Englands lesser known ancient monument
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- Опубликовано: 18 сен 2024
- In this video we take a look at one of Englands lesser know ancient monuments. This is the Great Haigh Sough. A mine adit. Built in the 17th Century its a brilliant piece of Mining engineering. It was built to drain the Lancashire Coal mines around the wigan area. It's basically an abandoned tunnel discovered through urbex and using old maps. It's a tunnel drain that ran for 1120 yards. The mine water ran into it and was eventually deposited in the Yellow brook near to the River Douglas in the woods in Wigan. Coal mining was affected by water ingress and this water caused massive problems in mines. Which leads us onto the second part of out video. A victorian structure and a piece of Victorian mining engineering. The Aspull Pumping station. The Aspull pumping station or Aspull pumping pit was built in 1871 and closed in 1932. It also pumped out the mines of the Lancashire coalfields in the wigan area. It was a steam driven mine pump that utilised 5 lancashire boilers. Eventually the mine pumps were electrically driven. This video is about Coal mining engineering Industrial history and the history of mining and one of Englands Scheduled ancient monuments.
I’m fascinated by abandoned buildings like this. Once, they were important and useful. Someone went there every day for years and years to work. It was a huge part of their lives, and now it’s just an abandoned pile of stones.
Reminds me of those fantasy novels you read where there are ancient ruins around the land and you gradually realise that they are the remains of 20th century civilisation and the book is thousands of years in the future.
Same as the Egyptian pyramids. People forget and time moves on leaving things behind.
@@tomsmith8511 Not quite ... pyramids are monuments .. these places were works.
Reminded of the oft-quoted verse from Shelley's Ozymandias
"Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
No matter how important or impressive something is, it is fated to be lost to time.
Watching from the states, my grandfather was born in 1880 in England and his father 1830, watching gives me a sense of what life would have been like, and the advancements of Victorian life.
Thanks Andrew, very grim back then, well grim to us
@@MartinZero yes it was grim my father has told me plenty of stories, as he worked in the factories in London during the war at the age of 13,he just turned 93 the other day.
“Drums, drums, drums in the deep.” What have you wakened Martin!
Made me think of Moria too! ;0)
@@totherarf and me...
Haha amazing!
Never call up that which you can not put down.
"And the Dwarves in their greed delved too deep"
As Eddie Izzard joked "I am from Europe... where the history comes from." It blows my American mind just how old the things you encounter are, and I love it!
I don't know where in America you're from,but in NY and NE,we have Indian constructions,some of which are at least 100s of years old,and a flint mine in NY that dates back thousands of years.
The steps at 6:27 aren't there to clear the water of the iron (causing the color) but to merge oxygen into the water. The water coming of the pits might be very low on oxygen which might harm the flora & fauna living in the the brook, using these kind of steps is a very common methode to add up oxygen to water.
Nice and interesting episode, Martin! Like it, the way you and James are making this video. James following you makes it feel we are there with you exploring the area.
So sorry to you for falling over to show us this fantastic video Martin, absolutely brilliant! If it wasn't for people like you, all this industrial history would fall by the wayside. This is the sort of stuff that should be taught in class, not the silly lessons kids are getting nowadays.
Thanks Graham. Dont worry about the fall it was hilarious, just wasnt on camera 😃
When you said "ancient monument" and mining, I envisioned something Roman. We know they mined coal & tin. But it's only mid 17C. Pretty interesting anyway, and surprising how much is only conjecture about facilities that closed in the 19th or 20th C.
Its not me, English Heritage name it as an ancient monument Jonathan 👍
historicengland.org.uk/advice/hpg/has/scheduledmonuments/#:~:text=A%20scheduled%20monument%20is%20an,Areas%20Act%201979%20(1).
i was expecting bronze age!
You say envisioned, the rest of us say presumptuous.
James makes a good cameraman and personal assistant, he needs acknowledging more in each video! 😀👍
He's a good lad 😃
@@MartinZero Find a Pretty Lass and hand her a Camera . Add a short video of Her and say She is your Assistant ? As long as James does not laugh in the background you could make the Viewers jealous .
@@markcantemail8018 Leave the lad alone. While ever James is happy going on explores and assisting Martin, let him enjoy the learning experience. James may not want to be on camera. Nothing wrong with that.
I bet he drinks Carling Black Label.
Get him on the YTS scheme!🤣
Looking down that shaft at the end was like peering down into the bowels of hell. I'm sure I could hear footsteps or hammers or something down there. The pumping station was scary enough, kind of reminded me of the first Sabbath album's cover, and to see spraypainted on that bleak pillar 'CHILD' gave me goosebumps. Scary but good camerawork and remarkable banter, a privilege to watch.
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed
there is another comment of it sounding like Moria
Child etc - theyre just nicknames - we all painted our nicknames on there when we were kids.
I can hardly imagine the noise those old pumping stations would have made using those beam steam engines. Round holes in the walls look like pivot points for the beam pumps. A really great find and the sough to boot too.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed
I love old English words. Sough was used as you've said to describe tunnels for draining mines/ land. The word itself has many meanings from the "wind through trees" but in this context it means - "rushing sound" as that made by water.
I walked along the Yellow brook just a couple of days ago, had no idea about the Sough or the history around it. Learnt a lot and explained a lot about features in the area, would like to go back to see it all. Great video!
The sound when you put the camera down the hole - certainly was creepy and had a ominous vibe, almost like ghostly pumps
my thought too. I wonder if it was the echo of the new electric pump he mentions down near the river
MORIA
Enjoyed that, very atmospheric.
The Crud weather brought the place alive.
Thanking you.
This is what I love about you, Martin! I walk my dog there all the time and never knew any if this! And ‘great minds’ and all that, as soon as you mentioned how old the sough was my first thought was ‘who was on the throne then?’ 😂. Will be looking at it in a different way on the next dog walk 😍. The history of mining in Wigan is vast; if you ever get time to do any more research/videoing on it that would be amazing. It’s like while looking at the beautiful fields, scenery and tranquility that is there now, the ground howls underneath 😊 Amazing video, and I loved the Aspull pumping station 💕
An old fashioned way of filming - and all the better for it. No jumping shots. no soft focus. Wonderful.
Cheers John
That was brilliant Martin, thank you! I thought the sough was amazing but when I saw the remains of the pumping station and inside that shaft...wow! 😍 It was a video that kept on giving! 😂
Thanks Michelle, yeah a couple of hidden gems there
A culvert with a grate in front of it and you have me fascinated with it. Nice job Martin! 👍
Yeah, I would love a crawl down it Steve
Martin at his finest again. You really love that sort of stuff - and your enthusiasm is truely inspiring. Love the video. Thanks for sharing !
Thanks very much. Yes I find it intriguing
That noise in the shaft is spooky. I remember being told that Cornish tin miners used to believe that noises like that underground were made by "The Knockers" who were the spirits of ancient miners. The men used to fear and respect them and some would throw the crusts of their pasties into the shafts and dark depths of the mine workings as an offering to keep The Knockers happy and protect them from danger and accidents underground. On a practical level, throwing your crust away was probably a good idea as the miners would eat with their bare hands and tin mines often contain arsenic and other toxic minerals which you really wouldn't want to eat! Great video again Martin. Love your hat mate!
Martin and frozen James , that was first class in every respect! Really enjoyed watching that, so many pits in such a small area. Plus now I know what a sough is. Cheers.
Thanks Valerie, I was ok it was James the wimp who was cold. 😨
it is rumoured that wigan was called coalopolis and i live here . love the history of this town , theres always more to find
Great to see you out and about again - loved this one - history and archeology mixed with views of the natural world - best wishes...
Thanks very much Max
1653 was during the commonwealth, but it was completed during Charles 2 reign as he took the throne in 1660. Great and interesting video, keep up the good work and stay safe
Thanks Philip
I was thinking this my self after when Martin went 1653.
1653, Definitely during the early year's of The Interregnum.
In fact if I'm not mistaken that was the start of The Protectorate,
Which ended in 1659 of course, just before, The Monarchy was Restored in 1660.
@@foundationofBritain The Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell was in charge then.
I thought I had misheard Martin say 1653 and Charles II, definitely the Lord Protector in charge then until he died in 1658 then 2 year rule of the Major Generals.
Interestingly Charles had Cromwell's body exhumed and hung to revenge his father's execution.
@@davidmarsden9800 There is a superb (but rather gruesome!) book by Charles (Earl) Spencer called ‘Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I’ that is about not only what was done to Cromwell’s body but also what happened to all/the majority of the people who were involved in the overthrow and execution of Charles I. Let’s just say (a) Never trust a King who says “No, I won’t exact revenge on anyone for the murder of my father” even when he says “... no, really, I absolutely promise. HONESTLY ...”, (b) the saying ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” is untrue 😊. I don’t know many women who could have Hell’s-fury quietly going on quite like Charles II. It’s an exceptional book, well worth reading ... but a strong stomach is definitely advised ... his ‘fury’ was exacting, specific and lasted many years!! (*oh, and Oliver Cromwell’s head had nearly as many adventures after his death as it did in life: At the start of Charles’s ‘project’, Cromwell’s head was placed on a spike for many years deliberately facing the site at Westminster Hall where Charles I was beheaded. Rumours are it was either stolen - or fell - into the hands of a guard who then hid it for years in his house. It then ended up in the hands of various collectors travelling on all kinds of adventures until - would you believe - 1957!! It was finally buried in Sidney Sussex College in secret in 1960, and that burial was not made public until 1962. So, the wrath of a King is long indeed! 😊
Absolutely stunning historical stuff you have, Martin....I'm envious from Texas...lol. Still amazed at the brick workmanship that we constantly see.
There is a vaulted tunnel runs under my hometown ,legacy of when the early victorians decided to build over the river.
You would be hard pressed to find a bricklayer who has those skills these days and yet they built this knowing that it would rarely be seen.
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This was really interesting Martin. I liked the cascade flowing from the reed beds.
Yeah it was quite pretty, Its a lovely woods that
I agree, David. I've never seen a cascade like it before.
Hi Martin. Brilliant keep going mate! What an industrial heritage we truly have and there are not enough working examples of it to give a truly representative picture.
Thanks very much Leroy
That shaft you looked down was spooky. Sounded like something still working down there.
It was and I think it was big water droplets landing on something
Yeah I thought the same! I think it was the ghost of some miner who perished back in the day 😅😉
Great video as usual Martin. What was that noise down the shaft? If was very consistent and abounded like a pump or something.
Fascinating video Martin .Yes.i think you're right,water drops echoing,sounds just like a pump or even a heartbeat! Jealous of your hat i worked for british rail and they never gave me one of those.
sounded like a diaphram pump to me
Another great video. I really enjoy unwinding watching one of your awesome videos Martin. The walk up to the pumping station in the cold looks like a 70's horror film with that visual aesthetic. Great stuff!
Wonderful cinematography and research. Wow, that shaft was such a surprise with not only the depth but the width as well. To realize the void on which you stand upon, once opening that small metal plate :) amazing camera view into the shaft! I've had to sit on many of trash bags to drive home from working, I know the feeling :) You and the young man are doing a fantastic production. Thank you for this.
Ahhh Martin. So sorry I have been missing your amazing work! I think you are amazing and thanks for all our hard work. I appreciate your results. Love from Peru
Another great video and everything that I like-brickwork,stonework and the fact that it was filmed with the lack of ‘greenery’!-more of these Martin and stay safe...
Thanks very much Matt
Your videos are brilliant, Martin. I’m a 51 year old Claytoner. It’s great to see you revealing lost places like this. Great work
Dean did good liked all that atmospheric stuff. Went well with the footage.
Yeah his music suited it well, Cheers Johnny
Another belting video about those clever Victorian engineers and how long lasting the structures they built were and are. Thankyou for posting, Martin.
The view down the shaft was very good. Certainly worth a return visit to lower some cameras down.
Yeah I would have to re design something Phil
@@MartinZero COC 2 or an alternative COC. Thunderbirds had more than one rocket! 🤓
The shaft for the pumping station is approx 551ish feet deap (cant tell you if its full of water or half way) there are two airshafts nearby one is on the haigh side of aspull listed building apparently the other is down hall lane seperate collery though. At one time there was a curved line of airshafts from aspull fingerpost towards the pumping pit 5 in all.
Industrial history is just as interesting as ancient history for me, keep up the good work and sure footing.
Love it, so much out there lost in time that was once of major importance x.
Amazing! I love old and ancient monuments of our past 👍🏻
I’m guessing the buildings housed “Newcomen Atmospheric Pumping Engine”, basically a low pressure steam engine that was used to pump water. They often had wooden beams including a long beam that went down the shaft, wondering if your footage of the shaft showed the remains of the vertical beam.
Another great video Martin
I would think something like that but am no expert. Thanks very much
@@MartinZero there is still one standing in working order at elsecar near barnsley
www.elsecar-heritage.com/newcomen-beam-engine
I remember going bottling wood in high school, back when all the water was stained and mucky yellow n brown ish colours and learning about all this and I was surprised you came to my home place tbh, glad to see this video mate n cheers for the flash back lol
So interesting Martin, it sounded like somebody was still in that shaft, great video xx
I thought that, I bet there someone down there digging away😂
Yeah I think water was dripping onto a hard surface Barbara
@@oneteaminbristolbcfc 🤣🤣
👻
This was an excellent story to cover Martin and really interesting to watch . Your research and filming is first class and the interest you create kept me gripped from start to finish . A real credit to you , well done and thanks for sharing this amazing piece of History with me .
Another fascinating look into our industrial past. Can’t believe there’s only barbed wire around that well though. We are so lucky that the North West has these hidden gems of engineering of old
Had a great time as always, Martin. Just wish I could actually explore around those places with you.
Im getting worried im actually starting to like old bricks tunnels and even old english words new to me
Love your videos and presentation Cheers Rob
Join the club Rob 😀👍
If you like old brick things Google or RUclips "Tartaria Architecture"
I quote my old school motto - In the woods we seek knowledge. You certainly did Martin, what a brilliant find backed up with researched details. Hope you bought James a well deserved fish supper for his camera work and tea making skills!!!!
Dean has an uncanny knack of creating incredible music that complements your videos perfectly. He needs to get a gig scoring a big TV show or a movie - he's that damn good. Fact.
Another superb video, Martin, and that sough and abandoned pumping station were fascinating. That was a dauntingly deep pit, too - oddly, the drops of water falling on to metalwork far below, actually sounded like some kind of pumping machinery. It was a familiar kind of sound to me, and then it struck me: it's very similar to the sound of the Morlock machinery that can be heard from the 'wells' in the 1960 movie 'The Time Machine'.
Seriously, though, a cracking video, yet again. Thank you.
P.S. Great hat, by the way.
Thank you Brian. Yes Dean would do brilliant film scores
I'm seriously jealous of the stuff you get to explore. It's also super interesting! Thank you for the extra research into maps and details to help put your explorations into perspective for your viewers!
**shines torch into sough** No immediate murder-clowns, so that's a good start.
No immediate explosions, also a good start.
Hi Martin, what a fantastic find and a great exploration. I love history, but to be able to be there and walk in the footsteps of people from ages past is just incredible. Thank you so much for taking us along so we can see these amazing places. xx 🙏💖
Thank you Sue, yeah two nice gems
Thanks Martin for another great vlog, I think the lift pumps were powered by a beam engine with the well supplying clean water for the boiler and coal wagons on the track to feed the boiler. Take care and all the best. Stevie
I agree.
its so cool that many parts of europe have such history i find soo many old stuff when metaldetecting in belgium
This is such an interesting video, Martin, knowing about what went on in earlier days. Pity we didn't look into things like this in history at school. Excellent presentation and lots of info.
Thanks very much Janet
That was superb, and as always great to see James on the film crew!
I like your BR hat Martin, very smart.
Good innit 😃👍
I loved this! Sending the camera down was an awesome idea. Really well presented too. Nice shots!
Thanks very much guys 👍
When the camera went down the shaft, did anyone else hear a clanking noise, like a pump was running?
I did yes! Rather creepy 😩
I heard that also. It seems too regular to be falling water.
I heard it too could it be from the green building at the beginning of video echoing through the shaft/ tunnels? It was the only thing that we could see that would have been making the noise or perhaps it is the sound of the old pump haunting the disused shaft!!!!👻 ghosts in the machine!
I thought that, not just me then. Martin, get cockrover down there 🤗👍
@Steph Willburn I thought it was too loud for a normal water droplet
Excellent, natural enthusiasm, very comfortable on camera, and very welcome absence of distractions like music track. Many thanks.
Excellent music. Thanks Dean. :-)
Thank you Lennart
James saves the day of adventure w/ a cupper....Thanks Martin, loved this one and a great surprise...
Martin so much in such a small area and that shaft was amazing.
Yeah Wigan is full of old mines Shaun
Thanks for the video Martin. Another amazing find so much history for such a large area of pits, These places inspire me for the human indurance in making such underground places in such bad conditions!!😎🐓🐓🇬🇧
The last people who last explored the Haigh Sough where in the 1970's I think. It goes on for a fair distance and was extended as well. 2 minutes down the road from me. There is another entrance on the Haigh Estate but not sure how much of it could be accessed nowadays
I believe in some places its quite big
@@MartinZero it's tall enough to stand up in from what I've been told. There is a man hole cover next to a road leading up to the estate grounds and that is an access point. (I won't say where on here for obvious reasons). It was dicy in the 1970's apparently so I imagine it would be even worse now.
Defo been explored since the 70s
Fabulous Martin. Our industrial heritage should have been preserved. It was vandalism on a massive scale. You are doing a fantastic job of capturing our heritage. As for falling on your BTM. I watched you going down Engine Vein at Alderley. Would it make sense for you to wear a boiler suit like the cavers who took you down wore? You could pull it off if you got filthy, and the car seats would be saved a bit. Boiler suit and wellies. Good exploring gear. Really enjoy your work.
Hi Martin i haven't ploughed through the 1,000 plus comments so some one may have pointed out that Charles II did not return to the throne before 1660. In 1653 it was Cromwell who was in charge during the interregnum after the beheading of Charles I.
its people like this who keep local otherwise forgotten history alive well done sir great vid
Thank you
What an incredible place, i’d have loved to have seen that running in it’s heyday. 👍🏻
Yes so would I, must have been great to see the machinery
No you wouldn't
17:23 I love how the old pump shaft still sounds like a big machine. Spooky - like the echoes of the past. Great video Martin.
Great video and super camera work as usual! The sound that you hear at the end of the video, looking down into the shaft, sounds to me like the sound that a `Ram Pump` would make. These are commonly used to raise water up from a flowing source, like a stream or river to where it may be needed higher up. I suppose there could be one operating somewhere and the sound is carried into the mine via one of the soughs. There are many in use today, they are convenient as they do not need a power source other than the moving river or stream. Please google Ram Pump, they are very interesting. Best regards to all.
Thanks for this Chris. I must have had this explanation, that sound gave me anxiety :D
It’s always a pleasure to watch your shows, Martin!
Thank you Joseph
Since biblical times, stone masons have "signed" their blocks with letters or symbols for accounting purposes. Could these blocks be labeled the same way? And if not, do the roman numerals indicate a "pattern" of construction (i.e. XXI on the bottom row, XXII second, and so on)? They were all labeled for a purpose, that purpose can be a story in itself.
You should definitely do a video series on all sites like these.Something tells me you know all the best off the grid sites of ancient importance. It would be fascinating to know some of them.Thank you for the informative vid 🙂👍🏼
Who are these people who give thumbs down ? Maybe architects of the new featureless office blocks in Manchester. ?
They are the silent few, they sit in despair 😆
@@MartinZero They sit in diss-pare...
I think it must be accidental. Who could not like it?
the ghosts of some of the guys that worked down that shaft..
Great videos as usual. A really good example of a working beam steam pump is at Leawood pump house towards Matlock . Amazing to see how it works on day when in steam
Cheers Ray, might be worth a visit
@@MartinZero definitely worth a visit and there’s another steam powered engine within a mile called Middleton top incline , amazing walk up the hill but an awful lot of history.
A great explore, as ever, Martin. Particularly, the brick waterfall at the sough. A little more practise and James' camera work will be spot on. James, wear a hat, keep your head warm. Did you add the pumping noise in the shaft? What was the woollen eye?
The noise in the shaft was water dripping onto a hard surface , I think
What an amazing find it was, looking down the pumping shafts I'd be scared of dropping my equipment down it, some times we don't realise how much archeology we have on our doorsteps, it's like wow didn't know that was there, and so then looking into the history of what happened and what was going on there, its great that you do some reashearch into what you are investigating, please keep your vlogs coming and stay safe Martin
The first 5 seconds screard the shit out of me xx
He had his eye on you Natalie 👁
@@MartinZero 🤣 amazing upload as always, thank you 😊
Look at 5 minutes 35 seconds on the video and look at Martin's right hand and the small person going down to the stream
Great video. I agree that your cameraman does a great job. As you say a brilliant piece of engineering!
I always thought Haigh was pronounced with a silent G (as in Hay). That's how I have always said Haigh Hall, anyway.
Another excellent video Martin :) I'm glad to see that you are doing well!
Martin, look for books by local man Jack Nadin. He writes about the indusrial remains of the coal mines of that area.
That was absolutely great. Thanks for taking the time to make it, Martin. I really enjoyed that.
Thanks Darrien glad you enjoyed
Thats on my doorstep i didnt know it was there - heads up Haigh is pronounced Hey - silent g and all that - stay safe.
Yet another excellent video Martin. Absolutely fascinating!
Where did you get that British Rail hat? I want one - but I'm probably 40 years too late.
Most probably Martin got it from the Nodrog Chanel 🚂
British Rail was privatised in 1997 so not that long ago. It is a cool hat though; it is the first thing that I noticed!
That pumping station was a gem and the shaft was a real bonus , great stuff Martin 🧱🧱👍🏼
Yeah the shaft was utterly fascinating
@@MartinZero 👌🏼🧱👍🏼
Hi Martin I think Haigh is pronounced "Hay" as in Hay hall. just saying, great video
Cheers , I never know how to pronounce it
Fascinating as usual. Thanks for taking the time to produce such professional footage.
Thank you Shaunie glad you enjoyed
Hey ! Hi Martin hello everyone!
Hi Bill
Absolutely fascinating. Just a short journey from my home in Bolton, and yet never seen it - so when we get some dry weather it's going to be a must visit!
Thanks David, wear wellies 😀
Haigh is pronounced "hay", like the stuff you feed horses.
Cheers 👍
Was about to make the same comment
That's true. My grans sisters and other family lived close by and we'd travel from Salford and go to Haigh Hall on a nice day.
I think you probably Ay and Orses 😂
@@riddlingrymer
Haigh Hall, pronounced by Wiganers, ‘Ay Awe’
A fabulous, quality, informative video. Thank you. So interesting!
when you said it was a shaft you're not kidding are you.
Hi Martin and James. Your on my home turf I live a spit away from the pumper as it is affectionately known round these parts. My great aunts dad was the winder at pumper because they ust to lift coal there as well as the pumping. My uncle was one of the guys who back filled that ghostly shaft you put your camera down. It is stated that the original depth of that shaft was around 500 feet deep so looking at what we saw it didn’t appear to be any where near that depth now. I’m taking it the back fill would have been more or less up to the top the shaft although it would seem the filling must have slumped to the depth it is now. Glad you’ve made a visit to our local historical site and given greater awareness of the fantastic heritage my home town of Wigan has from its mining past. Oh by the way it’s pronounced Haigh silent g. Cheers pal as always great.
500 feet, wow thats some depth Gareth
Big beam engines? 🤷 some beams were in the 20 tonne region 😃
Wow must have made a great sight Jamie
Such an amazing monument, for around 370 years old its in excellent condition ! Not far from me is a stream where an iron ore spring comes up into the water causing discolouration, great video as always Martin.
Thanks Steve, I love seeing that colour, I know something is afoot in the area
“Very old, dates back to the sixteen hundreds” stop talking like an American! That’s RECENT!
Another superb video. Thanks Martin.
Excellent video! I really appreciate your attention to detail and the fact that you do proper research. There are far too many RUclips channels that’ll just film random stuff and say things like "it’s an old building" and call that a video.
Thanks very much. I like to know what am looking at
Another amazing video. I've only recently found your channel. I'm hooked. I watch more RUclips than tv these days. The production on your videos is top drawer. I love the music as well