Report - Brindley Tunnel - Wet Earth Colliery - April 2015

[Kenni]

Brindley Tunnel - April 2015

Explored with Dartian

Built in the 1740's by the renowned engineer James Brindley, water from the Ringley Weir ran in to the tunnel and down an inverted u-shaped siphon which travelled 10 metres underneath the River Irwell, and on for almost 2km before it reached the waterwheel which powered the pumps for the colliery.

The original tunnel was 800 yards long but has since been reduced to around 300 yards with the building of the Ringley water-works above. The tunnel is driven through sandstone and is brick-lined in places, the shaft is currently flooded. Although only short, the tunnel is brimming with fantastic features and is an engineering masterpiece.

History and more information of the colliery can be found here.

On with the pictures

The flooded shaft that leads under the Irwell

Thanks for looking

​

 

[Snake Oil]

ohhh yes, very nice indeeeeed! I hope you had a permit to work!

 

[Kenni]

Always.......

 

[dartian]

Great pics and no welly fail this time.

 

[concreteJungle]

I'd heard this had been closed off recently, nice to see that's not the case! How dodgy is that brickwork above the downcast sump

 

[Oxygen Thief]

We want waterwheels!

 

[Lancashire lad]

great piks pal cheers

 

[dartian]

Yes cj. It doesn'tgive you much confidence when you stick your head in. And the wooden prop doesn't look like its going to last much longer as well.

 

[pastybarm]

Just saw this old report, and noticed the Martin Zero bloke has been in on FakeTube, which I try to avoid as it is now owned and run by lefty google, but I digress. As one needs a permit to work from the sign on the gate, and the gate is locked with a padlock, how the hell does one get in? As the land may belong to United Utlities, I cannot see them giving out permits, and unlocking the padlock to allow access (H & S reasons for one, liability definitely another), so it only leads me to one logical conclusion, but I hope I am wrong.

Can anyone PM if ok, or at least leave a short reply and I will PM you back.

 

[pirate]

Just saw this old report, and noticed the Martin Zero bloke has been in on FakeTube, which I try to avoid as it is now owned and run by lefty google, but I digress. As one needs a permit to work from the sign on the gate, and the gate is locked with a padlock, how the hell does one get in? As the land may belong to United Utlities, I cannot see them giving out permits, and unlocking the padlock to allow access (H & S reasons for one, liability definitely another), so it only leads me to one logical conclusion, but I hope I am wrong.

Can anyone PM if ok, or at least leave a short reply and I will PM you back.

theres loads of room on the right side and possibly over the top........or the lock may have been opened previously and has been placed to appear locked

 

[pastybarm]

Thanks, I know the rules about asking for access on here, and keeping sites non public and off the radar of anyone reading, but I reckon you are on the right track, noticed the gap on the right.

 

[Morrisey]

It was wide open the other week as someone had been there with a 'universal key'.

 

[pastybarm]

Ah, can I PM you?