Drainspotters

A Drainspotters Guide to CheltenhamOllie Tigwell

History 1

Anatomy 2

Group 1 3Circular Covers

Application

Group 2 4TFL Covers

Application

Group 3 5C250 Covers

Application

Group 4 6100mm Double Triangular

ApplicationOther Designs150mm Double Triangular

ApplicationOther DesignsGrey Cast Covers

Application

Group 5 11E600 Covers

Application

Group 6 12F900 Covers

Application

Cheltenham - Battledown route 13

Cheltenham - Town centre route 39

Contents

A Drainspotters Guide to Cheltenham


Page 1

From as early as 3500BC, slabs of stone or pieces of wood were used to cover the ditches that carried

waste. Several civilisations developed this further - for example, the Romans had a complex system of

waterworks - but sewerage system designs that are implemented today were not developed until the

18th Century. As time progressed, tunnels or tubes were used to dispose of waste in order to stop the

spread of infectious disease. As the population grew in locations with sewers, there became a need

to tie these systems together so that the waste could be removed more ef!ciently. These sewage lines

had a hole dug between the last points in each line in order to connect the two systems together. A

cover was then placed over the junction point. This junction served as a plumbing point in case the

sewer became clogged with debris and backed up. It was at some point during the 19th Century that

manhole covers started being made

of iron.

The word manhole was used in the past to describe particular areas on decks of sailing ships. These

manholes provided access to goods and stores in the hold and measured approximately a metre

long by a metre wide. An access hatch was constructed and placed over the top of the manhole to

ensure that nobody would gain a practical experience of the laws of gravity while standing directly

over the manhole.

Today these openings are known as companionways or hatches. Another odd titbit is that this space

is scarcely large enough for a single man to !t through.

History


Page 2

Anatomy

Pedestrians & Cyclists Only

Areas imposing particularly high wheel loads ie aircraft runways etc.

Areas imposing high wheel loads ie docks, aircraft pavements

Carriageway of roads, hard shoulders, parking areas for all types of

road vehicles

General parking areas, goods vehicles, slow moving traf!c

Footways, pedestrian areas, car parks, car parking decks, private

driveways

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Group 5

Group 6


Page 3

Group 1

Light Duty Circular / Cast Iron Top With Plastic

Frame

ApplicationSuitable for light duty application areas

inaccessible to vehicles. Eg garden paths,

footpaths etc.

Circular Covers


Page 4

TFL Ductile Cover & Frame

ApplicationFootways, pedestrian areas, car parks, car parking

decks, private driveways

TFL Covers

Group 2


Page 5

Group 3

C250 Covers

C250 / Heavy duty triangular covers

ApplicationSuitable for heavy traf!c, eg goods yards,

ambulance stations etc, where slow moving traf!c

applies.


Page 6

Group 4

D400 Double Triangular 100mm deep

ApplicationFor use in carriageways, hard shoulders, parking

areas where heavy vehicular traf!c is expected.

100mm Double Triangular


Page 7

Other Designs


Page 8

Heavy Duty D400 Double Triangular 150mm deep

ApplicationCarriageway of roads, hard shoulders, parking areas

for all types of road vehicles.

150mm Double Triangular


Page 9

Other Designs


Page 10

Grey Cast Iron Heavy Duty Double Triangular Cover & Frame

ApplicationGrey iron is the tradtional material for road castings, it is economical,

heavy, stable, long lasting and has !rst class strength in comparison

with other materials

For use in carriageways, hard shoulders, parking areas where heavy

vehicular traf!c is expected.

Grey Cast Covers


Page 11

E600 Heavy Duty Double Triangular

ApplicationExtra heavy loading for dock yards or any other high intensity loading

applications

Group 5

E600 Covers


Page 12

F900 Heavy Duty Double

Triangular

ApplicationAreas imposing particularly high wheel loads ie aircraft runways etc.

Group 6

F900 Covers


Page 13

Cheltenham - Battledown route


Page 14


Page 15

1 The !rst man-hole cover can be

found on the A46, just after Pittville

Street.


Page 16

2 The second can be found on the

crossroads intersecting Albion Street and

Fairview road.


Page 17

3 This next cover is situated on the

A46, near Sherbourne street.


Page 18

4 This next Man-hole cover is just after the one-

way street. It is next to Fairview road, near the

side of the road.


Page 19

5 This cover is next to the 4th man-hole. It’s very

worn, any text is invisible.


Page 20

6 Number 6 is about 10 feet down the road

adjacent to a left turn.


Page 21

7 This next man-hole cover is very worn it’s

just down from man-hole 6 before the

roundabout.


Page 22

8 Again clearly very worn but the text has

been deeply stamped into the metal. It’s just

off Brighton road.


Page 23

9 This man-hole is clearly well built into the

ground with a 100mm depth. It’s worn but

the text is still visible.


Page 24

10 This man-hole cover has an inset of

20mm, in which concrete has been

set in. This has covered the type and

consequently it is now invisible. This is

clearly a residential drain, the primary

use being sewage.


Page 25

11 A beautiful man-hole cover. This one can be

found about 30 feet before Jersey Avenue.

The text is in great condition as it is in the

subaurbs of the city rather than the centre.


Page 26

12 Tread carefully! This one is worn. It’s right over

the wheel line near 2 junctions. The text is

very worn. Shows how much damage more

frequent traf!c can do!


Page 27

13 This cover has insets of 20mm. It is built

to hold concrete, as shown. This is so it

blends in with the road a bit better. It’s

situated just after Circus Road.


Page 28

14 This man-hole shows signs of weatering.

It is next to Whaddon Avenue. The text is

readabile but quite worn.


Page 29

15 As we move further and further out of the

city. The man-holes become increasingly

invisible. Pay particular attention to the text

in this one.


Page 30

16 This man-hole surprising is quite de!ned. The

text is by no means invisible. It can be found

on the crossroads on the B4075.


Page 31

17 Very de!ned, this cover has broken on the

top-right. The concrete has worn into the rest

of the cover. It has had a fair bit of use. But

no where near as much as previous covers.


Page 32

18 Again very similar to 17. This pattern on this

man-hole has worn in nicely, situated just

before Oakley Road.


Page 33

19 The pattern on number 19 is still well de!nied.

Shown by the shadows on this photograph. This

cover can be found right next to number 18.


Page 34

20 Furthur up the hill is this purplexingly worn man-

hole. The pattern that has been stamped onto it

has been weathered quite a lot. i don’t think this

is down to traf!c but rather rain and other nature

related causes. Watch out for these anomalies.


Page 35

21 This photograph shows a very old

looking man-hole cover. It obviously

hasn’t been replaced for a long

time and has sustained a lot of

weathering. Not consistent with

those of the city centre.


Page 36

22 Just after 21 is this cover. Shadowed

by trees. This one is still quite de!ned.

The road has not been looked after

well. But the cover itself is in good

condition.


Page 37

23 This exceedingly weathered cover has been

covered with concrete at one point. Evidently, this

has now worn off. This cover can be found just after

Oakley hill.


Page 38

24 Further up Harp Hill is the 24th on our route.

This man-hole has the same story to 23. It’s well

weathered with limited traf!c (shown by the

de!ned pattern).


Page 39

Cheltenham - Town centre route


Page 40


Page 41

1 This well de!ned man-hole cover can be

found near the Hogs head. It’s still beautifully

intact as this photo shows.


Page 42

2 This dual square build man-hole cover is very

common along the high street. It is however

very worn, in a prime position for clubs and

heavy foot traf!c.


Page 43

3 Very close to man-hole 4. This triangular

man-hole has a beautiful pattern

stamped into it. Still de!nied with signs of

weathering around the proximity of the

cover.


Page 44

4 More worn than it’s previous. Man-hole 4 is

well detailed, signs of rust but generally in

good shape.


Page 45

5 This extremely weathered man-hole cover

is not in great shape. The detailed close-

up shows the worn lettering and broken

edges.


Page 46

6 Moving further up the high street, this man-

hole cover is in a densely populated area.

The chewing gum and excessive rust, due

to weathering is evident. Look out for this

well used cover!


Page 47

7 Near to Cambray Place, this man-hole is

near many banks, situated on a pavement.

The lettering is by no means invisible.


Page 48

8 This man-hole cover de!nes invisible type. It

evidently has not been maintained, but serves

its purpose well.


Page 49

9 Before the comically named, Rodney Road.

Is this well pressed cover. The patternes

becoming invisible and any type long

removed.


Page 50

10 Just after Rodney Road is this cover.

Showing clear patterns and type but with

signs of weathering.


Page 51

11 A suprisingly unweathered man-hole.

Only the surrounding concrete suffers in

this cover. Can be found directly opposite

Beechwood Shopping centre.


Page 52

12 This exceptionally worn cover displays

evidence of a lot of foot traf!c. It can be

found just after Winchcombe Street.


Page 53

13 A mentioned previously, this style of man-

hole cover is very frequent in pedestrian

areas, it is quite worn as there is not a lot of

de!nition in the metal.


Page 54

14 This beautiful cover has really stood

the test of time, its worn pattern and

blend with surrounding concrete

show its use.


Page 55

15 This extremely weathered man-hole is is

dire need of replacement. Located next to

WHSmiths, it comes across a lot of foor traf!c.

The type not yet invisible in this cover.


Page 56

16 This set of 3 appear newer, they may have

been replaced not long ago. The whole

metal is still well de!ned. The surrounding

concrete looks fairly new.


Page 57

17 Found in one of the most dense areas of

the city. Manhole 14 offers surprisingly less

wear than a majority we have seen on our

travels but still rendering unreadable text

apart from the word ‘Pull.’


Page 58

18 One of the least common man-holes

you will !nd. This cover offers worn but not

invisible type. The pattern still very visible.


Page 59

19 Just after one of the busiest zebra

crossings in Cheltenham, you will

!nd cover 19. Showing little signs of

weathering and barely any wear, this

man-hole must have been replaced

recently.


Page 60

20 This set of 3 can be found near Robert Dyas and

Primark. It shows great wear. The middle stamps

coming off and rendered unreadable.


Page 61

21 Nearing the end of our journey. This man-

hole is similar to 22. This cover however looks

very new. It blends very well with the street.


Page 62

22 Slightly more worn than 21. This cover is

showing wear on the corners but remains in

good shape altogether.


Page 63

23 This rather fancy looking man-hole is like

nothing seen in previous photographs. The

design is very different with a more formal

feel.


Page 64

24 Found close to the bus stops of Cheltenham. Our

last man-hole has a beautiful pattern. Not barely

worn or weathered it stands in full glory near

Tesco.

A Drainspotters Guide to CheltenhamOllie Tigwell

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