After weeks of incessant rain in Saddleworth it stopped a few days ago (there were fleeting moments during the day where the sun broke though). I hoped that was enough for the water levels to drop so I could get down a drain.
This drain is the drain that got me interested in drains. I’ve read reports about mills and some of the better known explores on 28days for a while, but tunnels in the ground filled with water never really appealed to me. TLR’s images of this explore would change that, but I would never enter the drain myself...
This was before I realised that I’d already spent some time messing about in reservoir overflows. An overflow that has now become somewhere I like to go to mess about…
So I guess iIt was only a matter of time before the drains sucked me in.
This drain was a step up in terms of solo drain explores, because I knew it was going to be a welly topper and involve an obstacle or two.
History
There isn’t much history about this place and what might be dug up could ruin the fun of finding it. As it is TLR’s explore, I’ll just refer back to his report for any background information and clues for its whereabouts.
My Visit
It was raining again when I got up to do this explore and the first thing that popped into my head was, “…if it rains, stay out of the drains”. But off I went anyway, because I had committed to it and I really wanted to do it. And if I stopped to wait for no rain in Saddleworth I’d never go draining again. At least not locally.
The downstream portal was more than welly deep and I wasn’t sure what to expect venturing much further in. I knew there was a weir in there somewhere, and that the transition from one of its many parts to another was deep too. With the rain, I decided to back off.
After a much needed kick up the arse, I went back to an immediate double welly breach and the realisation that welly breaches are there to be embraced. There would be no more worrying about welly breaches or getting wet.
I might not get this right, because there are so many bits to this place, but...
The first few sections are rectangular. Starting out lined in red brick (that is one of the deepest areas), it soon gives way to a shallower faster moving area that is lined with stone, before transitioning to concrete sidings. After that section is the stone arched culvert, which gives way into a smaller blocky arch. You can walk through the first arch and stoop through the second. These areas are paved with the same stone and are my favourite parts of the culvert. There is then another larger arched section, which is where the weir is, another rectangular but stone lined section, and a big stone arch to finish. As TLR says, there is a fair amount of crap in this part of the culvert. Big boulders, planks, and rubbish that has been washed down by the stream. Some of the planks look placed, which is odd. The whole culvert is punctuated with little holes, crevices, gaps, wooden pegs, random pipework and shoots of water. It’s an incredibly interesting place to be. Through a gap between stone slabs near the weir, you can look up into the mill at some old, rusted machinery. Some other mills locally have been accused of pouring stuff into the river in the past, and it would have been an easy thing to do through here.
There is fast moving water, deep pools, uneven surfaces and places to put your camera to take photos without it getting washed away. I ended up sitting balls deep in the water several times to try and get the photos I wanted. And by now I’d stopped counting the times the water had topped my wellies. I’m clearly quite happy being piss wet through, sitting in a stream in the pitch dark.
Outside the semi-caged exit portal is the waterfall that few will ever get to see. There was quite a bit of deleterious knocking about here too; old tires and bin bags, but it’s still well worth the visit.
And that was it. I’ll have to go back and do it again, because there was so much I know I’ve missed.
That was a thoroughly enjoyable explore!
Photos
The Inny
Looking out through the inny from where it starts to shallow out...
Deeper into the culvert (I had to try one of these out, even if I don't think worked well)...
The big stone arched section, with wooden pegs...
Selfie
The smaller blocky arch...
The penultimate section, looking back over the weir (which is where you can see between the stone slabs into the mill.
A final looked back...
The waterfall
The End
Thanks for reading
This drain is the drain that got me interested in drains. I’ve read reports about mills and some of the better known explores on 28days for a while, but tunnels in the ground filled with water never really appealed to me. TLR’s images of this explore would change that, but I would never enter the drain myself...
This was before I realised that I’d already spent some time messing about in reservoir overflows. An overflow that has now become somewhere I like to go to mess about…
So I guess iIt was only a matter of time before the drains sucked me in.
This drain was a step up in terms of solo drain explores, because I knew it was going to be a welly topper and involve an obstacle or two.
History
There isn’t much history about this place and what might be dug up could ruin the fun of finding it. As it is TLR’s explore, I’ll just refer back to his report for any background information and clues for its whereabouts.
My Visit
It was raining again when I got up to do this explore and the first thing that popped into my head was, “…if it rains, stay out of the drains”. But off I went anyway, because I had committed to it and I really wanted to do it. And if I stopped to wait for no rain in Saddleworth I’d never go draining again. At least not locally.
The downstream portal was more than welly deep and I wasn’t sure what to expect venturing much further in. I knew there was a weir in there somewhere, and that the transition from one of its many parts to another was deep too. With the rain, I decided to back off.
After a much needed kick up the arse, I went back to an immediate double welly breach and the realisation that welly breaches are there to be embraced. There would be no more worrying about welly breaches or getting wet.
I might not get this right, because there are so many bits to this place, but...
The first few sections are rectangular. Starting out lined in red brick (that is one of the deepest areas), it soon gives way to a shallower faster moving area that is lined with stone, before transitioning to concrete sidings. After that section is the stone arched culvert, which gives way into a smaller blocky arch. You can walk through the first arch and stoop through the second. These areas are paved with the same stone and are my favourite parts of the culvert. There is then another larger arched section, which is where the weir is, another rectangular but stone lined section, and a big stone arch to finish. As TLR says, there is a fair amount of crap in this part of the culvert. Big boulders, planks, and rubbish that has been washed down by the stream. Some of the planks look placed, which is odd. The whole culvert is punctuated with little holes, crevices, gaps, wooden pegs, random pipework and shoots of water. It’s an incredibly interesting place to be. Through a gap between stone slabs near the weir, you can look up into the mill at some old, rusted machinery. Some other mills locally have been accused of pouring stuff into the river in the past, and it would have been an easy thing to do through here.
There is fast moving water, deep pools, uneven surfaces and places to put your camera to take photos without it getting washed away. I ended up sitting balls deep in the water several times to try and get the photos I wanted. And by now I’d stopped counting the times the water had topped my wellies. I’m clearly quite happy being piss wet through, sitting in a stream in the pitch dark.
Outside the semi-caged exit portal is the waterfall that few will ever get to see. There was quite a bit of deleterious knocking about here too; old tires and bin bags, but it’s still well worth the visit.
And that was it. I’ll have to go back and do it again, because there was so much I know I’ve missed.
That was a thoroughly enjoyable explore!
Photos
The Inny
Looking out through the inny from where it starts to shallow out...
Deeper into the culvert (I had to try one of these out, even if I don't think worked well)...
The big stone arched section, with wooden pegs...
Selfie
The smaller blocky arch...
The penultimate section, looking back over the weir (which is where you can see between the stone slabs into the mill.
A final looked back...
The waterfall
The End
Thanks for reading
It's a lovely wee culvert nicely captured 
