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Report - - Constrictor & Bottoms Bridge tunnels - Marple Feb 13 | Underground Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Constrictor & Bottoms Bridge tunnels - Marple Feb 13

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Stopford_lad

foul-mouthed oaf
28DL Full Member
Roman Lakes water tunnels - Marple


Situated just outside Marple town centre, sits the picturesque Roman Lakes leisure park.

The land, including the Bottoms Hall Estate was acquired In 1787 by industrialist Samuel Oldknow. He also purchased the water rights of the River Goyt, and in 1790 began construction of Mellor Mill, which was a massive undertaking.

the River Goyt had to be diverted,a series of three millponds constructed, and a complicated system of tunnels, channels and wheelpits built.

The millponds still remain and are today known as "Roman Lakes", a name they were given in Victorian times when they became a huge tourist attraction.

Visited on numerous occasions in February and March...there's just too much to see :D

and cheers to Paul Powers for the info :thumb


Constrictor water tunnel


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Just up the bank from Bottoms bridge sits the first of two intriguing arches
This one appears to have been a shelter rather than a tunnel

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Slightly along and up the bank sits this stone arched tunnel with small outflow

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On closer inspection it all looks a little unsafe, would that stop me having a poke about ?

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No...and 10 metres in i'm already waist deep in water, with hardly any room to move

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30 metres in and the water drops but so does the oxygen, and the cameras struggling to focus

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still no light at the end of the tunnel and getting tighter with bad air..time to turn around

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Heading back towards the outfall and starting to feel air once again

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Looks like these bricks were used to support the arch of the outfall at one point​


Bottoms Bridge tunnels​


Visited on numerous occasions, this is the most accessable of the tunnels within the lakes.

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It's only 20 or so metres in length, although there are two sections at the far end filled in
which are rumoured to stretch the length of the lakes

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Lovely brickwork as ever, these tunnels were made to last​

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How not to light arches, but you get the idea​

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I'll get the rest up at some point, but for now thanks for looking :thumb
 
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