What hidden secrets did we find. Railways & WW II 

It’s a sewage filter bed, the metal upright is the bit that spins around spreading the water over the filter bed, through long metal arms

Live and worked nearby. During WW2, the grandmother of a friend of mine lived further down the railway line, near to its junction with the Leeds/Manchester line. She told of the Bomb Train. During the night, a long train loaded with many tons of munitions would slowly go down the line, on its way to Liverpool Docks. Her dad said that if the train was ever bombed by the Luftwaffe, it would take out the whole of the town! She couldn’t sleep until it went past her house and faded away into the distance.

Interesting the railway engine was called the Tam O' Shanther ... a famous poem by Rabbie Burns about witches and warlocks. A Tam o' Shanter is also a Scottish hat with a bobble in the middle! Another fascinating video, thanks guys.

Martin how do you and your team always stay on top of your game. You get so much information in your videos -- with a bit of humor -- and make them so enjoyable to watch. The Manchester city leaders should be happy that there are people like you and your team that are keeping local and regional history alive........ So much history so little time. mike

A fulling mill didn’t remove lanolin, or at least that’s not the only or major reason for fulling. Scouring removed excess grease and was done before weaving….you couldn’t weave using greasy woolen thread cos it would gum up the works of the looms. Scoured wool tho would work in the machine looms, however freshly woven cloth wasn’t really cloth until it was fulled. Fulling took a new made fabric and “knit” together the warp and weft to make a solid cloth, instead of just a lot of interlaced threads….fulling, “filled” or fulled out the cloth. It did this using hot water, and lots of it, and hammers that pounded the wet textile. The combined wet heat and agitation on a woolen fabric slightly felted the cloth. Hand weavers do the same process today by washing their cloth using the same principles. The fabric once “fulled” was stretched out to dry using hooks, known as “tenterhooks” so it would dry flat and true.

The circular pit (shown at 23:50) was where the flags were placed, in the centre was a post which supported a horizontal beam. attached to the underside of the beam were heavy stones, the beam was rotated and the stones on the beam rubbed the flags smooth. Water and sand was added to assist in the smoothing process.

Nice video! Some stuff I know of the Dell… I heard that the small locomotive that brought stone down from the quarry lost its load (either that or the whole thing) across from Studd Brow and smashed into a train, killing people who were on board. There used to be two bridges, one got washed away in 2015 leaving the weaker of the two on its own. Slightly further up stream from the bridges there used to be a small pavilion like building where the shale hill is by the footpath. I believe there was an aqueduct a bit further down from the tunnel beyond the viaduct, you can still see a column /support for it on the opposite side of the river. My guess is that it sent water around to the mills where the ammunition works were.

Well guys, thanks for turning out in this 'orrible midwinter weather to give us another video. Healey Dell had all sorts of surprises and you were all so energetic and keen too, in spite of the weather. It was hard to imagine a mill dating back to the Great Fire of London and the plague! The primary function of fulling is really to shrink the fibres of the fabric to make it a tighter weave, a bit like felting it, but you're right that the process did remove oils from the fabric too. (I only know this because we have a historic fulling mill near to where I live, which is open to visitors). James, you were being a bit daring. I felt nervous for you. And Fairies Chapel is a beautiful spot. Pity the actual chapel is gone. But I see there are lot of legends about it. And today's 'brew' was practically a tea party! Which story to believe about that railway bridge? Life being what it is, it's probably that it was built in the wrong place! 😆Great video, well worth waiting for! 👍

"You wouldn't think you were just outside Rochdale... because the place is beautiful" :-) Enjoyed this very much, the history and the scenery. Thank you

I live literally a couple of hundred yard from the bridge. When I was a kid there were two of those stone arches, and we would climb to the middle and jump up and down - the spans would actually move and “bounce” - alarming. The other span was washed away in a storm a few years ago.

Another fantastic video Martin. I feel the need to go out and do a historical video about the Wirral way near to where i live. It's another abandoned railway line that's been repurposed as a multi use path. It includes a restored railway station

Love the enthusiasm and the exploration. Good fun watch :-) I've just been to Gibson Mill outside Hebden Bridge, and I had my Martin Zero goggles on trying to find the clues of the industrial past along the water!! 🔎

That was fascinating. Thank you. YT suggested this channel for some unknown reason. I'm so glad it did!

Your country has so many abandoned historical sights. Very cool. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Rochdale is a strange place. It has some terrible places, and some stunning places. You can walk down some indistinct terrace street with some indudtrial units at the end, turn up a path and find something like this.

Excellent video again Martin. Very local to me , and you still taught me something new. Didn’t know about the munitions factory down there.

Nice that you guys can maintain the energy and pleasant demeanor on such a crapper of a day .

Would love to hear your take on Kirklees Printworks and Tottington Mill at some point Martin - keep up the good work!

Thought you’d retired Martin 😐good to see you back 👍

The mysterious spinning thing is the centre of a sewage pond. 4 sprinkler arms radiated from them and the went round and sprinkled water on the sewage in a circular pond. You can still find the modern version on sewage farms, and we have an ancient on quite near us still doing the job, or jobby!

Once again I am amazed that all that railway was left to rot. Very short sighted

Another awesome video love the old mills especially when they have/had water wheels , will have to venture out to this area and have a gander cheers martin and the gang btw you have to admire roy to have the bottle to abseil of that viaduct its not for me 😱

It's another interesting vlog Matin, I love the old British industrial architect very much. The old bridge is a challenge, which is not actually a bridge. It's not nice of you Martin to call James a pig every time. He is a very nice walking buddy. The information is again very interesting.

James' dance moves on the bridge - epic!

Fascinating. I had a feeling that the old mill would have spanned the river, and you managed to find the old photograph supporting this. Great to see you all again.

Fascinating video packed with historical interest - and such a picturesque location. The old photo's were amazing, especially of the abandoned mill. Thank you.

Hi Martin. Really enjoyed this video. Appreciate all of the research effort you must put in and the editing. It was good getting the boys to do a bit of the commentary. The scenery is lovely and so much more (shall we say) "moist" than here in Oz. A pom mate of mine said that I shouldn't beat around the bush and say (as he put it) "it's F@#$ing WET! I reckon than is a giant's thumb in Fairy's Chappel at the 20 minute mark, mind you, I could be wrong. 😊 Keep up the good work. Cheers to you and the boys, Peter H.

Action packed lead in. Action packed through out Martin on caffeine and new stringy boots. I really need to catch up with the videos. Excellent

These are my old stomping grounds,Martin. Making me very homesick. Cheers from David in the USA.

Brilliant video Martin & James! Beautiful scenery & well told history perfect for a sunday afternoon. ❤

Another top video Martin and the team, my grandma drove the ammunition trucks to and from the factory in the del during the war. There is whitworth stone under the Eiffel Tower, it is some of the hardest stone around. Weird seeing my daily walk on one of your videos 👍 keep them coming.

Great to finally catch you all up again Martin mate. Oh bugger I missed your tea breaks, absolutely nothing like a cup of tea outdoors. 😊😊😊.

One of my favourites you have done so far. A small hidden away location but so many tales to tell. Always think about the countless people who se footsteps you have followed and the friendships, toil, hardships and happy moments they will have shared. Keep up the great work you do👍

In france there is still a fulling mill operating (for the tourists). A fulling mill is battering a pile of cloth. This is in cugand , departement de la Loire. Called moulin a foulon

Them ww2 corrugated buildings are called Nissan hutt's I've been there many years ago great place for a day out keep up the great work💯💖👍

Nice goin Martin James and Roy! All the stone or just Nelson's Column came from Healley's Dell? Nice job you blokes did, thanks heaps, stay vertical Eh!

I love it round there, frequently have a mooch round with the kids. Absolute gem of a place full of history.

Cracking video, Martin. That wartime site is a new one to me. If you ever find a WD site like that, and it's called a 'Filling Station', that can mean something a bit more sinister than normal bombs; it was often used to name a site that might manufacture and fill shells with Mustard Gas. There are lots dotted about the country. Thankfully the gas was never used in the last war. All stocks were either dumped at sea, or destroyed shortly after the war.

Hi Martin and team. Very impressive research and a great video. All the best from Melbourne Australia.

you have delivered another wonderful and interesting episode, the (early) industrial English era is so interesting! gr. from the Netherlands!

Martin , those buckboots are great super comfy got a pair for work Great to see the lads out and about again 😊

another brilliant video keep it up well done.

Thanks Martin, such a lovely place.

The mystery spinning post-would have 4arms to distribute waste water round d the circular bed it was sitting in , like in a sewerage works. Keep up the good work, cheers

Fantastic place and brilliant video. Well done and many thanks.

Amazing video. Enjoyed it very much. That place is amazing!!! Thank you Martin, James & Roy!

Absolutely beautiful location and that old picture of the mill straddling the river.... Wow 👌 . So much history in this gorge...

Smashing. Need to search that place out.

I’m flabbergasted at all the history here. I’m sure when I was at high school and we learned about the Industrial Revolution this place was brought up. Your attention to the details we want to know is second to none. Being from Lancashire I know “Th’owd” and other abbreviations of our lazy accent 😂 There used to be a chippy in Leyland called “Th’owd chippy” it really was old school and the best around. I’m going to have to visit here myself. Arches, stonework, bridges, it’s got the lot 👌🏼 Thanks Martin, James, and Roy for showing us here. Those wellies are bloody bright ones though 😎

What gantastic scenery! Unbelievable! Thanks for that tour!

Gday Martin, love the exploration and learning about history😊😁👍

Another pearl Martin, very interesting thanks for posting Pete and Lorraine

Brilliant! So much in one small area. Great video....

Superb video Martin, James and Roy Thank you

This is great. Still winter over there. There is nothing like that here in Aus.

Great video gents.a big 👍👍 up.

Really enjoyed this.

Really interesting history and explore, those wellies are ace!

Quiet a lot of history in this video, watching from a cool 29c in the Philippines.

Great video lads. Really enjoyed it and already looking forward to the next episode. Thanks for all the great entertainment.

Thanks Martin, James and Roy. A fantastic look at some interesting history.

Wow...what a place 😮. Thanks for the insights 👍✌️

You are lucky to have stuff like this around you to explore.

Great work Martin, James and Roy...Healey Dell packed full of interesting things....👍👍👍

Awsome!

Thankyou lads. All the best.

Great video! Thanks.

Incredible industrial history brought to life. It’s incredible what went on in such wildernesses and how tough it must have been to build all that infrastructure and work there. The munitions factory location is incredible and must have been kept very secret.

Fascinating history. Thanks

Absolutely fascinating video from start to finish. Loved it. Thanks Martin, James, and Roy.

Fantastic location, brilliant video and very informative, Thank you guys.

Brill. Interesting and professional. In my diary to visit here next weekend. Many thanks

Proper everyman history, this stuff is brilliant. One of the best videos yet.

Another good video lads! All the good stuff including a brew break and James signing off with "see y'in a bit"

On the 1890 OS map I count at least 10 mills down this section of the river.

Industrial history is fascinating. Nice work Martin

Nice one Martin and the gang of merry men. Very entertaining.

Love your enthusiasm, just subbed and I'll be watching from now on.

Loved this video, a bit of everything in it. What a brilliant area to explore.

Brilliant video, back to your very best! Fascinating insight and it's given me an idea for a day out... Quality

Some mill,, some wellys 👍 nice one fellas.

Thanks guys. 😊👍👍

Nowt to do with this Blog, there was a wooden bridge that spand the River Ribble in Preston, the Ist was flimsey then replaced by another bridge with 12inch thick tressals. really strong, horses pulled coal carts on tracks, the bridge lasted 150 years + , It was decided that the Wood Bridge should be replaced with a Concrete bridge in the late 60s , it was condemed in 20O6 . modern building eh ?

Very good - I like the Railway bits 🙂🚂🚂🚂

What a beautiful place. Top video!

Another good job.

Great video thanks always nice to see Roy

Excellent, really enjoyed it. Loved the heart-shaped cake.

Another great video thanks

You have made heaps of fantastic videos but I think this would be no.1. It was awesome. So much history there just loved it. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

Fantastic informative video guys. You would not know all this was there. Keep the videos coming. Thanks for taking all the time to show all these great ereas.

Superb video lads, really enjoyed… love your passion for these things

Hi Martin, another fascinating video, beautifully made and very entertaining while maintaining that passion for history. Ive followed you a long time and its great to see how many people like and follow you these days. Your videos are always something to look forward to, thankyou!

Great video. Love seeing your videos and the history of the Industrial Revolution, plus the great views.

Many thanks for the superb video once again lads. The gloomy day was a bonus as it made it very atmospheric 👍

You never fail in finding these innocuous and charming locations. As usual, this was another great example of blending today with history. So well done sir. Cheers to you and your mates and another well done explore.

A really interesting video Martin and Co......thank you so much

Anything to do with Manchester and Greater Manchester is just so interesting, Martin. You've done another pearler of a video with James and Roy here. So interesting to see the remains of the fulling mill and what was the housing for the water wheel, etc. Going up to see Broadley railway station remains, the viaduct and the two bridges, such an added bonus, too. Many thanks for presenting this, Martin.

Great video

excellent!