real time web analytics
Report - - Shedload, Bristol - Feb 2018 | UK Draining Forum | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Shedload, Bristol - Feb 2018

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

Seffy

SWC
Staff member
Moderator
Shedload (a.k.a a big ol detention tank), Bristol

So first off I should say that this isn’t exactly an ‘ep1c’ or anything, don’t get me wrong. It is, however, something that has been a bit of a thing of conversation over the years as far as talks of Bristol underground go. The only reference/information that seems to be available about it’s existence is a 1/4 page photo in a book. Naturally, this meant we had to find it. This is the one photo I can find of it other than the ones we've taken - just after it's completion:

38693992530_cf07795664_c.jpg


So the tank sits there empty most of the time in reality. It’s only there to control flows greater than the capability of the system. This system is a big one though; a quarter of a million cubic metres of soil and rock were excavated to make it, and it is able to cope with over three and a half million litres a minute.

If more than this needs to travel through it then that is when tanks like this one come into play. Most of the time there’ll be but a mere trickle of water running down the centre of the tank, which means walking around it is dry and easy.

If there is a sudden surge in the surrounding drainage system, a hydrobrake swings into action. The tank will then fill up and the flow is very slowly released, thus preventing flooding downstream in the centre of Bristol.

40503979341_874b706ec1_b.jpg


25633373047_dd535b7207_b.jpg


Note the motorised flap. This will open and close as required. One of us did climb into this pipe but weren't able to see much round the corner without wadorz..

39608579695_b09745e9ea_b.jpg


This is looking at the other end of the tank, where it drains out. Note the cone shaped object - it would appear this slows down/stops the outflow accordingly.

39608544265_11811617f9_b.jpg


The tank is pretty damn big, and photos don’t do it justice really even with a wide angle. It’s 256ft long, 59ft wide and 21ft high. It’s described in the book as being like a temple, and I would agree. It’s almost kind of eerie seeing it ahead of you when you climb down that ladder and turn around. The echoes are something else!

The tank is split into three sections. This can make taking photos a bit more difficult it has to be said! The sides are used when the flow becomes greater than the height of the partitions running down the centre, and is fed back into the central section through flaps in the floor. This photo is taken looking down from the ladder into one of the side sections:

26632927358_d1b7bb4510_b.jpg


And looking up the ladder at one end:

39608493365_0eb1c5f970_b.jpg


We spent a bit of time wandering around the and lifting lids etc back in 2015, but to no avail. It was only when @wellingtonian messaged me after he read about it asking if I knew anything about it that I remembered it was there. He came up to Bris and we had another look. After a good hour of getting covered in mud and water, we found what we were looking for. May have got a tad excited about finding this if I’m honest… Cue the lumens and tealights :D

25633365467_d2388226af_b.jpg


26632940158_e2713a8336_b.jpg


40461682122_67bbfc0c84_b.jpg


Thanks for reading. Good to have something new coming from underneath this city, even if it's only a small part of it!

Cheers lads @wellingtonian @WhoDaresWins @tumbles @Lenston :Not Worthy
 

tumbles

Drama Queen
Staff member
Moderator
Gotta love the ladder down with shit crusted all over it. It's an awesome cathedral of shit for sure, great to finally see it :cool:
 

WhoDaresWins

Let's do this
Regular User
Had a few Mooch's trying to gain access and after we were convinced we knew the access point, turns out it would of been a dead end.

Seeing it with all those tea lights was good. Nice reporting too.
 

tumbles

Drama Queen
Staff member
Moderator
Had a few Mooch's trying to gain access and after we were convinced we knew the access point, turns out it would of been a dead end.

Seeing it with all those tea lights was good. Nice reporting too.

It’s concrete floor under that lid lads. Maybe not :D
 

wellingtonian

Subterráneo
Regular User
Had a few Mooch's trying to gain access and after we were convinced we knew the access point, turns out it would of been a dead end..

Proved to be a bit of a red herring for sure. I reckon that particular feature might be used to measure the depth of the water whilst the tank is in use, without having to lift any lids. Hence the vent in the floor. Just a thought like.
 
Top