Blackburn Brook is the brook that keeps on giving... Just when you think you’ve finished it another seemingly unattached section presents itself, although I’m pretty sure this is now it as this report covers the origin of the brook. To save repetition, for history and the other bits, see this from me: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/dark-long-blackburn-brook-sheffield-april-2018.112886/
And this more extensive one from @Esoteric Eric : https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/blackburn-brook-sheffield-nov-17-apr-18.112914/
Credit to @WB also who got on with this brook in the first place... Anyways, this is the point that Mark Brook, How Brook and Storrs Dike converge to make Blackburn Brook, which flows immediately into Westwood Reservoir in High Green. I’m calling this ‘AM / PM’, partly because it’s in High Green, which is perhaps most recently best known as the birthplace of the Arctic Monkeys [AM]. It’s also gets this name due to a little confusion over timing between me and @Esoteric Eric . When he failed to show at the scheduled time of 9 [AM, in my head only...] I messaged to check he was ok...
Erk. So, in the event this ended up being a solo explore, but a wise reminder to always synchronise watches... ;-)
It’s also an explore of two halves - firstly there’s the overflow, which runs from the reservoir, through a short piece of 5ft RCP and down into an open pool. This was a bit too deep for my wellies, but I made my way down the side, trying my best to avoid numerous dog walkers on the bridge above... The plughole itself is grilled from above, presumably to stop big stuff getting jammed down in the pipe... As outflows go it’s smaller than Redmires, and defo no comparison to Ladybower, but it’s still nice. You can see from the pics it was slightly overflowing from one side, and I don’t think it would take much more rain for it to reach full flow...
Looking out of the RCP you can immediately see the overflow pools, and other tunnel beyond.
And looking back to where I’ve just been. Footbridge to the right, and note the fence surrounding this whole area that takes a bit of negotiating...
So on to the second bit, further down Blackburn Brook through a 7ft brick pipe. No st00ping! Also fairly short and not as many features at other sections, but still a thing...
Brick to begin with...
There were a couple of these small side chambers along the route, with the metal section bolted to the floor. I initially thought these would lead up to manholes above but they were simply closed brick arches. Any idea?
From brick to concrete for a bit...
Then back to brick and a small curve in the pipe...
Bit of build up of debris here, this section was also deeper as it was the lowest point after a slight decline in the pipe from the inflow...
Almost at the end, looking back in...
Outflow...
This led into a big pond in the end of a large industrial estate, fenced off by a big green metal fence...
So back the way I came...
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I never did check out the Howbrook Res but you're right it could be a wasted trip. Might be easier when the vegetation has died back a bit? It's almost certainly a thing but how interesting I don't know? There is also a section that runs under the fairly wide road at that point, might be worth a look?
