The Bowels of Steetley, Hartlepool, September 2012
Visited with goan and Bunk3r
So this is the other outfall (not The Den) on the beach at Hartlepool, outside the now demolished Steetley Magnesite site. For as long as any of us have known, this outfall has been sealed with a huuuuge metal gate, taunting pretty much anyone who's been to The Den or Steetley for that matter.
Late one night whilst checking out a few other leads, we decided to go have a look at this one to see if anything had changed. Bingo.
The gate was open just a tiiiiiiiiiny bit, enough for myself and Bunk3r to squeeze through, but without waders or camera, we decided we should return a few days later more prepared.
That we did, only to find that the gate was now totally gone and protecting the outfall was only 2 pieces of precariously placed heras fencing.
We had no idea what we'd find, but we knew it stunk. After a long rectangular concrete section, fighting on tip-toes in thigh waders to stop a breach with freezing cold sewer/sea water and possibly the odd crab if you're unlucky, the drain opened out into a huge room which must have held some kind of plant equipment or pumping station with a sewer over flow running through it. The place had been pikied, probably when Steetley first closed. All safety rails had been cut and taken away.
missing safety rails
We ventured down into the sewer toward the sound of rushing water, after a while we came to an inspection chamber with level sensor about 8ft up the wall, just before another chamber where the sound of water was coming from. Noticing there was some kind of gate on the entrance to this chamber and just passing a level sensor, we didn't hang around for pictures incase us passing the sensor had tripped anything. I only took one picture this far in.
Feeling a bit more brave, myself and goan went back a few days later to find the outfall gate had been replaced with a proper sewage gate, the cage covering this was added a few days late.
Thats not to say it's not accessible
Cheers for looking
E2a: Like The Den, this drain is VERY tidal and pretty much full at high tide, so be careful when choosing your time if you fancy a look.
Visited with goan and Bunk3r
So this is the other outfall (not The Den) on the beach at Hartlepool, outside the now demolished Steetley Magnesite site. For as long as any of us have known, this outfall has been sealed with a huuuuge metal gate, taunting pretty much anyone who's been to The Den or Steetley for that matter.
Late one night whilst checking out a few other leads, we decided to go have a look at this one to see if anything had changed. Bingo.
The gate was open just a tiiiiiiiiiny bit, enough for myself and Bunk3r to squeeze through, but without waders or camera, we decided we should return a few days later more prepared.
That we did, only to find that the gate was now totally gone and protecting the outfall was only 2 pieces of precariously placed heras fencing.
We had no idea what we'd find, but we knew it stunk. After a long rectangular concrete section, fighting on tip-toes in thigh waders to stop a breach with freezing cold sewer/sea water and possibly the odd crab if you're unlucky, the drain opened out into a huge room which must have held some kind of plant equipment or pumping station with a sewer over flow running through it. The place had been pikied, probably when Steetley first closed. All safety rails had been cut and taken away.
missing safety rails
We ventured down into the sewer toward the sound of rushing water, after a while we came to an inspection chamber with level sensor about 8ft up the wall, just before another chamber where the sound of water was coming from. Noticing there was some kind of gate on the entrance to this chamber and just passing a level sensor, we didn't hang around for pictures incase us passing the sensor had tripped anything. I only took one picture this far in.
Feeling a bit more brave, myself and goan went back a few days later to find the outfall gate had been replaced with a proper sewage gate, the cage covering this was added a few days late.
Thats not to say it's not accessible
Cheers for looking
E2a: Like The Den, this drain is VERY tidal and pretty much full at high tide, so be careful when choosing your time if you fancy a look.
Last edited:
