MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Big Kev]

The infamous Bowker Drain?

[Stanley]

No again. I shall find another clue!.

[chinatyke]

Is it Whitemoor reservoir borehole sump? I've never seen one so I'm guessing, but I think you'd need access to the lowest level.

[Stanley]

Sorry China but no. You are missing the obvious here! Think water in channels underground! The only other clue I can give gives it to you..... One last clue!



See if this triggers your memory, you've seen all these before.

[Stanley]

Hello... Has everyone given up?

[plaques]

Since you ask.

► Show Spoiler

Very few people have been here. It's the base of one of the air shafts that ventilate the old Standedge Tunnel under the Pennines near Huddersfield. It was very cold weather and the up-welling air was freezing the water coming down the shaft. Yes, I was breaking the law!

Other than that I know nothing about them.

[Stanley]

Right. Now knit what you know together and tell me what the original object was and how all the clues combine.

[plaques]

Here goes my guess at the ultimate mystery number 42 of the Huddersfield Standedge tunnels.
Image taken from inside one of the network of service tunnels that came from the parallel but slightly elevated railway tunnel These are connecting service tunnels that sloped down to the canal to remove spoil etc into barges as the railway tunnel was being built. We are looking from a service tunnel that has broken through to the canal.
Definitely a three pipe problem.

[Stanley]

Correct in every detail. Full marks Ken. The air shaft with the frozen water was off piste really but looks as though it did the job and knitted the two tunnels together in your mind. Perfect answer!
Next one for shaving?

[Stanley]

There is a direct connection between this building and Bancroft Shed. What is it?

[PanBiker]

Did Bancroft use Howard & Bullough textile machinery?

[Gloria]

Did they have the same architect?

[Stanley]

Bloody Hell Ian, that's impressive! Yes that's the connection, Kinloch Castle built by George Bullough and yes the Bancroft Tape machines were built by his company.
Next one?

[plaques]

When I lived in Rosegrove Burnley we had two loom makers cheek by jowl to each other. Harling & Todds and Butterworth & Dickinsons (Buts & Dicks) small outfits compared with Bullough's but supplied cheap and cheerful looms round the district. Gloria has an interesting point the two buildings (works and home) do look very similar in design and would in all likelihood override the probability of having some of their machinery in Barncroft shed.

[PanBiker]

Came to me when I saw the picture and from a ferry trip to the island when we were camping up there. The textile machinery manufacturing connection was mentioned on the tour.

[Stanley]

You were so good at that one. Build me an association between textiles, this object and our neck of the woods.

[Wendyf]

Is it the organ from Bracewell Hall?

[Stanley]

Oh Bugger! There was me thinking I had been clever. I could get all pernickety and demand all the details but there is no point.
Yes, It's the Cavaille Colle organ that Hopwood installed in Bracewell hall and then took with him when he flit to Ketton Hall at Northampton. Later it was bought by Warrington Council and installed in Parr Hall where it is now. The final touch was of course that like Bullough, Hopwood was the beneficiary of his father's textile fortune made in Blackburn.
Please put the next one up!

[Stanley]

It's an oldie but what and where?

[Stanley]

No takers?

[PanBiker]

It's in New York I reckon but I cant remember the event.

[Stanley]

Near enough Ian because I can see it's not going to catch fire. The large steel chain mat on the right is bulging because they are blasting the famous New York Schist which is the rock that allows such tall buildings to be built as it is such a firm foundation. This site was just over the street from Trump Tower.
Next one?

[PanBiker]

Ha, pity in didn't go wrong and decked Trump Tower.

[Stanley]

What is it. Any idea where?

[Stanley]

All right, a clue. It's in a former air raid shelter. There are two big visual clues in the pic as well!