An explore from earlier on this year been on my to do list for a very long time . After watching Patrick Dickinsons video on you tube i got my finger out and finally got around to it . Arriving early doors before 7am one Sunday morning as security patrol the site ( as mentioned in the video ) I wanted to do the full culvert so parking up near the upstream entrance i climbed down a very steep sided embankment and got in to the start of the culvert just as the on site security appeared ! Thankfully i wasnt spotted and i got kitted up inside
very clean concrete floor and arch
looking back to the start point the morning sun back lit this photo , Then looking forward ( downstream )
lovely big clean culvert this first section now outside in to a short open air section this part is overlooked from the offices of the steel works above so i got through this section as quick as i could ( this is why i was so early and chose sunday as to avoid getting caught )
back under cover of the culvert without being spotted view upstream then downstream
some lovely brick vaulting above the steel girders
the culvert now split in to two concrete box sections holes had been punched through so you could move from one to the other looking back upstream
twin box became single concrete arch
It was at this point i stumbled of an edge and went head first underwater ! I nearly panicked for a spilt second as both torches went out ! A quick shake and the hand held torch came back to life but the head torch would take no further part in this explore ( once home it dried out ok ) clambering up to the side bays required me to do a full striptease and ring my pants t shirt and socks out ! Would have had a tuff time explaining to security why i was naked in there drain 😆 might have made the tabloids lol , once id got myself sorted i was back on my way
A bit further downstream and stone arch replaced the concrete girder roof
yes its still there lol
small open air section next
Big culvert this moving on there was a change from red brick to concrete or spraycreted arch
last pic coming towards the end of the main section love the reflection of the arch , there was a small stone archway coming in on the left of this pick so decided to have a nosy up
old stone construction this
up an old stone staircase then along
this was as far as i got the roof lowered and it was very rocky i haddnt brought my knee pads and i was getting tired now as id been underground a time so turned back
a better shot of the staircase coming down
back to the main explore
nearly out then a last look back
outside in to the open air the water in the river was deep so had to keep to the side
a small archway coming in had a nosy up but was a dead end
