Manchester & Salford. Five MORE Historical survivors

In this video we visit five historical survivors in Manchester and Salford. Firstly we visit the town of Radcliffe and look at two Industrial weirs on the river Irwell. These weirs provided water to two goits. Hutchinsons Goit and Bealeys Goit that fed Bleach works and a Paper mill in the town. Secondly we look at an old pack horse bridge. the old Blackford bridge on the river Roch near the town of Bury. Then we go to Weaste in Salford to look at some salford corporation surviving tram tracks for the early 1900's. Off to castlefield in manchester to look at some Roman remains. Finally we look at an old water drinking well, possibly Georgian in Manchester city centre. This well was situated near the infamous Little Ireland and most certainly played a role in its history.

[Electra]

With apologies for adding to the shoals of interesting comments on this excellent video, I'd like to add a bit about Weaste tram depot. The mystery cut-off track continuing on Hessel Street was part of a "3-point turn" triangular layout used to reverse trams. I have a photograph showing the back of the tram depot, with the tram track behind, it before demolition. The track inside the depot was like new, and we wanted to preserve it when the depot was in use for warehousing, but were told we'd have to reinstate the floor to high and unaffordable standards, so presumably the track was scrapped. We did manage to preserve the 62-ton Grand Union tram junction from "Ship Corner", near Weaste, when the M602 was being built though. The story of that junction would make an interesting episode, which I could help with. The box alongside the points on Hessel Street contains a spring toggle mechanism which holds the points in whichever position they've been set by inserting a point iron, carried on all trams, into the gap either side of the point blade. The hole in the mechanism lid is for inserting a finger or lifter to remove the lid and get at the mechanism to oil or adjust it, or to convert the points into spring-activated mode. The track paving is formed of (pothole-proof!) granite setts, commonly and insultingly referred to as "cobbles". Setts are made in quarries, and form a smooth surface. Cobbles are found in rivers or beaches and form a knobbly surface. I can supply photos to illustrate all of this.

[alanpartington]

This may not be the place to ask this, but as I can see your enthusiasm for Manchester gone by, and it's architecture, I wonder if you would be interested to have something my mother gave me, which is a scrapbook compiled by her father around 1910, consisting of about 50 newspaper articles talking about the buildings and parts of Manchester. the articles are all written by a Mr T Swindells, described as the author of a book entitled "Manchester Streets and Manchester Men". Some of the later articles are headed "Manchester of the Past", and are said to be specially written for the paper. Titles include such things as "The beauties of the sylvan district of Ancoats". I live in Haslingden, but could probably post it to you. My mother has no idea why her father compiled this book, which is self bound, with brown paper pages, and I did have a handwritten note with the book explaining that it was made around 1910 in my mothers curlicue script handwriting.
Let me know if you think it may be of interest to you.
Regards
Alan Partington

[Hairnicks]

I really enjoy these mini explores as much as the big ones, history is all arounds us and you help show the little signs from our past, wonderful Martin, well done to you and the guys.

[Oddball]

I deliver on Lower Chatham Street every day and I never knew about the well. Absolutely fascinating! I will be taking a look tomorrow. Thanks for sharing Martin.

[LondonPower]

12:10 Archimedes' screw The screw pump is the oldest positive displacement pump.The first records of a water screw, or screw pump, date back to Hellenistic Egypt before the 3rd century BC

[robertschmitz]

Another Smashed It production by Sir Martin.I love all your work, but this truly appealed to my imagination. As you walk through Angel Meadow.I literally see the hardworking people who lived and too often died young there. You know I hate romanticizing poverty so I think honoring all of this city’s past both rich and poor is critical.Too often today people think they have it bad.and ok there is more than some acknowledge, but your work honors this city l fondly say adopted me. When I walk into Salford my first time, a bloke from across the pond, due to your incredible work I shall feel a kinship. I know it is an old promise, but yes pints are on me mate, I shall be honored to meet you when l fly into Manchester sometime in 23, and I hope it is ok to say your work and friendship from afar have gotten me through a lot. Survivors Manchester based in Salford brought me back from a rough place, and your videos have been equally of my heart. Thank you Martin, ,

[gilles]

23:02, that's the mechanism to manually set the points. At every tram (not only back in the days but modern trams as well) all have an steel "stake" to switch the points. Sometimes because the automated switching fails, sometimes because they only can be hand switched. The old(er) systems around depots were all manual switches.
The rebuilt of the backwall of the depot was not only because of the new windows in it but also because backwalls of depots have a hidden feature in it. Those walls are build as "easy to break" - when a tramcar wouldn't stop in the depot, it would break through the wall/doors at the end instead of crashing into the wall. The wall was build in such way the bricks would come easily out of the wall, preventing the depot from collapsing if a tram would hit the backwall. A tram crashing into the street behind the depot would effect less casualties or damage than the collaps of the depot.

[peterkilvert]

Loved it. I visited Bealey's Goit some years ago and noticed (I think) that the sluice mechanism was made in Kilmarnock, so I contacted the museum there for further information. Loved the well and the bridge - not seen before. Often pass Weaste "tram depot" on my way to Weaste Cemetery, but had no idea that they only kept the front wall ! Many thanks Martin and James.

[andyh]

Hi Martin, Hutchinson's goit supplied water to the East Lancashire Paper Mill in Radcliffe, where I worked as Mill Chemist. It fed into the 'city tea' lodge which was just alongside Church st. I remember the 'watermen' who looked after the lodges and goits that fed the mill. They would regularly clear the weeds from the goit - happy days !! Andy.

[gavanwhatever]

That photo at 20:17 shows the Blackford Bridge United Reform Church in centre background. Lots of tenements behind it and stretching off left up the Manchester Road (to Bury). That would make the photo around the turn of the 20th century.

[douglasthompson]

Hi Martin, James and the crew. Some further trivia there is a capped off well in the Cruz101 club in the village. When the club first opened it was just an iron grid on top but as clubbers used it dump empty cans/bottles it was capped off with a solid capping. I am sure I can remember the Weaste tram/bus depot had opening doors on the frontage with Eccles road with tram rails running onto Eccles Road as well as on that side road. Also I am sure these double height doors were part of an attempted preservation order as they were ornate and metal? coated. Perhaps something to whet your curiosity. Cheers DougT in Mancs

[markwall]

Excellent Martin! All
Five!! I live near the old bridge and when I went for a walk down there I had funny looks from the residents in the houses, so
Put me off! Lol. Well done !!!

[MrJeep]

They should restore the well and put a historical sign up

[petersimms]

Great double act Martin & James marvelous film

[pjsequipmentservicessouth]

I gotta tell ya, I’ve been watching your channel for a while now. Came across it by YouTube suggestions while looking at mine exploring channels . I use to live in Pennsylvania, now in Florida, and have been a history buff since I was in elementary school. Pennsylvania has a lot of historical buildings and mines. But compared to the UK it’s nothing. I love the way you explain the sites you visit, not just go there and say what it is and leave. Someday I would love to visit there and just tour the country, not for the ‘touristy’ places, but for the hidden architectural things. Thank you for showing the places you do, it really brings to light how old and beautiful your country is.

[s.rmurray]

The interesting thing about the weaste depot tram tracks is what they were connected to. The tracks that you showed us turned into Hessle St which was the street behind the depot. There it split into two tracks which entered the building through two seperate doors. Immediately inside was a "traverser" which was a set of sliding tracks that slid in a recess in the floor. The tram would go onto the traverser and this slid along sideways to line up with one of nine "track lanes" in the garage. The tram then drove off on to its allocated lane. In the morning the trams would drive off through points at the front of the garage though one of two doors out onto Eccles new Rd. There are pictures of this traverser, Hessle St and a garage track plan in the book Salfords Tramwasys vol 2 by Edward Grey.

[jetsons]

Martin, your use of maps is great for the story, great work. A mistake on google earth, "I can't believe it." "Run James Run" priceless.... Little stories of historic trivia are just as important as the big stories or you could say "There is nothing trivial about history." Well well well Martin this was another great watch, and your narration is full of enthusiasm. Well, time to start the BBQ. Thanks to you and your team. How long do the batteries last in the torch?

[jonnawyatt]

Hello from the future in Straya.
I love those remnants and hints of things from the past.
So interesting. Subbed and binge watching :)))

[gerryegan]

Fantastic guys, this is great. 15 mins walk from my home have walked some of this route.. Thanks guys. Being in a wheelchair I can't walk it anymore. Keep the trivia coming

[mysticalmisty]

Thank for posting this, I was born in Hope Hospital in Salford & lived in Eccles, when I was 5 we moved to Wales but still have Family on my dads side so go up now & then!