Lydgate Tunnel - Oldham
Entering via the western portal I was only able to make it around half way through the tunnel before deep water and silt prevented any further progression. lesson of the day? choose wellies over boots when exploring railway wet tunnels.
The tunnel has some of the heaviest mineralization ive seen in a tunnel, with Ochre being heavily present within the cracks in the walls. There are multiple air shafts along the tunnels route and the eastern portal is almost completely bricked up with a laddered hatch for access.
History
“Nestled in the rich valleys near Manchester, the Lydgate Tunnel stands as a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of the Industrial Revolution. Constructed in the mid-19th century, the tunnel was an engineering marvel, part of a vital railway line designed to connect Delph with the busy Manchester to Huddersfield line. It facilitated the movement of goods, particularly coal from local mines, and revolutionized travel and commerce. Carved through Saddleworth's rugged terrain, the Lydgate Tunnel's creation was a feat of determination and grit. The navvies, unsung heroes of the railway expansion, faced formidable challenges to connect places, people, and industries. However, as the 20th century progressed, the importance of many railway lines declined. The Beeching cuts, which reduced railway infrastructure nationwide, marked the end of an era for the Lydgate Tunnel, decommissioning it to history. Today the Lydgate Tunnel stands as an industrial reminder of the past, While nature reclaims the land around it, the tunnel's structure resists time's decay, embodying the industrious spirit of the 19th century”.
