The Secret History of Manchester Town Hall
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- In this video we go bak to Manchester town hall during the ongoing renovation work and look at the latest discoveries. In this wonderful example of Neo Gothic Victorian architecture. We uncover the secret history of Manchester town hall. We go into hidden rooms that have not been visited in years and look at remnants of the past. Old Books signs about Manchesters original tram system and end up in the Cooper street tower. We go into the great hall and see the heating mechanism that was designed by Alfred Waterhouse to keep the famous Ford Maddox Brown artwork from damp. We also see remnants of Manchesters Hydraulic water system in the form of a Hydraulic Ram lift. We even get to take another look at the Town Hall clock face. This really is an urbex adventure into the past.
I wish some one was as dedicated about creating content like this about my own city. Since finding Martins channel I have come to realise new found respect of Manchester and it's history.
Where are you from
Be the change that you want to see! I felt the same about my city, but nobody was ever going to do it here, so I decided to do it myself. All you need is a love of history, a camera and a few spare afternoons!
@Nik Evans I would'nt have left the doorways let alone walk the streets now!
Great isn’t he... which city you from?
Brilliant how the coal got distribution.. a question I wondered now answered... Cheers 😎👍
My Nan always called tap water “corporation pop”... now I know why 😂
So did my father in Manchester in the 60s. When we asked father for Coke he offered us 'corporation pop'.
Mine too. I was born the 80s.
Gil Finnigan we've always called it that.
Gil Finnigan
Manchester tap water is generally considered to be among the best in the country.
Amazing video Martin, very informative, thank you ☺️
you have shown me more of Manchester than iv ever seen and I used to live there for 45 years
Nice one Martin.............. wine in hand watching x
Great vlog. I love the Town Hall spent a lot of time there in the 60’s so I’m really jealous 😁
smashing video martin and a real blast from the past for me too re: Dew. Used to go out with a lad who worked for them back in the day (80s) - oh happy days! You would see their vans everywhere. I take it from your comment that they are no longer in business.
No I think they are long gone Kathryn
Another great video Martin, many thanks. I was looking at the map/plan at the start of the video showing offices for the various departments, when I noticed the Gas Dept. By coincidence I have been doing some research of people buried at Weaste Cemetery concerning three Peacock brothers. One of the brothers Thomas Peacock who died in 1876 was described as the Indoor Superintendant of the Gas Department, the biggest gas works in the Kingdom. (Oh just noticed the date is before the Town Hall was built).
Thanks Peter. It would have been town gas would it ?
@@MartinZero Yes Martin, made from coal.
Great, that clock tower balcony looks a right knee trembler hahaha
I have seen some vids which you have done underneath Victoria Station,but within the Sation buildings did you ever find the model railway ,which was used for training railway workers.?My late father worked for the Lancashire Yorkshire Railway and often spoke about the layout
another great video martin, will you be doing a specific vid on the clock mechanism?
I did one before christmas and we looked at the mechanism room. But Thats it for the tower now
Looking at the clock face, yes hold on to that camera...
Bet Rick Wakeman from The band YES, would have loved to play on that organ.
Definitely 😆
I've never known twenty-one minutes to pass so quickly, nor have I said f**kin' hell so often in such a short space of time. Absolutely rivetting video. Massive thanks for bringing us along...
I think I said that a few times Paul 😀
A Martin Zero vid? My evening just got better.
That was amazing Martin. A Mancunian Cultural overload! What a beautiful building. Looking forward to seeing more of the Great Hall and Ford Madox Brown. I love the antique plan chests. You picked up on such detail that could so easily have been missed. Thanks so much for sharing. Just what you need for a peaceful sunday evening. ❤💛💚
Some things make Sundays great. Family time, no post, and Martin Zero. Always something to look forward to. Thanks Martin!
thanks so much for this video martin, it is of special insterest to me as my dad worked there in the planing office and he used to ssy it was like going to work in a cathedral and loved it, look forward to the next video...a wonderful building! proud to be a mancunian!!! beryl
What an amazing building! Love seeing all the gas pipes and hydraulic systems, it's like peeling back the years of development over the lifetime of the building. Also; hydraulic power - did you know that Hull had the world's first municipal hydraulic power company? That blew my mind when I found that out!
Of course you know of Martin Zero!
You two are my history gurus!
@@thetomlambe Not just know, he's my inspiration!
Very Awesome, Thanks for the Videos Martin
Hi Martin, brilliant video once again, I absolutely love stuff like this, that is such a beautiful building, both inside & out, that system for moving coal around the building is amazing, whenever the Victorians came up against a problem they always found a solution. It's great that the council are preserving the building & fittings, for future generations to enjoy.
Looking forward to the next installment, thanks for showing us around those unseen areas! 👍
It’s a chart recorder, with two pens that would record the data from the reservoir
Yes ....... very much like the old paper Tacho recordes on HGV's!
A paper disk would be inserted and the pens would mark the level on the paper! You can see where this mechanism has been removed!
What an incredible building! I could almost smell the aged wood, dust and stonework! Honestly, when compared to the monstrosities that are thrown up these days, with an expected life of maybe 50 years ...this is just staggering to behold! It wasn't just 'constructed' it was 'crafted'. It's a masterpiece!
I agree, it was crafted. And it did smell of wood and dust 👍
Fantastic video Martin.
What an amazing building. Victorians built some fantastic buildings in Manchester. 🙂🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks to you, I know more about Manchester than I do about my own City of Portland Maine!! Great stuff man, looking forward to the rest of the series!
Thank you Rolf
How amazing was that video everyone? I'm blown away that I got to see parts of the TH I've never seen or hoped to see. The details in that inner courtyard alone with what looked like little balconies at the corner was just fantastic Martin. So looking forward to the rest of this series.
Thanks Anne, yes its an incredible place
Hi Martin, as you said it is like some kind of strange jigsaw where all of the video's you have made are all fitting together, absolutely wonderful. The architecture at the town hall there is absolutely spellbinding, I was stunned by how beautiful the design was in the windows of that inner courtyard at 6:55, very beautiful to look at. The timbers in the spire were an art form in themselves, gorgeous. When you were on that ledge I bet your tummy was doing flip flops, I know mine was lol. Whilst you were on that ledge and looked up to the clock face at 20:32 you can just see the big hand move as you bring it into view, awesome. A fantastic video, you just seem to out do yourself with each one. Thank you so much for sharing that with us. 🙏🏻💖 xx
Thank you very much Sue
Very amazing video well done and keep up the great work and I love listening to your VIDEO'S as I am FULLY BLIND
Another evangelical triumph, Martin. The place reminds me of collegiate buildings at Oxbridge. Never thought the expression "history of all the linos" would feature in my Sunday evening entertainment...
Excellent, so pleased it`s being renovated, many a council would have tried to demolish it.
Spot on Martin, more wandering up old wooden stairs.
I can imagine the community that worked there and the class system they all lived under. Big town halls like Manchester and Rochdale employed hundreds of workers, and all had the same feeling inside, and that was of money and skills. Right from the boys grading the sands for the mortars to the architect and the tool sharpener. An extraordinary amount of skills that were mainly taught in house. Councils trained the craftspeople it needed to maintain it's assets and its people, so it trained nurses, midwives and Undertakers and the grave digger.
Then the Suez crisis popped up, petrol was rationed, and UK politicians suddenly realised they were no longer in charge. The USA told us off for not asking permission to attack Egypt. It kick started a decline which led to Heath committing treason and signing us into the EEC, having long given up on the UK, knowing full well down the road it meant a total handover of the UK. Lock Stock and empty barrel.
The demolition of these communities along with the general community and the Fortress we used to call the family was planned. Without rock steady communities and families there is no rock steady country. An ideal scenario for a handover to a foreign power, without a whimper being heard. We can now read their collusion on how best to deceive the population about questions around Sovereignty. The men who built these buildings would rage at their deception.
Now we hear of Mayors having more powers, could this building be his new house when its renovated I wonder.
Aint that the Truth
@ 13:53 I used to work in this area, this room. The shelves you can see contained the rolled up plans for Manchester's Sewers
...and culvert-ed lost rivers, perhaps? :) If yes, just the sort of thing I would expect to see on this channel. :)
@@ChurchOfTheHolyMho ....WELL YES anything underground, quite an eye opener. Unfortunately the quick glimpse of the racks and pigeon holes shows all the maps and plans have been removed.
I should of had a mooch in the draws Simon
great video..and congrats on leaving the EU.
Been a few times to Manchester recently as daughter has started at the University. I’ve noticed some fantastic buildings like the library for example. Manchester must have been very wealthy years ago.
The main lending library is amazing. Also make time to see John Rylands library, Victorian Gothic at it's best, it is like a cathedral. There is also Chethams library, which is now attached to the Chethams Music School near the Cathedral. It's a Medieval library and utterly beautiful. Check out their website for visiting times.
Thanks Janice I will
Used to be a powerhouse of industry during the industrial revolution, so a lot of money was kicking about.
Wow! What a video adventure! Your town hall looks more like a Gothic Cathedral and that wind organ only makes it more so. What a grand place to have worked in, your hum drum day livened up by the beauty of the stone work and decorations. Everyone in Manchester should get to visit their town hall and admire the workmanship and learn some history about their city! I felt your fear when I saw you on that ledge and I was thinking "don't drop your camera", and yup, you voiced the very same words! That recorder machine probably belonged to the water department so they could keep track of how much water was in the reservoir and how much the city was using. This allowed them to regulate the flow into and out of the reservoir, especially in a dry summer.
Another great video Martin. I really look forward to seeing new videos. And congratulations for facing your fears going across that ledge to show us the clock face.
Thanks Andy
What a great video. Showing all kinds of smart solutions from the old days and the beautifull old building. Thanks.
That Manchester town hall looks interesting past and present ther do tour after soon thank you Martin like old past things
My stomach is doing somersaults watching you lol.
Excellent once again Martin. Thank you for sharing your video’s of places I might never get to see or explore!
That first instrument had the words "Budenberg Recorder" on it. As you may know, the Budenberg Gauge Co. is in Manchester - Northbanks Industrial Park, Irlam - and I'm sure they could tell you what it's for. Very interesting video.
Thomas Mann Budenburg Pressure & temperature recorders for pipeline testing 👍
BUDENBERG GUAGE also had a place in Broadheath near Lynotype
Martin , you need to be on the city payroll. Martin Zero, Manchester city Historian. No joke.
Thanks for another amazing video.
Stunning vid.....you are an asset to the city of Manchester.
P.s my brother in law used to work in the town hall and said there was a room full of old light bulbs of all shapes and sizes going back 100 years..
great video and an absolute amazing building. What a privilege. Even i got a bit dizzy when martin was up and out looking at clock face and im good with heights....loved it and cannot wait to see more.
Top video Martin unbelievable history in that building. Was it just me that thought the old lamp in the courtyard looked like a face peering down at you 😂 thanks for the video 👌🏻
Another great video Martin, thanks for taking us along.
Amazing finds what a building
Really great and interesting video as always.Was at my cousins wedding in Manchester Town Hall 4 years ago brilliant building 👍👍
Excellent vid Martin.
Steam Roller ! they where long gone before I was born back in 1948, but Steam Roller is what I have called them all my life.
Nearly crashed one in my youth, long story but thanks for the memories.
John
I think I just about remember them john
Great fascinating video Martin. Really enjoyed watching 📹
Great video Martin!
Keep up the fantastic work!
amazing job, Martin! impressive stuff!
Martin, thanks for challenging your fears to bring these great videos. Manchester was just another city in England until I discovered your videos. Now it's a place I want to visit because I feel as though I've been there. Keep up the good work! From Preston........Idaho.
A great video of such an iconic building that was crafted with such skill and beauty, so many of these skills have been lost but you have shown an idea of how it was to build this. Awesome
Amazing work, Martin! That woodwork, in the spire, was lovely to see, for an old carpenter.
what can one say about this video ,fantastic history, magnificent building a big thank you to the project team for their time and effort to show you around and to you yourself for willingness to go that bit extra to go out on the narrow ledge and show us a close up of the clock face.looking forward to the rest of the series of Manchester town hall.well done martin....
Great video Martin, can not wait for the next one keep it up.
STUNNING ! Thanks Martin , can’t wait fir the rest of these 😍👌🏼🧱👍🏼
Wow, absolutely stunning architecture! Well done Martin...brilliant job! 👍 Thank you for sharing...take care!
Wow!! That was amazing. Thanks so much - can't wait for the next instalment!
I work for a small district council myself and the scale and sheer civic pride of this building is mind blowing!
Wow I need to visit Manchester asap
A building to admire, a building from the past built to last. Just like the fast built homes of today the skyline of Manchester is populated with crass glass and sparkling glamour trash.
good stuff...Southampton Civic Centre built in the 1930's have kept their magnificent gents urinals......big troughs that you have to step up to, complete with the old tiling....a treat to stand and contemplate.....
Awesome. Infinite gratitude for this one. My Great Grandparental connection with 19th century Manchester is all the stronger for seeing the underbelly and history of the city as you show it. Thanks for confronting your inner devils and showing us the clock face from the balcony.
Thank you very much
Wonderful job Martin... I've not been well , but i'm still kicking... Been saving your videos for a rainy day ..They do me so much good ..Thank you x
Very enjoyable Martin. I have only just found you on you tube. I used to work at Refuge Assurance from 1975 to 1988 and it brought back lots of memories watching that video. I left Manchester for Australia and now in New Zealand
Thank you so much for this video Martin...I would love to go up there! I lost count of the number of times I said, "Wow!" This is exactly what I love about Manchester, it's history and fabulous architecture. Love it, love it, love it! 😍
Town Hall!? It's a rabbit warren! To think it's been standing for longer than i can trace my family history (orphan on first fleet to Australia). Please do another tour when it's finished it's restoration.....I'm loving the architecture!
Yes i know i'm late.....Only recently found you on a canal trip..
Awesome! Really look forward to these!
Keep up the good work fella!
Martin that was incredible , walked past it looked up at it never thought I could view it from the inside, keep up the good work Thank you
Thanks David, yeah great place
Really really enjoying your videos my man I’ve subscribed and will be watching all of them. As a Mancunian myself I’m getting really interested in our history the older I get.
Brilliantly presented, it’s great watching about our rich history. And you’re a really decent guy man. Keep up the good work! Peace ✌️
I genuinely can't tell you how excited i get when i see a new MZ video is available
Wow! Amazing vid Martin, love seeing the behind the scenes videos and where people don't normally go! Can't wait for the next one!
Another quality historical video. This give an amazing site of uk history.
Keep up the good work
Would love to get your autograph for my collection.
Regards Jamie
Great stuff mate some really interesting finds.
Amazing video from an amazing building, so much history. Great job Martin , thanks for the video. Thumbs up
Superb video - stunning views thank you for sharing this with us 👏👏❤️😁xxx
Forget New York. Manchester was the biggest and the most powerful city in the world from the early 1700s and on up until the first world war. Its town hall reflects all that history and Martin's video shows the pride of place the people of Manchester still have today. Excellent job Martin
Fabulous! Thankyou for posting this. I have finally got to see parts of the Town Hall that I couldn't get in either on tours or when I was working in it.
Wow, that was fantastic. Would love to play that organ bet it sounds great. My hat goes off to you walking on that tiny balcony. A million dollars wouldn’t have got me to do that. Look forward to next video. Thanks so much for taking me along
great video. what a privilege extended to you Martin. Huge thanks to you and those who allowed you the access.
Yet again, a fascinating experience. I love when a building like that has so many secrets. The history is incredible, as is the structure. Look forward to seeing much more.
That first machine on the wall was a disc recorder and us missing a little clockwork or motor to turn a circular piece of graph paper. You can see the arm that would draw back and forth probably over 24 hours per rotation or more. Google for circular chart recorder and you will see similar images
Wow! At 7:10 thats got to be the most "Harry Potter" court yard ever! Very cool
Absolutely incredible, how much you would love to be let loose in a place like this with a key to every door so you could explore uninterrupted. Looking forward to the next one Martin.
cheers
Greg
My great grandfather was involved in fitting the boilers into Manchester Town Hall.
Great viewing once again. As a born and bred Manc the only other way I can describe how I feel after watching this video is, green with envy!!.
Smashing video as always Martin. Manchester Town Hall is a fabulous example of the architecture that Waterhouse was known for, and still is. GWR
Sound, very interesting stuff. Top man, keep up the good work.
That place is incredible! It must’ve taken decades to build it
Town Hall episode 2. Another great instalment. Thanks Martin.
Wow, just look at the internal courtyard architecture. All that detail.. All the superb design. All without a calculator never mind a CAD. Brilliant.
Thanks for making these videos. I love learning more of the history of the places I get to see when visiting my sister.
WoW 😳 another brilliant and informative video. Such a beautiful building. What a privilege it must be to be able to see the engineering and architecture, of such a lovely (huge) building. Look forward to seeing more Martin 👌👌
#keepsafeoutthere ✌️
Those instruments connected to the reservoirs are pen recorders, they would have recorded the height of the water on a paper disc, possibly by measuring the pressure in a pipe connected to the reservoir.
Wonderful job Martin ! Keep it up , can't wait for the next one !! Cheers
He;s back.!!!....i.m scared of heights...more than you i think Martin...when you pointed the camera up to the clock face i nearly fell off the couch....i am running out of superlatives...."award winning".."ground braking".." THE DOGS B*LLoCK$"...cant wait for more town hall...well done Martin..
See in the united staes we our government wont let youtubers like that in our government buildings you all seem more laid back there
All i can say is massive Thanks to the guys and company inviting you to share this with us all and posting it Martin. cheers ken