I live in the States, yet this is one of my favorite RUclips channels, based moslty on the presenter's love for the subject matter. This man needs a television show.
Hi Martin, I have walked on Denton golf course and along the ditch for decades and have scores of photographs without even knowing what it was. I am now totally in awe and this evening on my walk stood alongside it out of respect for my ancestors. Thank you soooooo much. Albert Denton
I watched this with my parents, who are from Gorton. We live in New Zealand now. They were very surprised when you mentioned "Pink Bank lane" because they used to live in the "Pink Bank cottages" in the 1960's. It was their first house. They are demolished now.They told me they used to take a shortcut on Pink Bank lane because it was dead straight and led to Stockport Road. For years, Dad used to tell me "Nico ditch" ran at the back of their house and you could see it on Platt Fields. So thanks for showing it to us in such a clear and interesting way.
Hello, thats brilliant. Its great when the video brings back stuff for people, Fab that your parents lived on Pink bank Lane as well. How long is it since they were in the UK has stuff changed much looking at the video ? Thanks for commenting please send my Regards to your Mum and Dad. Thanks again 😃👍
I'm from openshaw originally but I live in stalybridge now. The Nico ditch can be found just off mount road gorton near melon's playing fields so if your walking down mount road towards Hyde rd it's on your right hand side.
This is excellent! I’ve been looking for more evidence of the Nico Ditc as part of it runs behind my house in Chorlton. Look on the map for St John’s Primary School. The ditch runs alongside the school grounds to the rear of the houses on Peveril Crescent and then crosses the field at the back of the school towards Longford Park. There is a path on the field straight through it. I remember playing in it as a kid. Unfortunately the council want to build on this land. They have tried to build on it in the past and I remember Melvyn Bragg writing an article about the ditch here but I haven't been able to find it since.
Hi Julie, that route/location looks spot on. Ive looked on google satellite view its hard to see but it definitely follows the route, I'll have to come and have a look, thanks
Hi Julie. I was born and grew up in Chorlton and while watching this vid I was wondering if that ditch in Chorlton was part of the Nico ditch. At school we were told that it was once called the hanging ditch. If Martin finds it is part of Nico ditch I'll be blown away. BTW Julie Did you know that Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees before migrating to Australia, went to Oswald Road Primary School?
Julie Ryan yes this ditch runs through ryebank playing fields , I also used to play in as a child , it was great for getting out of site when playing hide and seek
There must have been a heck of a conflict going on for people to have bothered to dig that. Presumably some ancient lord, or possibly several lords of adjoining manors, ordered the local serfs to turn out with their spades? It looks like it might be a good place to try metal detecting. I wonder if the local metal detecting group have tried?
Re. The Nico Ditch'......G'day Martin, Just found your fantastic videos on RUclips and love them. My name in Bill Kilvert and I live in Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia. I was born in Manchester, but left when I was seven. My twin brother, Pete, came back to Manchester quite some years ago.....Anyway, when we were little lads, in Flixton, we played in a little place we called ''The Ditch'', and my brother believes that this could be the ''Nico Ditch''. He has sent me some details for that side of town - ''Through Chorlton-cum-Hardy and across Longford Park (dry ditch visible in the field next door to the park), then along Derbyshire Lane to where it meets Humphrey Lane, Urmston. It then goes under the railway line (think it becomes known as the Carr Ditch). - Along the backs of the houses of Winchester Road, Urmston, crossing Crofts Bank Road and along Moorside Road...then there is a bend in Moorside Road that lines up with Ullswater Road Flixton''..........Now my memory tells me that the ditch was a depression at the back of a little park that fronted Moorside Road and there was a side road named Gleneagles Road, and that Ullswater Road took a left turn about 50 metres to the left..Now opposite this turn into Ullswater Rd, was the end of the park, where it met a golf course (running up Gleneagles Road). This Ditch ran alongside the golf club grounds and could have gone behind some houses next to the park.......Hope this is useful....Cheers....Bill.
@billkilvert6985 Flixton born n bred right here, Gleneagles Road being just a few minutes walk from my childhood home on Whitelake Avenue near Flixton Junior School. @MartinZero, if you look at Flixton / Urmston on a map and observe Moorside and Winchester Roads lining up nicely, it appears as rather compelling evidence imho that there was some kind of pre-existing geographical feature here (natural or man made) that was subsequently chosen as the route of these two adjoining roads...
Hi Martin, Good report! Going back to my younger days when i lived in Fallowfield MCR 14, we regularly played in Platt Fields. This was in the 1950's. At that time we were aware of the 'Nico Ditch" and if i am not mistaken were tought about it in our local history lessons at school We also used to play in "Gore Brook" and took great delight leading up to "Bonfire night" taking pocket full of "Penny bangers" to the tunnel using a matchbox as a float then wedge a banger into the matchbox, light it and send it on it"s way. Great end result, when the banger went off the sound was greatly magnified due to the tunnel.
Superb as usual. Thank you for so many interesting videos. I really appreciate all the hard work you put into these and I always find them immensely entertaining.
I was born just off Old Hall lane and went to St.James primary behind the Toastrack, my mum was born just off Pink Bank lane. I now live just north of Oxford, I left Manchester aged 20 about 35 years ago so this has been a really interesting video for me, I have watched quite a few of your films and you do a really great job, just wanted to say thanks.
I am Audenshaw born and bred, and the wife is from Fallowfield so this was great. She said she walked through the Gore Brook tunnel when she as a kid. Brilliant stuff. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you from Vancouver Island, Canada. Visited Plattfield's Park often in my childhood...never thought I would see the pond again. The video is most interesting.
Another great video Martin, thanks for teaching me more about the history of this great city of ours. I was about to tell you that the tunnel in Platt fields that goes under Wilmslow road is known locally as Witches tunnel, but I can see people have already told you in the other comments. Great stuff mate, keep it up. Thanks for replying to my last comment as well, Wes.
Hi Martin I've watched many of your videos but hadn't come across this one before. I visited my mum today, she grew up in Moss Side and went to Platt Chapel on the edge of Platr Fields. She now had dementia. We were talking about the area and she mentioned the ditch so I found this video for her. The video was really helpful in bringing back her memories so thank you. It also reminded me that my mum had shown me the store memorial in Platt fields some years ago and told me that her brother was instrumental in getting the ditch protected and the stone memorial in place. Sadly she doest remember his exact role but thought I would share this with you So thank you once again for another excellent video.
Must confess to only just having discovered your videos Martin- but ad an exiled Manc I am really gripped by them!! Like most ( or so I suspect) locals I have scarcely ever heard of any of these absolute treasures!! Don’t recall being taught about any of this fascinating history in school- such a huge pity as I think many many people would be interested and then perhaps might take a bit more pride in and care of our wonderfully rich heritage! Keep up the good work Sir !!
Excellent Martin , Often jumped over Nico's Ditch when taking a short cut through the cemetry to my mates place on Wayland Road , don't know how many times iv'e sat in Nico's ditch and had a smoke as a young fella , often ran along it on cross country run when i attended Spurley Hey on mount road ,
Thank you very much fornyour great video. I'm an amateur photographer and into a bit of history. I was having trouble tracing the course of the ditch until I came across your vid. So thank you again!
Yet another belting video Martin! Great info in it. I'd never heard of Nico Ditch before. People always assume Manchester's history to start around 1750-ish with the growth of industrialisation - oh, and that time when the Romans stayed for a bit! Looking forward to the next one, keep it up.
Every Sunday I try to watch some of your videos. I appreciate learning about Manchester even through my ancestors are from Liverpool. Great presentation.
Hello, I'm in Brisbane, Australia. I love the fact that towns/cities have a history and stories that need to be told. Thank you for sharing your history.
So impressed by your work Martin. I grew up in Denton, played football on Mellands, then lived in Owen's Park for a time so I was aware of Nico Ditch, but the level of information you provide is fantastic. Like you say such a shame it is not preserved as it should.
Another fantastic video Martin. We went through that tunnel, the one you called Platt Brook (locally, we call it the witches tunnel) from Whalley Range Girls school to Platt Fields Park. A great flashback 👌
The Nico Ditch continues along Platt Lane and Brantingham Lane and under Manchester Road Chorlton. Then along the rear of Claridge Road and as it approaches Longford Park there is still evidence of the Ditch. It proceeds under the field next to Longford Park and to the rear of a row of terraced houses in the park.. It crosses Chester Road (Stretford) at Debyshire Lane, crosses "Sevenways" and continues along Davyhulme Road West (marked on old maps as route of Nico Ditch). At the end of Davyhulme Road West there is a patch of land by Humphrey Park Station, which the ditch crossed and goes under the railway line. It then travels along the rear of houses along Winchester Road and crosses Crofts Bank Lane Urmston, and along the south side of Moorside Road, (locally known as Carrs Ditch). At the corner of Gleneagles Road Flixton, there is a patch of land that was known as "The Ditch" when I played there around 1950. There was a ditch running across it heading in the direction of Ullswater Road. I think the Nico Ditch headed toward the MSC (which would have been the River Irwell) where there was a bridge across the Irwell. Hope this helps. Pete
Hi Martin , great videos . I'm looking forward to a next video about Plat Brook. Under wilmslow road. Id love to see further on from that tunnel bend. . Keep doing your good work Martin.
Hi Martin, when you say it caries on into Flixton, my ears pricked up. The reason is that along Broadway road leading onto wood house road was a brook that I used to play in as a kid, there is an old bridge still on the B5214. 90%of it was filled in and put in a Culver’s in the late 70s but it does come out again only to run into the Manchester ship canal.
Damn, you make great little films Martin. I’ve only recently found you on RUclips, but I love your stuff! Brilliant. What a fascinating history this wonderful country of ours has. Great work Martin!
Just shared your channel. It's up there with my favorites. I live in Manchester and didn't even know half of what you find even existed!!! Keep up the good work!!!
Hi Martin. The Gor brook tunnel you were in was known as Witches tunnel when we were kids and no one dared go through since we were led to believe the footpath disappeared some way in. The other end where the brook exits Platt fields was known as Wizards tunnel. That tunnel was wider and deeper with no footpath. It flowed so slowly and was quite spooky. Nice to see someone looking around my home city as Withington was my place of birth and where i grew up. Thanks again.
Excellent. And It was great to see Platt Fields as Its a special place for me. I spent many hours in that park as a child and early teens. Love the story of Nico Ditch. Thank you.
Nico Ditch runs across the top of my street (Old Hall Ln) and always saddened to see how littered it is in Platt Fields. So pleased to see the Gore Brook feature and witches tunnel (what the local kids call the tunnel over Wilmslow Rd). A friend of mine did a photographic journey of the Gore Brook from its start to where it joins the Mersey. and I accompanied through the parts through Birchfield's Park. I'd love to hear more about its history.
Absolutely loving your vid's Martin. History is one of my hobbies & while I live in Birmingham now, I spent 27 years in Manchester. Lived in Longsight to start with before moving to Hulme & later Heywood, then Bury. I've a brother living in Chorlton, so I still visit. Thank you for making history fascinating, keep up the good work!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Around 17.40 you mentioned gall brook? we knew it as Witches Tunnel spent many a day going through it from Platt Fields side. lt was said on the opening side there was a farmer with a gun. Thats 2 of your videos that have taken me back to my childhood. thank you.
Platt brook, i use to play with my brother in the brook about 1956 with a toy boat and go under Wilmslow road and out the other side it coms out at the Flats .I would come with you if you go back.
Just watched this again, during lockdown. There used to be a well preserved section behind the Snipe Inn, Audenshaw. There was a dirt track just after the pub, IIRC there used to be a wooden shack/cafe/shop on the corner. The ditch was on the eastern side of this track, and ran some way into the heart of the western side of Ashton Moss. I rode my dirt bikes there in the early/mid 70's, also on the Snipe Pit spoil heaps on the other side of Ashton Old road. This section was obliterated when the tiresome redevelopment and trading area was built, fairly recently. I can't believe that, it was allowed to go when its' significance was already well known. Tameside behaving as badly as Manchester! I used to take time out from working shunt jobs at Reddish loco, and walk down to the bit next to Mount road, to a newsagents for my bike magazines, when it was quiet. I also remember the stream that ran under the area of Pink Bank lane you looked at. I have always had a fascination with urban watercourses, especially hidden ones. Last time I was round Pink Bank must have been about 1971/2. I've looked on Google Earth for the bit I saw many times, but can't find it now. I lived in very close proximity to the Clayton Brook in my childhood, and there the romance began. I recall a few that didn't get into Geoffreys book, lost even more so now. Top class vid, mate, if I didn't say so before!
Absolutely brilliant video Martin .I live on Winning Hill close in Gorton and go past this ditch near the Cemetery most Mornings.Never knew about this .This is why I love your videos.Find stuff out all the time.👍🏼
Very interesting, love things like this, I live in skipton, and love trying to find out about the history, and parts that people don't no about. Great stuff
Is it possible that Upper Brook St is named after the brook running under Wilmslow Rd?. The knowledge that you have unearthing these gems is absolutely fantastic. I love this channel. Thank you.
Pretty cool. I love it. Some similarities to places out here in the New World. We have reservations and Pueblos that have been inhabited for the last +/-1000 years. People, the Natives live in houses made of mud bricks called adobe with 1000 year old walls. The famous Rte 66 runs along an old path that the Spanish called El Camino Real. Really wild stuff. Its easy to find here we don't have as much history. Its even more exciting to find it such a developed place. Hats off. really great stuff man.
Another good one Martin I could watch your videos all day learning about Manchester history! Keep up the good work! I'd love to come with you one day while you're doing some filming and then seeing the finished video 🙂
only just found your channel today. i live in salford manchester and it great to see so many intresting stuff in pur manchester. if you doing anything soon i would love to join you. regards. peter
Wow, mate you never fail! I may have a clue for your Gorton Cemetery mystery. The east end of the ditch borders onto the disused Stockport Canal. Although the canal is pretty much filled in, it may explain the age of the brickwork.
Martin Zero If I'm looking at what looks like the ditch on Google Maps, yes exactly. There's a lot of the canal infrastructure left & would make a brill video. There's also remains of an unfinished branch that was to run from Reddish to Denton.
Martin Zero Yes, if you take the Ashton Canal out of Mcr, there's a brick bridge over an arm that is closed off. That's the start & az you say, it ran to the top of Lanky Hill. The arm to Denton/Haughton Green was to be called the Beatbank Canal but was abandoned before being completed. There are remains of it either side of the M60 above the River Tame.
Our ancient ancestors where above all pragmatic and tough . No doubt the ditch has had several uses over time . Defence during conflict , drainage of adjacent lands of standing water and garbage pit . Excellent focus on the often overlooked , but equally important , part of local history . Thanks
Absolutely brilliant 👍👍👍.... I would be interested in joining you on an explore.... as I like to get out of my comfort zone sometimes.... Fantastic video.... Top notch 👍👍👍
Just discovered this video and never even knew this ditch existed until recently absolutely brilliant, keen interest in all things Anglo Saxon and i only live in North Manchester.
You are another fine find stout yoeman of the bar(10 points for the yoeman manch reference). I have indeed subscribed. Any chance of any Timperley sale or Dunham finds, or my Grandparents way, daisy nook? A bit of Crime Lake.
I wonder if this is the same ditch the depicted in the series The Last Kingdom season 4, that they made to defeat the Danes. As usual great video. I been watching every back video I can find all the way from Boston, Ma. Love your videos. Especially all the river ones are my favorite 😊.
Great video thanks. I’ve been fascinated by the Nico ditch since finding it on an OS map running near Matthews lane in Levenshulme. You mention no evidence west of plattfields park. There is an east west sunken hollow running through Longford park starting to the west of the athletics track car park across the field to the south of the old Manor House. I have always thought this might be an extension of the nico ditch. It could possibly be remains of a HaHa boundary, but it doesn’t look like a HaHa. Well thanks again for the video
I never knew that the ditch near Melland Field I walked past for 5 years on my way to high school has such a history! Also seeing it from my history class window years ago we never learned about it. These videos are amazing.
Watching from the States for the last year or so, love your videos but sometimes scare me half to death when you get into the culverts! I fast forward! But I enjoy seeing how much detail you can develop around one city
I think there is possibly a section in Longford park. There is a large ditch right across one of the front fields. It old as it has a large tree right in the middle.
That brought back memories. Was schooled at Old Hall Drive and Ryder Brow. So the battle would have incorporated Sunny Brow Park, below Winning Hill (Ryder Brow). As Kids we were always told of a battle between the Saxons and Danes that took place there, but we always thought the Gor in Gorton referred to blood and Gore Brook meant Blood Brook. Used to play in Nico Ditch Gorton as kids. Knew then it had history to it, but we thought Nico was another name for the Devil. Fascinating.
Great video Martin!. I use to come down Matthews lane and walk by nico’s ditch everyday on the way to St Albans school, which use to be at the end of the path. We use to call it the cinder path. I never knew it was as old as it is, but I do now after watching your video. So thanks for putting up another informative video. 👍
I'm sure older Manchester A-Zs used to show Nico Ditch running near Mellands Fields in Gorton. Also, somewhere, l have a slim softback book called something like "Manchester's Lost Waterways", sorry to be so vague, that also mentions Nico Ditch and mentions a lot of waterways that have been culverted over.
For those who may be interested and in reply to a comment further down questioning the various places with "shaw" in the name - I came across this on Google. Brief snippet on Shaw... In England and Scotland, the name is a topographic name for someone who lived by a copse or thicket. This name is derived from the Middle English "schage, shage, schawe, and shawe", from the Old English "sceaga" meaning "dweller by the wood." I would assume that it meant possibly that they were on the boundary of woods? Another finding shows Audenshaw coming from the Saxon name Aldwin Shagh (Auden Shaw).
Nice one. I bet many people pass part of the ditch on a daily basis and have no idea what it is. It always amazed me just how quickly history can be forgotten.
I knew about Nico Ditch. I went to Ryder Brow School and there was a stream which went around the back of the houses at the end of Wayland Road South. We used to call the place Little Woods. This carried on to Mount Road as told in the Video. Nico Ditch appears named in the Manchester AtoZ. I also worked at the Railway Depot at the bottom of Wayland Road South. Nico Ditch was the Boundary. In Wayland Road you were in Gorton go through the Gates and you were in Reddish.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I live in the States, yet this is one of my favorite RUclips channels, based moslty on the presenter's love for the subject matter. This man needs a television show.
Thank you Kevin, much appreciated
What an interesting passionate bloke.
Absolutely. He’s a gem. He really should be on TV.
Hi Martin,
I have walked on Denton golf course and along the ditch for decades and have scores of photographs without even knowing what it was. I am now totally in awe and this evening on my walk stood alongside it out of respect for my ancestors. Thank you soooooo much.
Albert
Denton
Wow,
Blown away.
All this is right on my doorstep.
Id not seen this vid until now 3yrs on.
One of the best,
Really enjoyable.
Thsnkyou Martin.
Cheers Bob
@@MartinZero
Pm'd you recently martin,
Cant even rmmbr what local historical geo i was waffling about now.
😆😆🤦♂️
I watched this with my parents, who are from Gorton. We live in New Zealand now. They were very surprised when you mentioned "Pink Bank lane" because they used to live in the "Pink Bank cottages" in the 1960's. It was their first house. They are demolished now.They told me they used to take a shortcut on Pink Bank lane because it was dead straight and led to Stockport Road. For years, Dad used to tell me "Nico ditch" ran at the back of their house and you could see it on Platt Fields. So thanks for showing it to us in such a clear and interesting way.
Hello, thats brilliant. Its great when the video brings back stuff for people, Fab that your parents lived on Pink bank Lane as well. How long is it since they were in the UK has stuff changed much looking at the video ? Thanks for commenting please send my Regards to your Mum and Dad. Thanks again 😃👍
Christchurch?
I'm from openshaw originally but I live in stalybridge now. The Nico ditch can be found just off mount road gorton near melon's playing fields so if your walking down mount road towards Hyde rd it's on your right hand side.
This is excellent! I’ve been looking for more evidence of the Nico Ditc as part of it runs behind my house in Chorlton. Look on the map for St John’s Primary School. The ditch runs alongside the school grounds to the rear of the houses on Peveril Crescent and then crosses the field at the back of the school towards Longford Park. There is a path on the field straight through it. I remember playing in it as a kid. Unfortunately the council want to build on this land. They have tried to build on it in the past and I remember Melvyn Bragg writing an article about the ditch here but I haven't been able to find it since.
Hi Julie, that route/location looks spot on. Ive looked on google satellite view its hard to see but it definitely follows the route, I'll have to come and have a look, thanks
Hi Julie. I was born and grew up in Chorlton and while watching this vid I was wondering if that ditch in Chorlton was part of the Nico ditch. At school we were told that it was once called the hanging ditch. If Martin finds it is part of Nico ditch I'll be blown away.
BTW Julie Did you know that Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees before migrating to Australia, went to Oswald Road Primary School?
Julie Ryan yes this ditch runs through ryebank playing fields , I also used to play in as a child , it was great for getting out of site when playing hide and seek
There must have been a heck of a conflict going on for people to have bothered to dig that. Presumably some ancient lord, or possibly several lords of adjoining manors, ordered the local serfs to turn out with their spades? It looks like it might be a good place to try metal detecting. I wonder if the local metal detecting group have tried?
Cool....I never knew about this and I used to live in Chorlton -cum-hardy too...good info....Jim
If I ever manage a visit to the UK I'll be coming to Manchester just because of your interesting videos, Martin. Bang up job on all I've seen so far!
Borne in Salford 70 years ago and still learning about where I grew up. Really enjoying all of these videos, thanks
Re. The Nico Ditch'......G'day Martin, Just found your fantastic videos on RUclips and love them. My name in Bill Kilvert and I live in Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia. I was born in Manchester, but left when I was seven. My twin brother, Pete, came back to Manchester quite some years ago.....Anyway, when we were little lads, in Flixton, we played in a little place we called ''The Ditch'', and my brother believes that this could be the ''Nico Ditch''. He has sent me some details for that side of town - ''Through Chorlton-cum-Hardy and across Longford Park (dry ditch visible in the field next door to the park), then along Derbyshire Lane to where it meets Humphrey Lane, Urmston. It then goes under the railway line (think it becomes known as the Carr Ditch). - Along the backs of the houses of Winchester Road, Urmston, crossing Crofts Bank Road and along Moorside Road...then there is a bend in Moorside Road that lines up with Ullswater Road Flixton''..........Now my memory tells me that the ditch was a depression at the back of a little park that fronted Moorside Road and there was a side road named Gleneagles Road, and that Ullswater Road took a left turn about 50 metres to the left..Now opposite this turn into Ullswater Rd, was the end of the park, where it met a golf course (running up Gleneagles Road). This Ditch ran alongside the golf club grounds and could have gone behind some houses next to the park.......Hope this is useful....Cheers....Bill.
Bill that’s great info many thanks. I needed that info when I made the video. Much appreciated and regards to you from Manchester 👍
@billkilvert6985 Flixton born n bred right here, Gleneagles Road being just a few minutes walk from my childhood home on Whitelake Avenue near Flixton Junior School. @MartinZero, if you look at Flixton / Urmston on a map and observe Moorside and Winchester Roads lining up nicely, it appears as rather compelling evidence imho that there was some kind of pre-existing geographical feature here (natural or man made) that was subsequently chosen as the route of these two adjoining roads...
Hi Martin, Good report! Going back to my younger days when i lived in Fallowfield MCR 14, we regularly played in Platt Fields. This was in the
1950's. At that time we were aware of the 'Nico Ditch" and if i am not mistaken were tought about it in our local history lessons at school
We also used to play in "Gore Brook" and took great delight leading up to "Bonfire night" taking pocket full of "Penny bangers" to the tunnel using a matchbox as a float then wedge a banger into the matchbox, light it and send it on it"s way. Great end result, when the banger went off the sound was greatly magnified due to the tunnel.
Superb as usual. Thank you for so many interesting videos. I really appreciate all the hard work you put into these and I always find them immensely entertaining.
Hi Martin. Started to binge watch your older videos. Really interesting even though I live miles away in Norfolk. This is a great video. Cheers. Kim
More great history!
Great work Martin!
I was born just off Old Hall lane and went to St.James primary behind the Toastrack, my mum was born just off Pink Bank lane. I now live just north of Oxford, I left Manchester aged 20 about 35 years ago so this has been a really interesting video for me, I have watched quite a few of your films and you do a really great job, just wanted to say thanks.
Fascinating Martin. This was something completely unknown to me before this evening in july AD 2022!. THANK YOU!
I am Audenshaw born and bred, and the wife is from Fallowfield so this was great. She said she walked through the Gore Brook tunnel when she as a kid.
Brilliant stuff. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks very much. I never managed to get back and go through .
Really enjoyed that. Love history along with tunnels. Thanks for taking me along
I really enjoy all your videos. Thank you for posting such interesting and well made pieces of work. Well done Martin.
Hello Dave thank you very much
@@MartinZero do you have any contact details or an email?
Thank you from Vancouver Island, Canada. Visited Plattfield's Park often in my childhood...never thought I would see the pond again. The video is most interesting.
Thanks very much Margaret
Another great video Martin, thanks for teaching me more about the history of this great city of ours. I was about to tell you that the tunnel in Platt fields that goes under Wilmslow road is known locally as Witches tunnel, but I can see people have already told you in the other comments. Great stuff mate, keep it up. Thanks for replying to my last comment as well, Wes.
Hi Martin
I've watched many of your videos but hadn't come across this one before. I visited my mum today, she grew up in Moss Side and went to Platt Chapel on the edge of Platr Fields. She now had dementia. We were talking about the area and she mentioned the ditch so I found this video for her.
The video was really helpful in bringing back her memories so thank you. It also reminded me that my mum had shown me the store memorial in Platt fields some years ago and told me that her brother was instrumental in getting the ditch protected and the stone memorial in place. Sadly she doest remember his exact role but thought I would share this with you
So thank you once again for another excellent video.
Thanks Thomas that’s nice to hear. Send my regards to your mum
Must confess to only just having discovered your videos Martin- but ad an exiled Manc I am really gripped by them!! Like most ( or so I suspect) locals I have scarcely ever heard of any of these absolute treasures!! Don’t recall being taught about any of this fascinating history in school- such a huge pity as I think many many people would be interested and then perhaps might take a bit more pride in and care of our wonderfully rich heritage! Keep up the good work Sir !!
Excellent Martin , Often jumped over Nico's Ditch when taking a short cut through the cemetry to my mates place on Wayland Road , don't know how many times iv'e sat in Nico's ditch and had a smoke as a young fella , often ran along it on cross country run when i attended Spurley Hey on mount road ,
Great stuff Johnny
Thank you very much fornyour great video. I'm an amateur photographer and into a bit of history. I was having trouble tracing the course of the ditch until I came across your vid. So thank you again!
Really well researched content , thanks Martin !
Heard about Nico Ditch and the arch in Platt Fields Park but never knew it was so long and came from Audenshaw. Thanks Martin, another great video
Amazing research there Martin tops
Yet another belting video Martin! Great info in it. I'd never heard of Nico Ditch before. People always assume Manchester's history to start around 1750-ish with the growth of industrialisation - oh, and that time when the Romans stayed for a bit! Looking forward to the next one, keep it up.
Hello, many thanks. Yes I think the stuff after 1750 is just better documented. Thanks again 👍
Every Sunday I try to watch some of your videos. I appreciate learning about Manchester even through my ancestors are from Liverpool. Great presentation.
Hi Paul. Thanks very much for watching. My Grandma was born in Liverpool. She always talked about Scotland Road 👍
I’m from Burnley so these are bloody brilliant!
Thanks!
Totally engrossing. Bringing history to life, thanks Martin 👍👍👍👍
You are the perfect "special interest" Manchester tourist guide ;-), I think I will have to visit your intersting city someday
Hello, I'm in Brisbane, Australia. I love the fact that towns/cities have a history and stories that need to be told. Thank you for sharing your history.
Thank you very much Ray
So impressed by your work Martin. I grew up in Denton, played football on Mellands, then lived in Owen's Park for a time so I was aware of Nico Ditch, but the level of information you provide is fantastic. Like you say such a shame it is not preserved as it should.
Thanks John. I cant believe so much of it still exists. Its knowing where to look 👍
Another fantastic video Martin.
We went through that tunnel, the one you called Platt Brook (locally, we call it the witches tunnel) from Whalley Range Girls school to Platt Fields Park. A great flashback 👌
The Nico Ditch continues along Platt Lane and Brantingham Lane and under Manchester Road Chorlton. Then along the rear of Claridge Road and as it approaches Longford Park there is still evidence of the Ditch. It proceeds under the field next to Longford Park and to the rear of a row of terraced houses in the park.. It crosses Chester Road (Stretford) at Debyshire Lane, crosses "Sevenways" and continues along Davyhulme Road West (marked on old maps as route of Nico Ditch). At the end of Davyhulme Road West there is a patch of land by Humphrey Park Station, which the ditch crossed and goes under the railway line. It then travels along the rear of houses along Winchester Road and crosses Crofts Bank Lane Urmston, and along the south side of Moorside Road, (locally known as Carrs Ditch). At the corner of Gleneagles Road Flixton, there is a patch of land that was known as "The Ditch" when I played there around 1950. There was a ditch running across it heading in the direction of Ullswater Road. I think the Nico Ditch headed toward the MSC (which would have been the River Irwell) where there was a bridge across the Irwell. Hope this helps. Pete
Very interesting. I grew up around Flixton & Davyhulme and had no idea.
Great video Martin and i'm glad you found Witches Tunnel ok. I always got a strange feeling in there as a kid.
Thanks , yeah Witches tunnel was a bit scary 👻
Really enjoyed this video! I'd say it's one of your best yet!
Ditch clearing party anyone? Nice one Martin. 👏👍
A lovely slice of Manchester's ancient history, very enjoyable too. Take care...
Great to know its still there
Hi Martin , great videos . I'm looking forward to a next video about Plat Brook. Under wilmslow road. Id love to see further on from that tunnel bend. . Keep doing your good work Martin.
Hi Martin, when you say it caries on into Flixton, my ears pricked up. The reason is that along Broadway road leading onto wood house road was a brook that I used to play in as a kid, there is an old bridge still on the B5214. 90%of it was filled in and put in a Culver’s in the late 70s but it does come out again only to run into the Manchester ship canal.
Damn, you make great little films Martin. I’ve only recently found you on RUclips, but I love your stuff! Brilliant. What a fascinating history this wonderful country of ours has. Great work Martin!
Brilliant Martin. Wanted to know more about nico but never get time. Keep up the great work.
Hi lee, thanks mate 👍
I knew about nico ditch as a lad in gorton martin. But didnt realy know all that history behined it. Very interesting and informative. Nice one !
Cheers Alfie, I never knew so much of it was still there 👍
Just shared your channel. It's up there with my favorites. I live in Manchester and didn't even know half of what you find even existed!!! Keep up the good work!!!
Hi Geraldine. Thank you I appreciate it. 👍
Hi Martin. The Gor brook tunnel you were in was known as Witches tunnel when we were kids and no one dared go through since we were led to believe the footpath disappeared some way in. The other end where the brook exits Platt fields was known as Wizards tunnel. That tunnel was wider and deeper with no footpath. It flowed so slowly and was quite spooky. Nice to see someone looking around my home city as Withington was my place of birth and where i grew up. Thanks again.
Thank you, yeah I heard about it being the witches tunnel 👌
Another fascinating video Martin thanks
Excellent.
And It was great to see Platt Fields as Its a special place for me. I spent many hours in that park as a child and early teens.
Love the story of Nico Ditch. Thank you.
Incredible story isnt it 👌
Revisiting this little gem 💙
Splendid, as usual Martin. Who could of thought a man wandering in a ditch could be so interesting 👍
Ha 😆 Thanks Jo 😆😃👍
Nico Ditch runs across the top of my street (Old Hall Ln) and always saddened to see how littered it is in Platt Fields. So pleased to see the Gore Brook feature and witches tunnel (what the local kids call the tunnel over Wilmslow Rd). A friend of mine did a photographic journey of the Gore Brook from its start to where it joins the Mersey. and I accompanied through the parts through Birchfield's Park. I'd love to hear more about its history.
Great video. You can visit the Nico Ditch in Chorlton/Stretford too, in Ryebank Fields
Absolutely loving your vid's Martin. History is one of my hobbies & while I live in Birmingham now, I spent 27 years in Manchester. Lived in Longsight to start with before moving to Hulme & later Heywood, then Bury. I've a brother living in Chorlton, so I still visit. Thank you for making history fascinating, keep up the good work!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks very much Pascal 👍😀
Keep us going. We love watching you. Thank you
Around 17.40 you mentioned gall brook? we knew it as Witches Tunnel spent many a day going through it from Platt Fields side. lt was said on the opening side there was a farmer with a gun. Thats 2 of your videos that have taken me back to my childhood. thank you.
Hello, yeah Gore Brook, that Tunnel is amazing. Yes someone else mentioned it was known as the witches tunnel 👍😀
Hi Martin, wonder if i know the person will have a look through :-).
Another fantastic video Martin , loved it
Hi Maria, thank you very much 😃
Platt brook, i use to play with my brother in the brook about 1956 with a toy boat and go under Wilmslow road and out the other side it coms out at the Flats .I would come with you if you go back.
Just watched this again, during lockdown. There used to be a well preserved section behind the Snipe Inn, Audenshaw. There was a dirt track just after the pub, IIRC there used to be a wooden shack/cafe/shop on the corner. The ditch was on the eastern side of this track, and ran some way into the heart of the western side of Ashton Moss. I rode my dirt bikes there in the early/mid 70's, also on the Snipe Pit spoil heaps on the other side of Ashton Old road. This section was obliterated when the tiresome redevelopment and trading area was built, fairly recently. I can't believe that, it was allowed to go when its' significance was already well known. Tameside behaving as badly as Manchester! I used to take time out from working shunt jobs at Reddish loco, and walk down to the bit next to Mount road, to a newsagents for my bike magazines, when it was quiet. I also remember the stream that ran under the area of Pink Bank lane you looked at. I have always had a fascination with urban watercourses, especially hidden ones. Last time I was round Pink Bank must have been about 1971/2. I've looked on Google Earth for the bit I saw many times, but can't find it now. I lived in very close proximity to the Clayton Brook in my childhood, and there the romance began. I recall a few that didn't get into Geoffreys book, lost even more so now. Top class vid, mate, if I didn't say so before!
Absolutely brilliant video Martin .I live on Winning Hill close in Gorton and go past this ditch near the Cemetery most Mornings.Never knew about this .This is why I love your videos.Find stuff out all the time.👍🏼
Carl thanks very much 😃
Your just one awesome man. I love these bits of history. Makes me feel right at home here.keep up the great work.👍👍👍👍
Hello Patty, thank you very much 😀
@@MartinZero your so welcome. I enjoy your trips. Thank you . Have a lovely week.
Very interesting, love things like this, I live in skipton, and love trying to find out about the history, and parts that people don't no about. Great stuff
Thanks very much
Brilliant Martin, I live 5 mins from Gorton Cemetery never knew the ditch was there ...:-)
Hi Robert, to be honest before I started reading about the Ditch, I wouldn't have known where Gorton Cemetery was so you and me both 😆👍
Is it possible that Upper Brook St is named after the brook running under Wilmslow Rd?.
The knowledge that you have unearthing these gems is absolutely fantastic. I love this channel. Thank you.
Another great video Martin. I'm amazed at how little i know about my home city. Keep up the good work
Hello Mel, thank you. Yep me too, I learned a lot making it 👍
I lived in reddish, I didn't know about this ditch and the history behind it. Amazing video!
Thanks, its quite hard to spot when you dont know its there
Pretty cool. I love it. Some similarities to places out here in the New World. We have reservations and Pueblos that have been inhabited for the last +/-1000 years. People, the Natives live in houses made of mud bricks called adobe with 1000 year old walls. The famous Rte 66 runs along an old path that the Spanish called El Camino Real. Really wild stuff. Its easy to find here we don't have as much history. Its even more exciting to find it such a developed place. Hats off. really great stuff man.
Good report as always Martin
Thanks Mark 👍
Another great vid Martin.
Thanks Tony 👌
Another good one Martin I could watch your videos all day learning about Manchester history! Keep up the good work! I'd love to come with you one day while you're doing some filming and then seeing the finished video 🙂
Hi Neil, no problem mate, you'll have to come out when its nice weather
If you tweet me or facebook me
Martin Zero ok matey cheers ☺️
only just found your channel today. i live in salford manchester and it great to see so many intresting stuff in pur manchester. if you doing anything soon i would love to join you. regards. peter
Wow, mate you never fail!
I may have a clue for your Gorton Cemetery mystery. The east end of the ditch borders onto the disused Stockport Canal. Although the canal is pretty much filled in, it may explain the age of the brickwork.
Hello, thank you, is that the end where I was near that water that seemed to be rising out of the ground ? I never knew of that canal ?
Martin Zero If I'm looking at what looks like the ditch on Google Maps, yes exactly.
There's a lot of the canal infrastructure left & would make a brill video.
There's also remains of an unfinished branch that was to run from Reddish to Denton.
www.penninewaterways.co.uk/ashton/stockport.htm
Someoen has mentioned in the comments a branch from top of Hyde rd to Lancashire hill stockport
Martin Zero Yes, if you take the Ashton Canal out of Mcr, there's a brick bridge over an arm that is closed off. That's the start & az you say, it ran to the top of Lanky Hill.
The arm to Denton/Haughton Green was to be called the Beatbank Canal but was abandoned before being completed. There are remains of it either side of the M60 above the River Tame.
Fascinating as usual. Cheers martin.
Wow...very intresting vid Martin...
Thank you
Another great video. Very enjoyable and interesting.
Hi Tony, thanks very much for your support👍😃
another of the back catalogue viewed. fascinating
Cheers Tim
Another good one Martin 👍🏻
Thanks Adrian 👍
Our ancient ancestors where above all pragmatic and tough . No doubt the ditch has had several uses over time . Defence during conflict , drainage of adjacent lands of standing water and garbage pit . Excellent focus on the often overlooked , but equally important , part of local history .
Thanks
Thanks Montie 👍
Love as always 💕
Absolutely brilliant 👍👍👍.... I would be interested in joining you on an explore.... as I like to get out of my comfort zone sometimes.... Fantastic video.... Top notch 👍👍👍
Cracking video Martin, so informative.
Cheers Derek 👍
Just discovered this video and never even knew this ditch existed until recently absolutely brilliant, keen interest in all things Anglo Saxon and i only live in North Manchester.
Cheers Tony
You are another fine find stout yoeman of the bar(10 points for the yoeman manch reference). I have indeed subscribed. Any chance of any Timperley sale or Dunham finds, or my Grandparents way, daisy nook? A bit of Crime Lake.
I wonder if this is the same ditch the depicted in the series The Last Kingdom season 4, that they made to defeat the Danes. As usual great video. I been watching every back video I can find all the way from Boston, Ma. Love your videos. Especially all the river ones are my favorite 😊.
Just discovered you and I look forward to working through your back catalogue !
nick c uk Hi Nick thanks very much. Hope you like 👍
Great video thanks. I’ve been fascinated by the Nico ditch since finding it on an OS map running near Matthews lane in Levenshulme. You mention no evidence west of plattfields park. There is an east west sunken hollow running through Longford park starting to the west of the athletics track car park across the field to the south of the old Manor House. I have always thought this might be an extension of the nico ditch. It could possibly be remains of a HaHa boundary, but it doesn’t look like a HaHa.
Well thanks again for the video
I never knew that the ditch near Melland Field I walked past for 5 years on my way to high school has such a history! Also seeing it from my history class window years ago we never learned about it.
These videos are amazing.
Thank you.
Watching from the States for the last year or so, love your videos but sometimes scare me half to death when you get into the culverts! I fast forward! But I enjoy seeing how much detail you can develop around one city
I think there is possibly a section in Longford park. There is a large ditch right across one of the front fields.
It old as it has a large tree right in the middle.
I never got that far and thanks Stephen
That brought back memories. Was schooled at Old Hall Drive and Ryder Brow. So the battle would have incorporated Sunny Brow Park, below Winning Hill (Ryder Brow). As Kids we were always told of a battle between the Saxons and Danes that took place there, but we always thought the Gor in Gorton referred to blood and Gore Brook meant Blood Brook. Used to play in Nico Ditch Gorton as kids. Knew then it had history to it, but we thought Nico was another name for the Devil. Fascinating.
Thanks David its an incredible story
Oh wow brilliant video!!! Thank you once again.
Awesome vid once again. Love this stuff.
Hello, thanks very much 👍
Great video Martin!. I use to come down Matthews lane and walk by nico’s ditch everyday on the way to St Albans school, which use to be at the end of the path. We use to call it the cinder path. I never knew it was as old as it is, but I do now after watching your video. So thanks for putting up another informative video. 👍
Hi Simon thanks very much. I would of never known myself to be honest, its something you could easily think nothing of 👍
The culvert starting in plattfields as a kid we used to call it witches tunnel, I went through it many a time, it took you to Birchfields park
Another great video Martin
Hi mate thank you very much 👍
I'm sure older Manchester A-Zs used to show Nico Ditch running near Mellands Fields in Gorton. Also, somewhere, l have a slim softback book called something like "Manchester's Lost Waterways", sorry to be so vague, that also mentions Nico Ditch and mentions a lot of waterways that have been culverted over.
That was the book I was thinking of, "Lost Rivers of Manchester."
I wish I'd waited until the end of the video before I started commenting now.
For those who may be interested and in reply to a comment further down questioning the various places with "shaw" in the name - I came across this on Google. Brief snippet on Shaw... In England and Scotland, the name is a topographic name for someone who lived by a copse or thicket. This name is derived from the Middle English "schage, shage, schawe, and shawe", from the Old English "sceaga" meaning "dweller by the wood."
I would assume that it meant possibly that they were on the boundary of woods?
Another finding shows Audenshaw coming from the Saxon name Aldwin Shagh (Auden Shaw).
Nice one. I bet many people pass part of the ditch on a daily basis and have no idea what it is. It always amazed me just how quickly history can be forgotten.
Yeah I agree, I would have never known what it was, there should be a plaque along all of its length so folk know
I knew about Nico Ditch. I went to Ryder Brow School and there was a stream which went around the back of the houses at the end of Wayland Road South. We used to call the place Little Woods. This carried on to Mount Road as told in the Video. Nico Ditch appears named in the Manchester AtoZ. I also worked at the Railway Depot at the bottom of Wayland Road South. Nico Ditch was the Boundary. In Wayland Road you were in Gorton go through the Gates and you were in Reddish.
Cheers Malcolm