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Posted by Tony Thornborough on 30th October 2009 at 02:14 PM
Salford Local History - Worsley - A Brief History, Part Two
Presented and written by Tony Flynn
Filmed and edited by Tony Thornborough

In this video we look firstly at The Delph, a site of the underwater tunnels for the Duke of Bridgewaters Collieries, and now being considered by UNESCO to be a site of World Heritage Importance.

The coal seams ran under the higher ground to the north. The Duke's land agent, John Gilbert, saw that it was possible to connect the canal directly to the mines by way of an underground canal. This in turn could be used to help with draining the mines, providing a source of water for the canal.

The underground canal was constructed from Worsley Delph, an old sandstone quarry near Worsley Brook. At one time a million tons of coal a year passed through this tunnel. To relieve congestion a second tunnel was constructed which met with the original about 500 yards in.

Around 47 miles of underground canals were constructed, on four different levels, connected by a water powered inclined plane and lifts. The main tunnels stretch as far north as Farnworth, with side tunnels running at right angles along the coal seams.

Specially designed boats were used in the tunnels. These were only four and a half feet wide with protruding ribbed sides and so were given the nickname of "starvationers". These were loaded with coal at the coal face, were hauled from level to level on the inclined plane and brought the coal out onto the canal. The remains of one of these boats is seen near the entrance to the tunnels at Worsley Delph.

We also look at the picturesque Mill Brow, the Grade II listed Worsley Court House and strangely enough the red K6 telephone box which is a listed monument believe it or not.

All in all a varied mixture of life in Worsley, Salford's own green belt.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Peter  21st March 2011
I was born in what was then Mill Brow Cafe, which my family owned before the war until the late 1940s. The left of the building was called Elderbank and American Officers were billeted there durin the war. I don't know if this site is still 'live' but I thought the info might be of interest.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  20th November 2009
Brill

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  4th November 2009
You've made me want to go and have a walk round Worsley again soon.Thanks lads.Wanda. By the way,howw about a bit of background about how you go about making these films.How long it takes in the planning and how long to film,for example.Even out-takes.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  31st October 2009
Wonderful camera work, you have caught the beauty of Worsley in Autumn with its many colours, also interesting facts to accompany the film, more of the same please.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  30th October 2009
The video is great boys, it looks like a picture postcard village. The stuff about The Delph is really interesting,but the highlight for me was the telephone box!, hope it was not you in there.

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