Report , Manchester Cathedral Steps : MAY 2008
intro
Present : Bigjobs , Andyj23UK , Littlejobs , SparkUK , Karl
Not all at once I must add , this is a report spanning two trips down – and Littlejobs and SparkUK could only attend on one occasion due to other commitments
The arches themselves have been elevated to almost a cult status in expoloring circles , for those who have not hear of them previously – here is the wikipedia entry : Manchester cathedral steps
bilious ranting
Much has been written about this site – unfortunately – much of it , was ego driven lies – to put it mildly . The facts of this site are amazing enough without the embellishments
going underground , my experiences
The cathedral arches are much more than ` a glorified cellar ` as dismissed by my none exploring mate , the sounds , smells and even taste of the cool humid air are eerie and
The sounds of approaching , then receeding footsteps and conversations from the pavement are amplified and distorted in strange and disquieting ways – you can listen but you cannot really hear , and certainly not comprehend what is happening above you
You are so close to civilization , yet so cut off – by only a few feet of masonry , clay and tarmacadam
In other arches , deeper in the complex – a tranquil silence descends – with your light off – and fellow explorers out of earshot , the unique musty smells of a humid and decaying underground construction
Unfortunately the stench of raw sewage permeates several arches , and others are
Open manholes and other hazards litter the floors , every step has to be a calculated one , in one place you can fall into a running sewer
The experience is amazing – you really do step back in time , apart from a concreted exit portal and a nailed shut door , there are no modern features to be seen – all electric fittings are pre - war and the fixtures are being slowly consumed by damp and decay
A big thanks to all who shared in the experience and helped make both trips go like clockwork – almost – RIP Karls sunglasses
The pictures :
As noted in previous exploration reports – as the place is in total darkness , the way each photographer lights their shots can make dramatic differences to otherwise near identical compositions
I lit many of these with a diffused searchblaster .
The prototype Victorian heated toilet seat caused more problems than it solved and never caught on – unlike the arse poor tester which caught fire
Steps in the gents
Gents toilets
A broken pane
Ducting
A cool shot – looking straight up
Flowstone envelopes switch gear and conduit
Calcite straws
Due to the chemical composition of the motars they are leeched out of they grow much faster than in natural limestone
Just in case you need to dig your way out – a last resort only – lol
Ammeter on a powerboard
The corroding banister of the stirs in the gents toilet
Bank of urinals in the gents – shot from floor level in a adjacent utility room
Door & wall signage
Despite the promise , I could find no ladies down their – lol
my fellow explorers and I
Final gear inspection before we head into the tunnels L>R Karl , Bigjobs , Littlejobs
L>R myself , Bigjobs , Karl , SparkUK
Karl- being Karl – he got the mask in Kiev
L>R Littlejobs and Bigjobs , take a break after inspecting the surface hatch
L>R Bigjobs and Littlejobs – kit check
I hope you enjoyed my view of this Manchester landmark , I certainly enjoyed my experience immensely
FIN .
intro
Present : Bigjobs , Andyj23UK , Littlejobs , SparkUK , Karl
Not all at once I must add , this is a report spanning two trips down – and Littlejobs and SparkUK could only attend on one occasion due to other commitments
The arches themselves have been elevated to almost a cult status in expoloring circles , for those who have not hear of them previously – here is the wikipedia entry : Manchester cathedral steps
bilious ranting
Much has been written about this site – unfortunately – much of it , was ego driven lies – to put it mildly . The facts of this site are amazing enough without the embellishments
going underground , my experiences
The cathedral arches are much more than ` a glorified cellar ` as dismissed by my none exploring mate , the sounds , smells and even taste of the cool humid air are eerie and
The sounds of approaching , then receeding footsteps and conversations from the pavement are amplified and distorted in strange and disquieting ways – you can listen but you cannot really hear , and certainly not comprehend what is happening above you
You are so close to civilization , yet so cut off – by only a few feet of masonry , clay and tarmacadam
In other arches , deeper in the complex – a tranquil silence descends – with your light off – and fellow explorers out of earshot , the unique musty smells of a humid and decaying underground construction
Unfortunately the stench of raw sewage permeates several arches , and others are
Open manholes and other hazards litter the floors , every step has to be a calculated one , in one place you can fall into a running sewer
The experience is amazing – you really do step back in time , apart from a concreted exit portal and a nailed shut door , there are no modern features to be seen – all electric fittings are pre - war and the fixtures are being slowly consumed by damp and decay
A big thanks to all who shared in the experience and helped make both trips go like clockwork – almost – RIP Karls sunglasses
The pictures :
As noted in previous exploration reports – as the place is in total darkness , the way each photographer lights their shots can make dramatic differences to otherwise near identical compositions
I lit many of these with a diffused searchblaster .
The prototype Victorian heated toilet seat caused more problems than it solved and never caught on – unlike the arse poor tester which caught fire
Steps in the gents
Gents toilets
A broken pane
Ducting
A cool shot – looking straight up
Flowstone envelopes switch gear and conduit
Calcite straws
Due to the chemical composition of the motars they are leeched out of they grow much faster than in natural limestone
Just in case you need to dig your way out – a last resort only – lol
Ammeter on a powerboard
The corroding banister of the stirs in the gents toilet
Bank of urinals in the gents – shot from floor level in a adjacent utility room
Door & wall signage
Despite the promise , I could find no ladies down their – lol
my fellow explorers and I
Final gear inspection before we head into the tunnels L>R Karl , Bigjobs , Littlejobs
L>R myself , Bigjobs , Karl , SparkUK
Karl- being Karl – he got the mask in Kiev
L>R Littlejobs and Bigjobs , take a break after inspecting the surface hatch
L>R Bigjobs and Littlejobs – kit check
I hope you enjoyed my view of this Manchester landmark , I certainly enjoyed my experience immensely
FIN .
This is getting higher up my list of must do's! 
