TheVicar
New member
I visited Big Humpty on Saturday. It's not exactly a drain, but an interestingly shaped tunnel on the River Medlock.
This is the infall
At the edge of the infall, the soft stone has been eroded by the water and formed an interesting pattern.
From the tunnel's outfall, the river runs for just over half a mile in a cool red brick river bed with a deep centre channel.
This Manchester library image shows the infall in 1940
This Manchester library image shows the infall in 1908
Around the corner from Big Humpty's outfall is the entrance to the Minger which has been secured with a tough new lock and chain since I last passed through this way a month ago.
Further downstream is the longer Medlock tunnel which was worth a little tour.
A short way in to the tunnel on the right hand side is what I thought was a CSO, but on closer inspection appeared to be a storm/road drain judging by the clean water, leaves, crisp packets and candy wrappers on the grille.
About 10m in to the drain, the water entered from above down a vertical pipe.
The tunnel curved for a while before light could be seen at the other end.
But before the end of the tunnel is reached, there is a great staircase on the left hand side which leads up to what must be an overflow sluice on the canal.
Finally there is no dry way out at the end of the tunnel so I returned the way I came in.
This Manchester libraries image shows the tunnel in 1902 when the river level was very low!
This is the infall
At the edge of the infall, the soft stone has been eroded by the water and formed an interesting pattern.
From the tunnel's outfall, the river runs for just over half a mile in a cool red brick river bed with a deep centre channel.
This Manchester library image shows the infall in 1940
This Manchester library image shows the infall in 1908
Around the corner from Big Humpty's outfall is the entrance to the Minger which has been secured with a tough new lock and chain since I last passed through this way a month ago.
Further downstream is the longer Medlock tunnel which was worth a little tour.
A short way in to the tunnel on the right hand side is what I thought was a CSO, but on closer inspection appeared to be a storm/road drain judging by the clean water, leaves, crisp packets and candy wrappers on the grille.
About 10m in to the drain, the water entered from above down a vertical pipe.
The tunnel curved for a while before light could be seen at the other end.
But before the end of the tunnel is reached, there is a great staircase on the left hand side which leads up to what must be an overflow sluice on the canal.
Finally there is no dry way out at the end of the tunnel so I returned the way I came in.
This Manchester libraries image shows the tunnel in 1902 when the river level was very low!
