Bits & Pieces, Rochdale
Aside from that, this Brook is culverted around and under Rochdale in varying sections, some short and of little interest
The below report containing much of the interesting stuff that can be found below the streets with a little effort, trust me just don't go in this one when it rains!
Starting upstream, the first section runs through a 3ft RCP.. Next
Then it's onto moar RCP (2.5ft) roughly 80m split into 2 sections and guarded by large grilles, I don't think so.. Next
Next up is actually a rather decent looking 6ft dressed stone arch, much more appealing than the scruffy estate that sits above it anyway
About 10ft inside, the watercourse inverts a good 100m in total as it drops down into a 5ft Masonry coursed Horseshoe
This section of culvert is clearly of some age judging by it's overall construction
Although still quite old, the addition of brickwork on the left which infact is a disused overflow from the nearby sewer
Beyond the rusting iron flap is a decent looking 3ft brick egg, it only stretches for around 30m before it's truncated from the sewer it once served
In recent years UU have had to clean their act up with regards to sewage discharges,
So a small CSO has been constructed nearby and retro-fitted via a 2ft RCP approx 20m further down the culvert from the disused overflow in the above picture
I've since lifted a couple of lids here and it's too small to bother with, that and it's in rather a public location so I wasn't bothered to hop in for any pics at this point
Anyway, the 5ft stone tunnel carries on a good 200m before any real change, it's also quite slippery under foot so I took my time here
The only real feature at this point was the odd manhole chamber,
A mix of concrete and brick obviously added much later into the system for inspection purposes
As the drain started to take a significant change in direction, the construction also changed to a brick/stone arch affair for the next 100m or so
After the usual slip, slide & stoop through 300m+ of stone arse I was able to stretch my back at the junction which suddenly presented itself
Good use of brick here, and I'm more than certain more aesthetically pleasing than what's above ground at this point
Exiting the 'chamber' is a sizeable RBP (A good 6ft in height) it did appear to go on..
And on..
And on..
(Note the missing masonry on the floor section)
It took what seemed like an absolute age to traverse this section despite in reality the entire stretch only being around 150m or so
Further down a cast iron pipe crosses through the RBP and ahead this 8ft Arch junction
Looking at the construction of the brickwork further down it appears the 8ft Arch has been reduced back down as it carries the watercourse a short(ish) distance to the outfall
It's also silted up quite badly and having already seen where it emerges cba with A.N Other pic of a 4ft outfall
Having already paid a visit to the mid section http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/uk-draining-forum/70860-harms-way-rochdale-may-2012-a.html I decided to have another look downstream despite previous failed attempts..
Following on from that lot ^^ is another culverted section which carries the brook a further 300m or so back underground via a 2m CMP
The infall is closely guarded by a large grille; Main purpose it would seem to filter out Rochdale
There is no easy way in here even for a size zero so I hush puppied it to the outfall a bit further down in a another attempt to 'get in'
Luckily the locked chain appeared to fall off this time around, allowing access through the gate
Once in, moar CMP
Around 100m, up a concrete channel forms, it's also here after kicking up a fair bit of debris I encountered a strong egg odour, which really meant one thing.. GTFO!
As luck would have it the golden arches were nearby, it goes without saying I got some odd looks whilst eating my meal
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