Visited in June 2004, S.T.D. is one of a bunch of Manchester drains that we're hoping to get back up
north to re-photograph, the point and shoot compact digital with a maximum 2 second exposure didn't really
do it justice. So, S.T.D. is a culverted section of the plumpton clough brook, it runs for approx 1.5 miles
through various types of construction. Starting from the outfall it is a stoopy 4ft CMP (Corrugated Metal Pipe)
which runs for quite some way, but if you stick with it you're rewarded by its nice 7ft red brick circular upstream
reaches. Leading on from there it runs into an upturned stone block arch which would once have had a flag stone
top, now extended and replaced with concrete. Oddly just upstream from here the main tunnel abruptly ends in a 30ft or so access shaft
with two measly rcps entering to either side, clearly not the original set-up.
The phases of culverting this section of the brook are varied, the most recent at the outfall is likely as recent as the 1960s,
with the red brick sections being 1920s and the stone block could be as early as the 1860s, all very interesting. Along the length of
the drain there is also much more recent added tiered access chambers of three or so floors, probably late 1970s early 80s, one in
particular seemed to have seriously failed and was precariously shored up with huge timbers. Water poured down from above as you passed
under the chamber to continue on your way upstream.
At the time this was one of the best and most interesting drains we had been in, it was surpassed the very same day by
other Manchester goodness, even so it's a fun drain with lots to see and one we really hope to get back to some day soon.
