Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

I spent many a happy hour playing around Five Arches in the 50's/early 60's, but I haven't been up there for knocking on forty years. Is my imagination playing tricks on me or was there a waterfall with a little cottage and bridge next to it somewhere up there? And was there an old stone quarry on the Fern Gore side of the clough? I seem to remember we called it Black Rock and it formed the backdrop to many a game of "cowies" and indians!

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

Yes I remember Black Rock we love the name and often tried to climb it, until they dumped a load of sandstone and clay there in the late 60s, do you remember the little hill opposite with the track at the side leading down to the stables.

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

No, I don't remember that, although the memory fades after forty years. Still reckon there was a waterfall down the clough though...

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

There is a little waterfall (maybe 3 ft. high) if I remember correctly just under a little bridge which crosses the stream not too far from where the Shoe Mill chimney was. In fact I have seen a photograph of it in the last few months either on this site, or Owd Bert's or Atarahs sites. Can't remember which and I don't have the time to search at the moment.

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

There is John, if it's the one I remember it's at the foot of the path just below Nelsons Farm. Their it formed a small pool on the wooknock side of the Bridge. The water was quite fast at that point and fell away under ground as well as the surface flow.....

Wynonie, try this. Stand on top of Black rock as it was and out towards the track. You are looking at an almost horse shoe type cleft. On the other side of the track the ground rises and the falls away down to woodnook water. there slightly higher ground in front of you, to the life there’s a small hillock in between the hill and the higher ground there’s a path that splits just behind the hill, the left fork work down to the water past some old Coile cuttings (we Use to go and collect this Unmade coal has my dad called it, when we couldn't afford the real stuff) it was like oily shale and burnt with a smelly yellow flame.

The right fork work is way down behind the higher ground to another cleft, here there where stables made up of about five aged and rough made loose boxes.

Sadly these stable where brunt to the ground c1968/69 with the lost of all the horses there.

The guy that owned them was gutted, he was never the same after that. The problem was that the only road acess was Miller Fold, then down by Bill Brindell's (Chicken & Egg Man) and then left, the made up track ran out a little past Black Rock so they where limited to one pump engine. The track over from/to Hollins lane was then a rough cart track and did allow for traffic.

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

Thanks for the info, I've decided to go and have a mooch round there before a home match one Saturday when I have time. Should be interesting!

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

OK Wynonie,

Go to the "Accy Photos" section and go to page two. Acrylic-Bob has a thread there "A bit of the past for identification." I'm pretty sure that is the waterfall you are talking about.

JohnW.

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

You know this gives me a good excuse and the opportunity to get off my backside and come back over some time next week just to check the accuracy of my memories.

Good thinking Wynonie.

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

Just gone to have a look and that's it! Ta very much John.

But like you, Doug, I now want to go and check for myself!

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

I've been inspired to have a walk up there with the family this weekend it's ages since I've been there.

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

Good on you Bagpuss. I would be grateful for some feed back.

Re: In search of an old viaduct
 

Willow mentioned the bridge which carried the manchester line out of town and thought that the supports might still be there - well they are.