Hello there 28DaysLaterers.
Long time browser, first time poster as they say. Got a few old trips that I thought might be worth sharing, nothing ground breaking I suppose but better than pictures of kittens! Hmmm, or may be not.
Bollington, Cheshire.
On its way past the local recreation ground, the River Dean flows through a tunnel, under a road, which is under a huge aqueduct carrying the Macclesfield Canal. Quite a feat of Georgian engineering. This is the aqueduct (not my photo).
The tunnel below is locally known as the Rat Tunnel, because of the giant flying killer rats that live in it and it is a rite of passage of every young lad in the town. Much like most tunnels everywhere I guess. So not being afraid of giant flying killer rats I went to take a look, primarily to test my waders and use up some old sparklers.
Well the waders seem to be working. The footbridge apparently contains an old culvert carrying water from the Dean from much higher up that went down to drive the Waterhouse Mill which apparently was the site of the 2nd biggest waterwheel in England. (Ignore the bit about it being unlikely). Incidentally the site of the largest waterwheel would be my next trip...
In we go.
Some lovely stone work.
I'd seen a photo of someone producing fantastic sparky results and a nice orangey illuminated tunnel by use of sparklers, so I thought I'd give it a go too.
But predictably made a total hash of it by twirling too fast. Story of my life that. Always twirl too fast!
Natural light
At the top end. No peace & quiet on that balcony!
Interesting different stages of stone-work, or at least I think that's what it is.
Not the most the amazing place and the rats were hibernating I think, but a good test of the waders and how not to do sparklers!
And as my first solo trip was a test of me too. Deeper & darker places beckoned! :-)
Anyone know what the iron pipe might be for? It runs for some way either side of the tunnel.
JMR
Long time browser, first time poster as they say. Got a few old trips that I thought might be worth sharing, nothing ground breaking I suppose but better than pictures of kittens! Hmmm, or may be not.
Bollington, Cheshire.
On its way past the local recreation ground, the River Dean flows through a tunnel, under a road, which is under a huge aqueduct carrying the Macclesfield Canal. Quite a feat of Georgian engineering. This is the aqueduct (not my photo).
The tunnel below is locally known as the Rat Tunnel, because of the giant flying killer rats that live in it and it is a rite of passage of every young lad in the town. Much like most tunnels everywhere I guess. So not being afraid of giant flying killer rats I went to take a look, primarily to test my waders and use up some old sparklers.
Well the waders seem to be working. The footbridge apparently contains an old culvert carrying water from the Dean from much higher up that went down to drive the Waterhouse Mill which apparently was the site of the 2nd biggest waterwheel in England. (Ignore the bit about it being unlikely). Incidentally the site of the largest waterwheel would be my next trip...
In we go.
Some lovely stone work.
I'd seen a photo of someone producing fantastic sparky results and a nice orangey illuminated tunnel by use of sparklers, so I thought I'd give it a go too.
But predictably made a total hash of it by twirling too fast. Story of my life that. Always twirl too fast!
Natural light
At the top end. No peace & quiet on that balcony!
Interesting different stages of stone-work, or at least I think that's what it is.
Not the most the amazing place and the rats were hibernating I think, but a good test of the waders and how not to do sparklers!
And as my first solo trip was a test of me too. Deeper & darker places beckoned! :-)
Anyone know what the iron pipe might be for? It runs for some way either side of the tunnel.
JMR
If you look to the left of the infall, you'll see a small outfall which runs into an egg shaped drain into the park, which in turn leads into a long stoopy, spider filled tailrace from the old mill on the hill.
