Thanks for posting. 👍👍

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Steve

[@theurbanlegenduk1760]

Hello Steve it was a great video this I really enjoyed it just as much as everyone else if you're into this sort of thing I think you will enjoy this video I've done kzbin.info/www/bejne/anemZZeld9lmj8k I think you will enjoy it 😁

[@dennishill4098]

Iv lived in Gorton for the past 50yrs walked across them aqueducts hundreds of times i lived two seconds away from that pipe fountain but I never knew that you could walk through them tunnels great video thank you

[@garycross228]

i''m glad you took the great Fred Dibnah's advice on using old ladders "never hold the rungs, always hold the sides"! some of those old ladders looked a bit iffy!

[@dustincallison7650]

Did you like that!!!

[@zackakai5173]

I saw "Gorton Reservoir" and got excited for a minute, since I grew up about two miles from the *Groton* Reservoir in Connecticut. Then I realized what country this was in and re-read the name a little more carefully xD

[@stephencleaves]

Brilliant and always an interesting video Martin, I' not surprised James looked terrified ! the video contained all my phobias as well, tunnels, dark running water and climbing down ladders into the abyss ! I its so fascinating what's beneath our feet, out of sight and rarely seen by the public. Many thanks for bringing this great content to us, much appreciated.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Steve, I reckon you would secretly love it 😀

[@sawspitfire422]

The look on James' face when he saw the slide of death tho XD He looks like he just came face to face with his own mortality

[@liquidmech1727]

honestly stuff that isnt normally seen by the public fascinates me, its something about not being supposed to be there that makes it so interesting

[@mrlister2000]

Post 10 - I'm going to walk through this short culvert Martin Zero - Hold my beer

[@MartinZero]

😀👍

[@Addieisgoinghome]

I’m sure if Post 10 had access to these types of culverts he would.

[@Gappasaurus]

Post10 and his trusty rake would have those roots & debris dealt with in a flush 😉 ...uhh, i mean “flash” 😄

[@mrlister2000]

@@Addieisgoinghome Post 10 would be like a rat down a sewer pipe if he saw culverts like the ones we have in the UK!

[@Addieisgoinghome]

@@mrlister2000 100% accurate. 😂

[@davelewthwaite]

A forgotten river, in culvert, in a tunnel, with Frank? This is the most Martin thing imaginable.

[@MartinZero]

I suppose so 😄

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

By hell Martin, it pins you to your seat does this one. Thanks for your combined efforts and the history behind it...... Fascinating.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Stephen

[@judyobrien8293]

That was well good, Martin. I always think its really quite sad that rivers are 'forgotten' and placed into pipes under the ground but it's really interesting to see them. How much the landscape has changed over time just amazes me. That slide of death was terrifying and the fountain where it ended was incredible , kind of terrifying and amazing all at the same time!

[@brianartillery]

Two things I love about this video, before it's even got anywhere: (1)- that beautifully cinematic shot of the rain falling on a draincover that says 'Manchester', and (2)- Frank Sidebottom! The shot of him in the tunnel made me very happy - I'm sure some younger viewers might be completely baffled. I know that Chris Sievey, who originally gave life to Frank, has been dead a long time now, but seeing Frank again, brought me out in goosebumps. Not of fear, but of happy memory. Understatement of the week: 'Original ladder sketchy'. Those rungs are lengths of cotton. A hard cough would wreck them. Brilliant shot of you in the tunnel looking at the waterfall - slowed down, it looks incredible. I think, Martin, that, although fascinating, that culvert would be high on my list of 'Britain's Most Unpleasant Places'. Another top video to start my Sunday night shift. Nice one.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Brian. yes it was nice to honour Frank. I have good memories of seeing him live and Nick did a great job in making the head

[@howardquinn126]

I used to work in Timperley and saw him about quite a lot. Eccentric. Bizarre. But fun.

[@leroyholm9075]

Excellent video and not the place to be on a rainy day. These Victorian inspired water engineering systems are incredible. Thank you for giving us the chance to experience places we would never get to see!

[@martin4787]

That was brilliant. I was glued from start to finish. A huge thank you to all four of you and last but not least Dean.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Martin

[@lazyhazeldaisy9596]

It always amazes me that the brickwork is beautifully made and yet it never gets seen, well done Martin and team thanks.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah true, and thank you

[@morg52]

When various up grades to the storm water systems near where I live,(Minnesota) are done. They are usually done in the winter because in the winter precipitation falls as snow and doesn't immediately start filling the tunnels with storm water. A few years ago a worker was killed when he was swept away in an underground culvert by a sudden down pour from above. Very exciting video!

[@debbiepitcher9806]

Wow Wow wonderful this week so interesting, I noted how brave you were knowing how much you hate heights, well done Martin a special thank you this week, top quality as usual, well done James ! thank you Nick and Roy.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Debbie, yeah that big waterfall was a bit of a challenge

[@swissjetpilot1542]

These Victorian water works are quite impressive engineering feats. And while F. Bateman and other engineers of his time will be remembered, it was the hundreds if not thousands of laborers who performed back breaking work which made it all possible. While we all admire the grand stately homes and buildings above ground built in the same period, these incredible water works made life possible not only for the Victorians, but for future generations. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, out of sight out of mind. But thanks to you, Martin, these marvels are being enjoyed in a way past generations could have never imagined. - Cheers from Switzerland! :-)

[@MartinZero]

I agree and thank you

[@welovenewhomes]

Only the people who have done draining will know that feeling stepping down a ladder into a noisy, Disorientating, The look on James face said it all. We all walk drains with the words What if?? Playing in our minds? But you capture that feeling so well in this film, Sometimes conversation is limited because you all know why we do it. Yes it is scary as it comes - But the that filled with adrenalin is a an amazing cocktail. Great film - great soundtrack!! Steve Telford

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Steve, yes scary as it was I couldt miss the opportunity to see such a wonderful place

[@WestYorkshireGREAT]

That "Slide of Death" as you call it is genuinely terrifying. It looks like something out of a horror movie

[@MartinZero]

Yeah, no getting out of there

[@kevinfarrell8074]

Do wonder who is going down the slide to maintain it though

[@xsm5525]

@@kevinfarrell8074 I'm not convinced that tube at 12:01 is the same tube we see at 10:23 ... if you look at the water, it's not going into solid pipe-filled water, I think from 10:23 that water is going into another chamber - and THEN some how going into that tube at 12:01 , either way you're gonna get sucked into a small pipe and die some how. Super horrible way to go.

[@Lulu-jl5zd]

@@xsm5525 Yes there must be a sump to maintain the flow rather than the pressure. Otherwise the siphon would not work.

[@lorenzo42p]

most likely, the water you see at the bottom of that slide is at the same level at the top of the pipe outside. it goes deeper than you can see

[@petergrant2366]

You got some bottle my man, excellent, a tunnel with in a tunnel, and most of the brickwork looked in very good condition, well done chaps.

[@padraigellis1520]

Hi Martin, That slide of death, from the out side looks like the part of a 'Trompes' for air compression, machinery in mines for drilling or even weaving machines using air pressure & given the date of 1914 Manchester the comperssed air could have been for used in a franace for steel manufacturing.

[@paulcarmichael596]

What is fascinating to me here in the states is that I don’t know anywhere that we have these man made tunnels. I am fascinated by them. The time and effort that was required without any modern tools.

[@thanbo]

@@paulcarmichael596 cities have them. Minetta Brook in NYC is well known because of one of the Fantastic Beasts films, although there isn't a lovely marble starting point like the film.

[@the_retag]

Sounds like a good explanation

[@dailydrivect2641]

I cannot explain how much I LOVE your videos. Thank you for putting these together.

[@RoelvandenBergWillemWasbak]

Truly amazing what people can create, culverts that are greatly build to withstand time. It looks so well build that maintaining such culverts is not needed so much. Love the video's Martin!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, I dont think maintenance has been down there for years

[@barricadeish]

Big Up for Frank! Cracking video especially the Victorian fountain😀😀😀

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Bill, cant beat a bit of Frank

[@lordbungle6235]

The planet needs more Frank Sidebottom explores videos :D Hats of to Nick for making that happen.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah he made that head perfect

[@lordbungle6235]

@@MartinZero I am surprised the man can walk. Wearing that head and climbing those ladders takes some huge balls.

[@philippabaker1078]

Great video. What a superb example of engineering. The keystone detailing to the arches was good to see. They took real pride in thier craftsmanship.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah beautiful place

[@gilgammesh1]

Debdale park... My main hangout in my teens. We used to mess about on those bridges that went across the ressers. Amazing to find out they were actual tunnels.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah I would have never known

[@adamdnewman]

Twisted cool. Glad you all made it out safe

[@stationsixtyseven67]

14:35 ish: It's interesting that you can see how much of the culvert roof is exposed inside the outer tunnel by where the mineral deposits start at the sides. They're not all the way to the top. I guess they stop where the soil covers the culvert in the tunnel?

[@garethparr9482]

Fantastic Martin and must have been seriously daunting. The lengths you go to to bring these videos is breathtaking and on behalf of all us couch potatoes I say Thankyou. Where would we have been without Victorian engineers and navies. Cheers boys take mi hat off to all of you.

[@carlwilson1772]

Best one in ages Martin. James looked terrified, but still did it. That's courage. Nice to see Frank! Amazing engineering down there. Have you ever thought of some sort of personal vhf communication system when down in such places? You could then all keep in comms without shouting or being misheard.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah I thought of radios but we just never got round to it

[@jamesbrett6518]

@@MartinZero something like a H4855 Personal Role Radio (PRR)

[@carlwilson1772]

@@MartinZero A gas detector might be good too. Did you happen to see a mysterious, sinister cowled figure down there? Might have sounded like Donald Pleasance?

[@peteg259]

Brilliant video again Martin - always enjoy seeing your videos on a Sunday evening. The Victorian engineering is mind-blowing!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Pete

[@TheFloorface]

it seems youtube knows me better than i know myself. never would have even imagined anyone would film this but im glad you did and glad i got it in my recommends. very interesting stuff.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@chrisspain5411]

One of the best exploration videos yet!

[@Porthcothen]

Frank sidebottom and the stig head in the photos at the start brilliant video as always.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much

[@jlmitchell8321]

Amazing, thanks Martin. As many people have commented, I also spent many times walking back and forth on the reservoir culvert and over the golf course. I was there with pals on a very hot day in 1989, in the smaller area of water to the right, lots of carefree teenagers were diving off the culvert into the water and having a swim. One lad got tangled in the weeds and sadly drowned.

[@fuzzwack1]

I bet that choke Airates the water too! Thats a good thing.

[@MartinZero]

Probably Robert

[@maxpayne2574]

Yes it made me wonder if the Victorians would have known the benefits of aeration or it was just a chance bonus.

[@normathomas8276]

Do these things ever get maintenance or are just left to run as they were built?

[@icewizzard666]

Wow! I'm only in a minute and some cracking shots / photos already! 16 mins awesome shot! An amazing vid Mart - well done!

[@morrislouiseeagle7161]

That was epic - thank you for being brave and exploring it for us-please stay safe and well sending regards 👏❤️😁xx

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yep we are all good

[@TheCelts01]

Hi Martin you have Saved my Sunday night as always. nice to see u have climbing Gear on. Now u know How my days are as I am a Tree Surgeon and have wear safety climbing gear everyday so that I can climb up in the Trees.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Dean, Not sure thats for me, Heights 🙁

[@DAGO58]

Just imagine the amount of man hours it must have taken to create these culverts.

[@sc0tte1-416]

Well, back then the people who did this work actually worked instead of having two guys with shovels and ten more standing there watching 😂

[@MartinZero]

Yeah and there were loads along this Brook

[@spex357]

They had no tv.

[@catsmeow1037]

No health and safety and red tape to get through. Lots of injuries to build these fantastic tunnels around Britain.

[@anthonyfound]

Hi Martin thanks for your channel we used to do a lot of adventuring in the lake district and on the North Yorkshire we used to take venturing walking and map reading I really enjoy your video videos they are so well it makes you feel that you're there and thanks again

[@retroactivejealousy-worldl1805]

Loved this. Looks like they didn’t make accommodation for movement of fish up and down the river. I guess it was so toxic back then that there weren’t any! Interesting to see the frog in there. I wonder if he was a single ‘’wash-in” or part of a subterranean, sustained population? Where is the intake for this culvert and what is the wildlife like upstream?

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Wow Martin that was fantastic. The Engineers of old were absolutely brilliant. Those culverts are really something. Enjoyed the history lesson too. Thanks so much for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Linda, yes it turned into quite a story and adventure in the end

[@MartinDHayes]

Amazing footage of your adventure! The engineering is awesome, for that time period! You guys have more nerve than I do, to go into the depths of Hades like that, haha! Enjoyed this one very much. Be safe and looking forward to more great videos! Cheers!!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Martin, it was harder not to go in, Knowing how spectacular it was inside

[@markscully2342]

"The engineering is awesome, for that time period" I think they were better at it then than we are now!

[@nezbitt1469]

Wow all them yrs playing around them resovoirs as a kid in the 80s never knew was an underground brook. Used to dive off them aquaducts into the water never knew was a river running through them. Fascinating thanks for posting Martin great work as always 👍

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, thing is you cant even hear it in the aqueducts

[@David_Owsnett]

Awesome video Martin!! Top marks to you and the lads!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks David

[@d.aardent9382]

The fountain structure was made for oxygenation of the water maybe? I dont know if they knew about that sort of water cleaning methods at that time.

[@xsm5525]

10:20 considering how dangerous it is, I can't believe that slide of death entrance doesn't have like a massive grill/trash-rack type of thing to stop humans going down, I mean, you could either A, slip and just go down it, or B.... I guess thrill-seeking teenagers if they ever got down there wouldn't say no to something that looks like a water park slide!! lol

[@marksadventures3889]

A job for tank-cam some of that surely. (that's surely, not Shirley). So that's where Frank's been all this time! Good stuff lads, stay safe there Martin; I'm glad you got a good team with you there doing it right and safe. Look forward to your next.

[@Dekko-chan]

That slide of death thing is one of my greatest nightmares: you go into a regular slide in a public swimming pool, but then you discover the end is plugged, so it slowly fills up and then you drown. My theory for this “slide of death” is probably to stop erosion.

[@MartinZero]

That pretty much describes that slide Benjamin

[@Dekko-chan]

Martin Zero well, it’s terrifying.

[@Dekko-chan]

Really interesting, i’ve never seen anything like it.

[@colin5296]

That was above and beyond , amazing how so much interesting stuff is hidden underground out of sight .Happy Easter team you deserve it .

[@jetsons101]

10 seconds in and it's great......

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Mike

[@unholyaudiochannel]

That intro with the Manchester manhole cover with the rain. Chills Martin. So awesome.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers mate 😊👍

[@suchcone]

Oh Martin that ladder up the waterfall looked grim. How you'll ever be clean again after I don't know 😂 great video as always!

[@turnerthemanc]

Used to fish here with 2 mates when I was 14 in 78. Hot water in a flask, pot noodles and Rush blasting out on a woolies mono tape player. Great video. Brought back good memories

[@MartinZero]

I hope that tape deck went everywhere with you

[@petersmith9898]

Didn't realise Frank Sidebottom was so adventurous. 👍😂

[@MartinZero]

Good old Frank

[@roberthindle5146]

Or quite so....alive.

[@Mr.Grimsdale]

@@roberthindle5146 I heard he had been recycled and turned into council envelopes.

[@ActionAdventureTwins]

Dude This is the best video of a water tunnel exploration I have ever seen. Awesome stuff subscribed, and cant wait for the next video!!!

[@geoffdecorator1701]

Can you imagine what would happen if that tunnel became blocked completely ,the back flow would flood the whole of the area with no where to go .

[@MartinZero]

Yeah bit of a situation Geoff

[@83gt17]

And it will be, if those roots are not addressed

[@geoffdecorator1701]

@@83gt17 its a disaster waiting to happen through lack of maintenance ,whoever the authority is thats responsible for this tunnel could end up with one almighty bill for damages if it collapses inwards .Once one brick of the tunnel arch goes it will probably cause the rest to go and the then the only option would be to excavate from the top downwards but they would need to locate the blockage first. In the meantime though millions of gallons of water would be flooding the whole of the area with no where to go .

[@stephenw2992]

@@geoffdecorator1701 I wonder if its that row of trees on the golf course Martin shows in his shots of the aqueducts? They might be the ones responsible.

[@d22matt]

Always gets me how fresh Victorian brickwork can look in underground structures. Fascinating stuff Martin, thank you. Yet, I couldn't help but cringe that you weren't wearing gloves on those ladders. Looked like they had a good few years of wipes and who knows what clinging to them.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Matty. was ok Iicked my fingers after to clean em

[@d22matt]

@@MartinZero That's alright then, all is forgiven. 😂

[@auser1484]

Looking forward to watching this with supper later on. Right up my culvert. Okay, that doesn't sound right, but never mind. 😁 Any update on the CDs Martin? 👍

[@MartinZero]

They are being posted out. He did the international ones last week. The others should be posted or posted within days

[@annhall8498]

We love your videos, well commented and fascinating to watch, better than any Saturday night TV 😂 We live an old station masters house, tiny house built with huge stones. We have some abandoned railways around us too and we’re always amazed by the quality of build. Stay safe exploring those tunnels 👍🏼

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Ann

[@outdooradventures8773]

Carrying that head must have been like transporting the gnome in half life 2 !!

[@jezm1703]

An absolutely fascinating and riveting video. Well done for doing that hazardous journey. Thank you for showing just how good those Victorian engineers were !

[@martinwheeldon]

Really interesting. Is there any fish down there?

[@rydermike33]

Absolutely wonderful video Martin. Very well done to you and the lads for a fascinating explore. So good to see Frank make an appearence as well. Many thanks.

[@davidtimmins3280]

I would have loved to have been the owner of the local brickyard when this culvert was constructed.

[@-KillaWatt-]

I did a bit of digging around and I found the likely company was The Manchester Street Brick Works. What I found interesting in my mini research was finding out the UK was actually importing a lot of their bricks from America. Which is odd to me and I couldn't figure out why. My only conclusion could be the different soil available in North America versus Europe. Perhaps it was higher quality. Whatever the reason there are likely a good many bricks from America shown in this video. If you google "The Victorian Crolla's Manchester Street Brick Works" you'll find a few pictures of some of the factory and its workers. Some of the fellas may have even made the bricks we see in this video.

[@peterkilvert2712]

WOW, fantastic journey. I'm exhausted just watching it. Brilliant piece of civil engineering. Thank you lads.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Peter

[@nathanlloyd1739]

Must be brew time👌💪

[@MartinZero]

One sugar Nathan

[@douglasthompson296]

@@MartinZero and non of James skimmed milk if you please 😂🍼

[@topshot2787]

I seriously applaud you fellas for the lengths that you go to to bring us these videos. The research, the energy you put in and the hours of footage and editing. Gettin wet through and filthy and cold , so that we can watch the videos at home. You can truly see what you do and it hits home when looking through the helet cams. Also its astonishing all the work put it by the people who thought and put the plans together and the architects and technicians that thought and drew these old plans, blueprints and diagrams, and not to forget the brickies, builders and labourers who placed every brick where they still lie today serving. Nothing short of brilliant all round. All the best from lancashire.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much. I will never cease to be staggered at the number of Bricks

[@topshot2787]

@@MartinZero Yes and each and every one of them laid by hand all them years ago. Its astounding. 👍👍👍

[@johnjephcote7636]

As a student I did assist in building and then finally cleaning a town's new sewer system. I remember standing on a submersible pump and watching the waterfall splashing down in front of me. Of course, I did not crawl along the tunnels; they were not as large as the ones shewn! These tunnels are too long to play pooh sticks (sorry, I couldn't resist introducing that word).

[@diogenesesenna9323]

Very pleased to see the alternative, slightly archaic, but still acceptable spelling of shewn.

[@misterwibble6411]

not to be confused with "poo sticks" which you don't want to meet down in those waterways😃

[@ShakuraKazuki]

What a great video. In the maps overview of the area with the aqueducts you can see a line of trees directly above the course of the culvert. Maybe those are responsible for the root section.

[@TheSugarDaddy1]

It’s like a scene out of Indiana Jones or The Goonies but I wish you lot would wear gloves all the way through

[@ivanhockenhull2604]

Genuinely harrowing stuff, Martin. Hats off to you all. Some footage reminded me of Aliens movie. Once again a Stygian part of Manchester's industrial heritage has been illuminated. Frank Sidebottom as comic relief was much needed. Bravo.🇯🇪

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Ivan

[@michaelrender1584]

You're a braver man than I martin it looks very nasty down there

[@MartinZero]

It was good to be honest very interesting

[@michaelrender1584]

@@MartinZero all your videos are amazing 👏 but a lot of places look intimidating very scary tunnels and black holes my toes curl up watching them but I watch every week really interesting what you do stay safe martin 😀 see you next week

[@strassenbahntk]

Martin, thanks for your amazing explorations and your excellent background research on historic engineering. Also I have learned what a fascinating city Manchester is, over and below ground, urging me for a visit once this will again be possible. Plus, you teached me to understand Mancunian dialect. :)

[@olestas]

Omg, those inside ladders were so filthy.. I can't imaging touching them with bare hands :()

[@flexsealman7096]

Oh I said the same thing, it must have felt like pure slime!

[@greywebs1944]

Wash your hands with sanitiser, but I wouldn't touch my face after touching those ladders. Frog looked healthy 🐸 Hope he or she has hit the "Like" button 🔔🤣

[@bryan3550]

Wow, that was some expedition! Fabulous silhouette image I you in the round pipe... You mentioned it was beginning to rain outside. Number One rule of Cave Clan is you do not enter a drain in such circumstances. That's just lethal!!!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Bryan . Yeah we knew when the rain was due, as you can see all was good

[@KevinBenecke]

Just give Ollie and Ratty a call and he'll have those roots gone in 10-15 minutes.

[@Dazzy84]

Watch out for the corn!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@chrishiggins341]

Nice and amazing to see it’s made fully lined on Accrington Nori brick.

[@gilles111]

0:44 In Dutch we have the word "goor" which means very dirty, disgusting. Our goor is pronounced (almost) the same as your brook Gore.

[@MartinZero]

Must have very similar origins do you think ?

[@gilles111]

@@MartinZero I'm pretty sure. Dutch and English both originate from Germanic roots so there are still a lot of similarities between English and Dutch.

[@trevormegson7583]

I'd like to have joined you but I would have shit myself therefore adding to the polluted culverts. What an effort. What great footage and great history. Cheers lads.

[@almaxx9680]

Roy was like a salmon going up that waterfall 🐟

[@annahasty7191]

What a mixture of terror, amazement, claustrophobia, stunning craftsmanship and beauty. I absolutely loved it! Thank you for sharing your adventure. 😁❤

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Anna, I think you pretty much summed it all up well 😃

[@Phil-M0KPH]

Despite it being hidden from view, the quality of construction never faltered. How times have changed. Not a place for the light batteries to fail, hope you had spares. “James, put the phone away, put the phone away!” ..... now’s not the time to be ordering pizza!

[@MartinZero]

He probably was ordering take away knowing him 😀

[@g_e_o_m9369]

"So one large with extra cheese to the lake, uh-huh just chuck it down the nearest drain?"

[@simontay4851]

There would not be any signal in there anyway.

[@malcolmcog]

When I was a wee boy I was lucky enough to watch 'The Third Man' on a Saturday morning kids picture show, and was fascinated by the chase through the sewers. That was at the same time a huge open sewer system was being dug at the bottom of our local park. We had many days exploring this and also had some pretty scary experiences ! This meant I was hooked for life on going underground in caves and disused mines. So thank you for putting your explores on youtube for us all to enjoy !

[@trooperkent]

Well that was absolutely fantastic you go to some of the most amazing places

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yes this was very cinematic

[@billjones8640]

I used to live on Green Fold until I was 13 (73 now!) which is the road that leads down to the reservoirs from Abbey Hey. I used to play all round the reservoirs and always wondered what the brick “tunnels” were. Mystery solved after 60 odd years! Great video but scary!