Optimus Prime - Manchester

Entering the culvert is best done further upstream where you pass a newer and shorter culvert underneath the red bank. The water level is okay throughout but the section underneath the bridge can be wader breaching at times. From here the entrance is just ahead and is best tackled from the left where a handy eye hole pokes out of the bricks allowing easy rigging of a handline where safe descent can be made down the mossy stone bricks below. This section can be quite deep but only for a short while until your back on solid ground. Having done this culvert numerous times I've always had curious public watch but never had any mither. The culvert is one of the largest in Manchester and arguably the nicest. Lighting cables run throughout along with numerous surface water run offs. It eventually outfalls into the river Irwell just off Victoria street.

History

“Running for around 1 km underneath Victoria station the river Irk is carried underground to an outfall where it meets the river Irwell. As well as the canals there are 3 main rivers that pass through the city, Looking at the Manchester coat of arms you can see a red shield with 3 gold stripes, these stripes represent the river Irwell, Medlock and Irk. One of the main features here is an old wooden bridge that is rumored to be a Victorian cattle Bridge from the early 19th century(although this hasn’t been proven). Going across the outfall is what remains of the Hunts Bank sewer crossing. This bridge used to convey a 3' 6"ft egg shaped sewer across the Irk's mouth and had an open top to allow it to act as an overflow. A storm in September 1896 saw the river level rise substantially higher than the crown of the sewer and allowed water to flood in. After this the open section was closed off and made watertight”.