1. The History
A bit of history from wikipedia:
“From Granville Square to the Don, the river is almost entirely in culverts. The Midland Railway bought the water rights to allow them to build their station over the river. The site of Pond Tilt is now occupied by the station forecourt, and the goods yard covered its dam. The owners of Pond Forge vacated their site soon after the station was built, but attempted to get compensation for loss of water power as a result of the work.
At Granville Square, a large screen prevents debris from entering the culverts. Serious flooding in 1990 led to the construction of the first screen, and it was refurbished in 2010, so that it could be continuously monitored by the Environment Agency.
The river continues below ground to the edge of the station, where it is joined underground by the Porter Brook, which emerges from its own culvert to flow beside the station car park before passing under the station from the west. The river surfaces briefly by Pond Hill, before passing under the Ponds Forge district. It flows through a huge cavern before joining the Don beside Blonk Street bridge, named after Benjamin Blonk, who was the tenant of Castle Orchards Wheel from the 1750s to the 1770s.”
2. The Explore
Been before but wasn’t happy with the old pictures. Thinking back, it was my first ever experience of shooting in a no-light situation. So been meaning to go back for ages. Finally got round to it and met up with fellow forum member @tarkovsky and off we went. We popped into the Porter Brook and after a bit of stooping came out into the open and walked along the short stretch to where the Porter Brook joins the Sheaf under Sheffield station. It was a lovely day and the water levels low but waders are still de rigueur to get to Megatron. All-in-all, a very enjoyable morning in excellent company. The place is a bit surreal – it’s so quiet down there but just above you is the hustle-and-bustle of the big city.
3. The Pictures
We dropped into the Porter Brook via the landscaped patch near the former Matilda pub:
img7531 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Love the randomness of the stonework of this initial section:
img7535 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Much stooping to get through this culverted part of the Porter Brook:
img7538 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7539 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7546 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Just before popping out into the open:
img7544 by HughieDW, on Flickr
As soon as you join the Sheaf there’s a slight incline and a weir, split into three sections:
img7625 by HughieDW, on Flickr
After the weir the Sheaf continues in three parallel rough tunnels with arches:
img7616 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This section has clearly been strengthened:
img7618 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And goes from rough rock-built tunnels to this:
img7611 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Coming back out into the light:
img7607 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And into the open section near Pond’s Forge:
img7596 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The famous graff line:
img7601 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7591 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7594 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Nice arches:
img7586 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And leaving the light behind again:
img7588 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7577 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7580 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Into one of the three tunnels between the open section and the Tron:
img7572 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and another:
img7575 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Until three become one:
img7570 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The might of Megatron:
img7553 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7563 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And beyond to Lady Bridge and the meeting of the Don and the Sheaf:
img7558 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Close-up of the Tron:
img7552 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And looking back:
img7567 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A bit of history from wikipedia:
“From Granville Square to the Don, the river is almost entirely in culverts. The Midland Railway bought the water rights to allow them to build their station over the river. The site of Pond Tilt is now occupied by the station forecourt, and the goods yard covered its dam. The owners of Pond Forge vacated their site soon after the station was built, but attempted to get compensation for loss of water power as a result of the work.
At Granville Square, a large screen prevents debris from entering the culverts. Serious flooding in 1990 led to the construction of the first screen, and it was refurbished in 2010, so that it could be continuously monitored by the Environment Agency.
The river continues below ground to the edge of the station, where it is joined underground by the Porter Brook, which emerges from its own culvert to flow beside the station car park before passing under the station from the west. The river surfaces briefly by Pond Hill, before passing under the Ponds Forge district. It flows through a huge cavern before joining the Don beside Blonk Street bridge, named after Benjamin Blonk, who was the tenant of Castle Orchards Wheel from the 1750s to the 1770s.”
2. The Explore
Been before but wasn’t happy with the old pictures. Thinking back, it was my first ever experience of shooting in a no-light situation. So been meaning to go back for ages. Finally got round to it and met up with fellow forum member @tarkovsky and off we went. We popped into the Porter Brook and after a bit of stooping came out into the open and walked along the short stretch to where the Porter Brook joins the Sheaf under Sheffield station. It was a lovely day and the water levels low but waders are still de rigueur to get to Megatron. All-in-all, a very enjoyable morning in excellent company. The place is a bit surreal – it’s so quiet down there but just above you is the hustle-and-bustle of the big city.
3. The Pictures
We dropped into the Porter Brook via the landscaped patch near the former Matilda pub:
Love the randomness of the stonework of this initial section:
Much stooping to get through this culverted part of the Porter Brook:
Just before popping out into the open:
As soon as you join the Sheaf there’s a slight incline and a weir, split into three sections:
After the weir the Sheaf continues in three parallel rough tunnels with arches:
This section has clearly been strengthened:
And goes from rough rock-built tunnels to this:
Coming back out into the light:
And into the open section near Pond’s Forge:
The famous graff line:
img7594 by HughieDW, on FlickrNice arches:
img7586 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd leaving the light behind again:
Into one of the three tunnels between the open section and the Tron:
img7572 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and another:
Until three become one:
The might of Megatron:
And beyond to Lady Bridge and the meeting of the Don and the Sheaf:
Close-up of the Tron:
And looking back:
img7567 by HughieDW, on Flickr
