Warth Mill Culvert - Saddleworth
The Explore
Warth Mill is the last standing mill in Diggle, Saddleworth and with any luck it will be around for many years to come as many small businesses are based there.
Diggle is home to many a culvert, a small village nestled on the West side of the Pennines, but was home to many mills and also the Western portal of the Standenge rail and canal tunnels. Streams were culverted to allow these to be built, plus there are all the culverts which connect the canal reservoirs to the Huddersfield Narrowboat Canal, sometimes you get 3 culverts running over each other. Slowly getting to grips where they all go and how they connect, but have been left scratching my head when I found the end of what I though was a culvert, but water flowing into each end left me searching for where it came out.
This culvert has been one I have been meaning to do for many a year, on the map it didn't look too special, but joins the dots in my local area. Explore wise it wasn't too special either, 2 culverted sections, neither that long. Some nice brickwork, plenty of brown trout, even managed to tickle a few.
The last time there was a major Royal event - William and Kate's Wedding, Ojay and myself explore the Majestic Culvert. Named after the day, but more so that it did run under the now demolished Majestic Mill https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/majestic-culverts-oldham-june-2012.71676/
Seemed fitting to head underground myself today, just wish I'd packed my Union Jack
Fist image is as I entered the culvert, the main structure of the mill overhead.
Probably about 70 meters long with a slight bend, was a stoop between the concrete sprayed beams.
Looking back up to the start, nothing stunning, but still a nice mooch.
The Explore
Warth Mill is the last standing mill in Diggle, Saddleworth and with any luck it will be around for many years to come as many small businesses are based there.
Diggle is home to many a culvert, a small village nestled on the West side of the Pennines, but was home to many mills and also the Western portal of the Standenge rail and canal tunnels. Streams were culverted to allow these to be built, plus there are all the culverts which connect the canal reservoirs to the Huddersfield Narrowboat Canal, sometimes you get 3 culverts running over each other. Slowly getting to grips where they all go and how they connect, but have been left scratching my head when I found the end of what I though was a culvert, but water flowing into each end left me searching for where it came out.
This culvert has been one I have been meaning to do for many a year, on the map it didn't look too special, but joins the dots in my local area. Explore wise it wasn't too special either, 2 culverted sections, neither that long. Some nice brickwork, plenty of brown trout, even managed to tickle a few.
The last time there was a major Royal event - William and Kate's Wedding, Ojay and myself explore the Majestic Culvert. Named after the day, but more so that it did run under the now demolished Majestic Mill https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/majestic-culverts-oldham-june-2012.71676/
Seemed fitting to head underground myself today, just wish I'd packed my Union Jack
Fist image is as I entered the culvert, the main structure of the mill overhead.
Probably about 70 meters long with a slight bend, was a stoop between the concrete sprayed beams.
Looking back up to the start, nothing stunning, but still a nice mooch.
Looking back downstream, I doubt I've been in a culvert with so many brown trout before, also nesting dippers, pied wagtails and a wren.
Exit of the first section, the second short section visible in the distance.
View of Warth Mill, pleasant stroll down the open section.
Looking back from the start of the short second culverted section.
The second section is short, the construction is different though and appears the cables that pass through are now no longer supported.
Well you have to get a selfie in a culvert, still a bit of a stoop in the second section.
Looking back up the second section, pleasant enough.
And finally the end of the Warth Mill culvert.
All in all a pleasant stroll, one I have been meaning to pop down for many years. I didn't look epic from the map or from viewing the ends, it ended up not being epic, just a pleasant stroll and was nice to get some exploring done again and join up a few more dots in the Saddleworth area.
Cheers,
TLR.
