Well when we set of down this one we wasn't expecting anything like what we found. We were hoping for a nice tunnel with a large junction with the Thames at best!, Oh how we were wrong.

Took us a good hour to find a way into due to most covers concreted over to heavy or in the "hood". Found our way in barriered up and off we went. Down three long ladder we emerged into another black and red split brick pipe roughly 6-7ft.

Due to the platform of each ladder going round corners before the next ladder. I now had no idea which way was north and which way was south and so had no idea which way the Thames was. After 10 minutes trying to work it out we headed to the left.

After about 15 minutes of walking through the lovely dry brick tunnel past many curves and bends we reach the end, A small junction with one tunnel being bricked up. Our hearts sunk. We looked right to see a small step feature which lead down to a smaller concrete pipe.

Oh well a small token i guess. I went down the stairs to take photos back up of the steps when i shone the torch down the pipe. 5 meters along it opened up again...

We went through so discovered it opened up into a large chamber with three pipes heading off in different directions then a larger concrete path heading off behind us,

We went down the middle pipe first. 6 meters along it opened up into a smaller step up to a 8ft wide brick pipe with another step junction at the end!. ahead of this we reached the end another step chamber with a large metal pipe sewer running overhead.

Next we hit the right pipe. 4 meters along it opens into a long curving set of stairs which at the top was another 6ft brick pipe behind a divider which has silted up. No pics of this bit sorry i forgot about it.

We then went down the concrete path which went down a few red covered stairs into some water then split of left and right. We looked to the right to see yet another small step section up into a 8ft concrete pipe with a smaller pipe heading of left a little further up. We looked right to see the "Devil's Gate" a massive flood screen gate similar to the ones found in the main chamber at Serpents Lair. The chamber itself was vertically massive. At least three times the height of the tunnel we were in.

We then headed up the concrete pipe for a while until we decided it was time to head back. Wed been up since 7am and it was now 9pm. Our feet hurt!!!!, Back to the entrance up and out. We had the usual chit chat and handshakes of success then we parted way. Watch this space as theres plenty more to see from this one...

The Return

Having previously visited the eastern sections with loops there was always the nagging "whats at the end of the pipe" feeling when we left. I kept meaning to go back but newer bigger explores kept cropping up and it got pushed back into the box of "maybe next time".

Well today was going to be different the sun was shining Dempsey was in town and we had a few hours to kill. We headed to our cover and with luck we found some nearby barriers, so kitted up and headed down.

Off we trudged, passing all the familiar sights including the gate which had now been cleared of debris which meant the water could be drained by the pumps. After having a quick look around we headed west into the unknown.

Now i am in no way a fan of concrete, its cold, boring and all pictures you take of it look rubbish, so the walk was extremely dull. After around fifteen minutes of near miss falls and 0.5 ft side pipe we came to a long set of stairs which headed up to a 3ft RCP which smelled of petrol. We decided to take pictures on the way back so pushed on.

Another ten minutes and we came to a small chamber with a relief slide heading up into what looked to be a entrance shaft. Might as well have a look we thought. So up we went and damn were we wrong. To the left a 10ft RCP headed south towards a heavy rushing sound and to the north a brick wall with a gap at the top.

Now originally this pipe would have taken the flow all the way to the nearby Jew's Road pumping station. But since closure the end of the tunnel was sealed up and water diverted down the slide towards Falconbrook. Through the top we could see lush pieces of red brick peeking through so with help from Demps i went up and over.

On the other side the 10ft red brick pipe headed down a set of curved stairs slowly getting smaller to around 7ft and into a pool of eel infested water. Now when i say infested i mean it i counted thirty plus, the pool probably caused by a blockage at the other end. I took a few pictures and headed back over the barrier.

Back on the right side we headed towards the rushing sound. Five minutes later we came to a large set of brick stairs where the pipe continued and at the end of that more stairs headed down the other side towards one of the interceptor sewers. To the right was a series of small slots which gave access down into another of the sewer but the flow was too deep to be of any use.

Seeing as how we had exhausted all possibilities from this pipe we took a few photo's. As we had plans to meet Dsankt and Loops for another drain later we decided to call it a day and began the long walk back to the start.

Still more to see here folks!.