Having wetted my wellies and whetted my appetite my paddle along the River Dean in Bollington, Cheshire, continued.
Actually the aim of today's outing was merely to take a closer look at this strange weir-with-a-hole behind the Tullis Russell paper mill.
I think that the modern car-park was once a mill-pond and this was used for draining it.
But a few yards behind me the High Street tunnel caught my eye, as tunnels do.
Actually only the far end of it is under High Street, most of it is under people's back gardens and a large pub. But it really is a tunnel of three parts.
The first bit of it has been rendered with icing for some reason.
The second bit was corrugated which a pain to walk on, especially in the dark as my torch that I happened to have was pretty feeble
I think there had been a collapse here back in the 70s or 80s. I wonder who had made their home in the bird-box.
Then the third part opens out into plain but not unnattractive stone-work. The water at this point also opened up to above welly-level, which was a bit annoying.
The pipes were a bit tricky as the bed was uneven and rocky, but at least there was a bit of light now.
The view back up towards the top end
Emerging out at alongside the verdant back-gardens of Water Street in the sunshine.
More photos here
That was fun! Now my plan was to carry on down the river to a spot just above the Rat Tunnel where I'd be able to clamber out, but as I passed the tributary Harrop Brook I thought I might as well take a look up there.
The next tunnel was under Queen Street, well more of a long bridge really. (A tunnel is longer than it's wide, and a bridge is wider than it's long - is that right??)
Can't think what those flanges are for though... More photos here.
Then came the looming concrete opening of the Oak Bank Tunnel, which ran under the now-demolished Oak Bank Mill.
I had no idea what to expect up here and peering into the blackness and other than a few steps I wasn't sure whether to carry on, it did look very dark & daunting.
And not at all inviting. But hey - when did that ever put a drainer off??
I could only really see anything when the flash went off, and had no idea how deep the water was. But tentatively carried on for sake of knowledge!
I guess the square hole would've been a drain from the mill above, but it looks more like an access shaft.
Up at the top end I still had no idea what the terrain was, and the flow was very loud indeed.
Obviously looking at it now there wasn't much to worry about! And the bed-rock might even have made a nice water-slide.
And this one I think is one of my favourite subterranean snaps that I've taken - so much going on! I should really go back with better torches I think...
Another square access / drain shaft / vent thing, a big valve and we're back in the sunshine.
More Oak Bank Tunnel photos here.
The next tunnel is under Shrigley Road, and is really only notable for the soggy clamber up the weir to get out.
Just one more Bolly tunnel to go now - but that's going to be tricky...
Actually the aim of today's outing was merely to take a closer look at this strange weir-with-a-hole behind the Tullis Russell paper mill.
I think that the modern car-park was once a mill-pond and this was used for draining it.
But a few yards behind me the High Street tunnel caught my eye, as tunnels do.
Actually only the far end of it is under High Street, most of it is under people's back gardens and a large pub. But it really is a tunnel of three parts.
The first bit of it has been rendered with icing for some reason.
The second bit was corrugated which a pain to walk on, especially in the dark as my torch that I happened to have was pretty feeble
I think there had been a collapse here back in the 70s or 80s. I wonder who had made their home in the bird-box.
Then the third part opens out into plain but not unnattractive stone-work. The water at this point also opened up to above welly-level, which was a bit annoying.
The pipes were a bit tricky as the bed was uneven and rocky, but at least there was a bit of light now.
The view back up towards the top end
Emerging out at alongside the verdant back-gardens of Water Street in the sunshine.
More photos here
That was fun! Now my plan was to carry on down the river to a spot just above the Rat Tunnel where I'd be able to clamber out, but as I passed the tributary Harrop Brook I thought I might as well take a look up there.
The next tunnel was under Queen Street, well more of a long bridge really. (A tunnel is longer than it's wide, and a bridge is wider than it's long - is that right??)
Can't think what those flanges are for though... More photos here.
Then came the looming concrete opening of the Oak Bank Tunnel, which ran under the now-demolished Oak Bank Mill.
I had no idea what to expect up here and peering into the blackness and other than a few steps I wasn't sure whether to carry on, it did look very dark & daunting.
And not at all inviting. But hey - when did that ever put a drainer off??
I could only really see anything when the flash went off, and had no idea how deep the water was. But tentatively carried on for sake of knowledge!
I guess the square hole would've been a drain from the mill above, but it looks more like an access shaft.
Up at the top end I still had no idea what the terrain was, and the flow was very loud indeed.
Obviously looking at it now there wasn't much to worry about! And the bed-rock might even have made a nice water-slide.
And this one I think is one of my favourite subterranean snaps that I've taken - so much going on! I should really go back with better torches I think...
Another square access / drain shaft / vent thing, a big valve and we're back in the sunshine.
More Oak Bank Tunnel photos here.
The next tunnel is under Shrigley Road, and is really only notable for the soggy clamber up the weir to get out.
Just one more Bolly tunnel to go now - but that's going to be tricky...
