Crystal Phallas - Birmingham

There are numerous culverts along the Hockney brook and the last one is Crystal Phallas. The others each have there own given unique name for different reasons and present there own challenges. This drain consists of mainly original brick with a heavy amount of modern day concrete reinforcement.

The usual fly tipping can be found along the route including a dead bird of prey that had been caught up in a tree. The area here used to be booming with industry but now resembles a wasteland.

History

“Located in the North of Birmingham running along a brick channel “Crystal Phallas” is one of several culverts that runs along the Hockney Brook At one point in time before the industrial revolution the river was all un culverted flowing in its natural direction. The rapid urban expansion of Birmingham resulted in a lot of the brook being culverted over and industry built on top of it. The now culverted stretches of river carries on for over 1.5miles underground.”

Following the Brook upstream there are numerous open air culverts along its route.

The first outfall along the route.

Looking back on the outfall a mixture of concrete and original brick.

A sewer overflow presents itself further upstream.

Another sewer overflow.

Passing derelict mills in another open air section of the brook.

A long section of concrete box.

Ochre staining, this phenomenon is common in places with high iron content in the soil or water, particularly in older, unlined drainage systems where groundwater seeps into the pipes.