Anonymous comments enabled...

Right, after months of requiring a google account to leave comments on my blog I'm opening it up to anonymous users. It could be interesting, it could be really dull, I'm kinda hoping someone from Brunner Mond will leave a remark, even if it consists of 'stay the fook away from our factories, you cheeky varmint!'.

Don't be a twat about it though will you dear reader, anything I don't like will be deleted, just 'cos I can, although healthy discussion is always encouraged.

Go for it folks, abuse my generosity.

TnM ;->

Share This Post

Bunker Drain, Warrington - It's HUGE!

Having been meaning to crack on with some more underground stuff this year someone suggested we have a look at the immense Bunker in Warrington. Located south of the town centre five of us met up on a warm Friday evening.

Myself, Gibbo, Bungle, Lawrence and Havoc found ourselves standing in the pitch blackness, a couple of pigeons flapping about in the chamber, causing an eerie echo from the huge RCP that led away into a dark labyrinthe of concrete.

We headed into the pipe, being careful not to step on the multitude of wildlife swimming around our feet, eels and fish, then hundreds of frogs lined the path into the heart of the drain. Before long we came to a huge stepped chamber, our first taste of the underground architecture that has brought drainers from across the country to visit this behemoth.

We spent twenty or so minutes, maybe longer, photographing the chamber from various angles, waving torches and taking it in, before heading off up one of the pipes that leads off, and up Various small (5 or 6 foot) stepped waterfalls.

Eventually we arrived at the Giant Stairway, and it really is GIANT, 6, 7 or 8 (I forget) five foot high steps, cascading a steady stream of water downward, it was a magical sight, one that in the dark was difficult to take in all at once. Cameras came out once more, cue shouting, echo, 'eh?', shout, 'what?' 'can't fooking hear ya!' 'eh?', yeah, it was like that.

We continued through the drain, passing various industrial size chambers, valves, climbed up ladders, climbed back down, it was exhausting, the temperature took us somewhat by surprise, I even removed the exploring beanie at one point.

Eventually, we reached the end of the drain, the dropshaft, or as far as we we're willing to travel in one night. We split up around this area, some going up, others staying down, before heading off back our entry point, it took us forty minutes, non-stop walking to get back, by the end of it we were exhausted, wet, sweaty and tired.

Above all, I was grumpy, but what a night, and what an introduction to draining, I can't wait for the next one.

TnM :->

Share This Post

Drains and culverts = Ace fun!

Been mooching around underground for the past few days. Nothing major, just a quick trip down a drain that defeated us by rising (and rather manky) water.

Had a trip under the M62 up near Milnrow, wading down (or was it up) a culvert, being underneath motorways is really the way to win!

Then another trip to Derby and finding a lovely little culvert that exits into the River Derwent, was cool as fook, I tell you.

Anyhow, this is the quickest post I've done, 'cos I'm at work and have dozens of things to be doing so I'll leave you with the pics.

Foxdenton

Visited with Bungle, Gibbo and Havoc. We were beaten back by a raging torrent of filth (well, maybe not raging) lol.


Milnrow Culvert.

A trip beneath the M62, also with Bungle, Gibbo and Havoc. Most enjoyable, if only to see Bungle trapped in the culvert at the end.


Chaddesden Culvert, Derby.

Spotted this one with Smileysal, and was well impressed, loved it.


And that's all for now, can't wait to do some more.

TnM :->

Share This Post

Bungle made me do this.

Well, it's been a week of turmoil in the world of Urban Exploration following the sudden closure of the 28dayslater forum. For whatever reasons the owners chose, I'm sure for them it was the right decision.

So because of that the Introductions forum over at DerelictPlaces has been going crazy and old Mendo can barely keep up with the sudden influx of new members looking for a new home on the web.

And so we get to the point of this post, and only because Bungle threatened to ban me if I didn't 'big up' his new forum am I doing it ;->

It's like this, a forum for Northwest based explorers, even though the boundaries of the NW have been vastly stretched and cover most of northern England (and parts of Wales) lol

It's actually a really good place, set up within hours of 28 going down, the membership numbers are creeping up, the post count is climbing and so far no arguments. So, after the initial storm and panic, all is well in the world of UE.

You can find the forum here, take a look, I like it.

northwestexploration

TnM :->

Share This Post

From Bridon to Burtonwood - April 08

A quick update on a couple of cracking explores me and Sal boxed off recently. First up was a return trip to Bridon Wireworks in Ambergate, Derbyshire (cast your minds back to September last year when Havoc and I first did it). Back then, only the huge sheds were doable.

Now though, the offices and labs have opened up and are a sight to behold, stuffed to brimming with interesting paperwork and all manner of scientific equipment and apparatus.

Well worth going back for, if only we hadn't arrived 'til late, we could have mooched around a bit more of the site. One to return to for a third time, I reckon.

USAF Burtonwood

Then on Wednesday we stopped by at the amazing USAF Burtonwood just outside Warrington. These hangars/storage bunkers have never been open for as long as I've been keeping an eye on them, but, as my old dad used to say, 'fortune favours the persistent, Mendo', we rolled up and found one of them with an access, brilliant.


Spent a good couple of hours onsite inside and outside these incredible buildings, totally empty and devoid of 'stuff', but still mesmerising due the the scale and construction, loved seeing inside, it was amazing (although if the pikeys knew how much metal is in there, they'd be circling the caravans)!!

Burtonwood is fantastic, such a shame these storage bunkers will probably be demolished, thanks English Partnerships, thanks for nothing.

TnM :->

Share This Post

Oh, the challenge...back to the Hippo - 12/04/08

According to a recent article in the Derby Evening Times the owner of the unfortunate Derby Hippodrome has made the building secure, following the repairs to the roof, and the outrage across the country by theatre lovers everywhere.

Me and Sal were in town having a look at a couple of things and thought we'd stop and have a gander and check out these new 'security measures'.


To be fair, the security guard sat in his P reg Mondeo, reading a magazine, put me off going through the car park round the back, but it really isn't much of a challenge to get past a fence.


The door I used last time has been blocked, indeed, sadly, blocking a big fook off hole in the wall is another matter altogether.


I only went in to take pictures, other, more unscrupulous folk may have other intentions.


Anyway, I spent another 40 minutes or so having a good look around, even made it up to the Gods this time too. Thought I'd concentrate on some of the more intact areas this time, you see, it's not completely fooked in there.

TnM :->

**Apologies for putting my feet on the seats, I'm too tall for my own good.**

Share This Post

Barton Bridge - The return of BigVertigoMendoza - April 08

Wow, this was another of my daft ideas. Having spent a day mooching round Trafford Park and Salford I drove over this bridge, started thinking, got off the motorway on the Trafford Park side, dumped the car and went for a walk.

It's an impressive structure from close up, huge concrete pillars carry the M60 across the Manchester Ship Canal in a span of nearly 2500ft. And there is a walkway underneath. Only problem was, how the hell do we get up there and past the locked gate? Userscott, he's the man for this kind of thing.

So I fired off a few emails and Scott was onboard, 'when do we do it?'. As enthusiastic as ever and always up for a challenge, the date was set.

Four of us met beneath the giant bridge, open for business since 1961, Scott was first up, then Yaz, then Havoc, then me. It's amazing how much safer you feel wearing a climbing harness and being clipped on, this could be habit forming :-> .

The first thing we had to negotiate was a locked door, couldn't go through, we went under it, was scary as hell, I tell you!!


Once that little obstacle was behind us we had free rein on the walkways right across from Trafford Park to Barton in the North 2425 ft away! And wow, what an amazing experience as the cars thunder overhead, unaware there are four chaps pottering about a matter of feet beneath their wheels. Get in there!


We were on the bridge for the best part of four hours, eventually making our way down around half eleven, before posing for pictures at ground level.


Another TOP Manchester explore, what the hell are we gonna do next?

TnM :->

Share This Post

Derby Hippodrome links and shiz...

Just a quick update with a few links to the Derby Evening Telegraph website regarding the fate of the Hippodrome, so bravely photographed by myself last week. ;->

This Kirsty Green woman is going for it big time lol.

8th April.

HIPPODROME DEVELOPER ALSO OWNS FORMER CHURCH

DEVELOPER GIVES HIS SIDE OF THE STORY

5th April.

CONTROVERSY IN PAST OF THEATRE OWNER

COUNCIL'S VERSION OF EVENTS FOR HIGH COURT BID

STRIVING FOR THE FACTS

4th april.

DAMAGE TO HIPPODROME'S INTERIOR [WITH PICS]

3rd April.

HIPPODROME BATTLE SET TO GO TO THE HIGH COURT

PAID TO LEAVE ON THE DAY PARTS OF THE HIPPODROME CAME DOWN

I think that'll do for now, keep it up, Kirsty.

TnM :->

Share This Post

Derby Hippodrome, what a state...02/04/08

Headed over to Derby way to check out a couple of leads and a couple of places but the first stop of the day was to the under-threat Derby Hippodrome. There has been some recent controversy over the current situation with the building and its owner Mr Christopher Anthony.


Following the council directive to make safe the roof the demolition equipment moved in and devastated the auditorium, the people of Derby and surrounding areas are up in arms, rightly so, at the destruction of the 94 year old theatre. All in the name of progress, eh? What a joke.


Anyway, I'm gonna let the pictures do the talking again, people of Derby, look away now, it isn't pretty.


TnM :-<

Share This Post