NAMHO 2009

MATLOCK

Underground Trips

Throughout the weekend, there will be the opportunity to join some fascinating underground explorations. There will be a range of whole day, and half day trips, giving you the chance to mix and match them with lectures you wish to attend. There will be limited places on the underground trips and it is therefore essential to book your place as soon as possible. You will need to bring suitable equipment, such as boiler suits, head-mounted lighting and appropriate footwear. SRT equipment will be required on some trips. Rope will be provided.

TRIP U01 – Devonshire Cavern FULLY BOOKED

Friday 19^th June, Afternoon

TIME	Meet at 14.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Dr John Barnatt
TRIP GRADE	Easy (1)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 14.00 at New Bath Hotel, Matlock Bath – overflow car park – NGR SK295578
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders. Visit concentrating on underground archaeology, and geology, including evidence for fire-setting and later mining in this very complex series of interconnected vein workings which slope with the bedding at around 20-25 degrees.
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential), kneepads (optional).
DESCRIPTION	Dry trip. Includes an uphill walk to entrance. A varied selection of passages will be explored, including walking size, stooping and crawls. Some easy scrambling.
BRIEF HISTORY	In the 19^th century this was a show ‘cave’ but has a much longer history as a lead mine on Coalpit Rake. In 1953 it was recorded that it had been in ‘fruteful’ work for 200 years. There is extensive archaeological evidence for fire-setting in the narrow side workings, probably dating to the 16^th and 17^th centuries. In the 18^th and 19^th centuries miners did some trial extensions but concentrated on reworking old deads. The highlight of the show mine was a large chamber with an unsupported flat roof measuring about 30 x 120 feet (9 x 37 metres).
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Mining History’ (Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society) Volume 14, No 6 and Volume 16, No 3.
REFRESHMENTS	Good choice at Matlock Bath

TRIP U02 – Titan Shaft via Speedwell Cavern FULLY BOOKED

Saturday 20^th June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Lee Langdon
TRIP GRADE	Severe (5)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at Speedwell Cavern, Castleton – car park – NGR SK139828
NOTES	Party size limited to 5, plus Leaders. A big ‘thank you’ to John Harrison at Speedwell Cavern for allowing a ‘through trip’ via the Speedwell Show Cavern.
IMPORTANT	NAMHO delegates booking onto this trip MUST have experience of ‘Advanced SRT trips’ and be a regular user of SRT. When booking onto this trip, please supply evidence of your experience, eg known to PDMHS, Masson Caving Group, CIC holder or provide reference(s). This is not only for your benefit, but also for the Leaders of this trip. Safety, both yours and the other people on this trip is paramount. Bookings will not be accepted from delegates who do not provide this information. Preference will be given to delegates who have not undertaken this trip before.
EQUIPMENT	Oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential), full SRT kit.
DESCRIPTION	This magnificent ‘through trip’ starts high up on Hurdlow, above the village of Castleton. The 164 ft (50m) entrance shaft, is followed by a short passage leading to the balcony, overlooking Titan Shaft. Titan Shaft is split into two pitches. First pitch of 262 ft (80m) down to the Event Horizon. Then the ‘interesting’ bit, a free hanging re-belay. The second pitch of 197 ft (60m) is direct to the bottom of the shaft. After negotiating the boulder choke, Far Sump Extension is entered. The route to Speedwell Cavern involves some muddy crawling, various fixed ladders, muddy traversing, more crawls & climbs, before reaching the Boulder Piles in Speedwell Cavern. The hard bit over, next comes the long wet section. Following the superb streamway, over the Whirlpool, you pass the Bung Hole, through the Speedwell gate and then a long wade to the Bottomless Pit in the Speedwell Show Cavern. It is unlikely you will be fortunate enough to a hitch a lift on one of the tourist boats, so another 1500 ft (460m) of wading, brings you to the foot of a steep flight of steps and daylight. ‘The end of a spectacular trip’.
BRIEF HISTORY	The Speedwell Cavern mine level was started around 1771 and the Stream Caverns were reached in 1781. The mine was worked for lead ore but proved disappointing and serious mining ceased after only a few years. However, Speedwell Mine has now been a show mine for about 200 years. Titan Shaft was discovered by Dave ‘Moose’ Nixon & Co on 1^st January 1999. While the Titan shaft is natural, apart from the caver impressive entrance shaft from surface, once down in the Speedwell streamway there is increased evidence for miners. Archaeological highlights include the well known 18^th century miner’s toast graffiti that celebrates the breakthrough of the underground canal tunnel into the stream way: notches for a timber floor over the stream from the Boulder Piles where mining was taking place above to the Whirlpool where the canal started: The original wooden ‘bung’ for emptying the canal for maintenance: The fine example of a rare underground canal level and the sunken remains of one of the original miner’s boats.
FURTHER INFORMATION	See Lead Mining in the Peak District’ edited by T D Ford & J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition) for Speedwell Cavern & ‘Descent’ Cavers magazine nos 146 onwards for Titan Shaft and Lead Mining in Derbyshire, History, Development and Drainage No 1 Castleton to the River Wye, by J H Riewerts (2007)
REFRESHMENTS	Take packed lunch

TRIP U03 – Oxlow Caverns FULLY BOOKED

Saturday 20^th June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 16.00
LEADERS	Masson Caving Group Members
TRIP GRADE	Difficult (3)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at roadside parking on B6061 near Oxlow House Farm – NGR SK123824
NOTES	Party size limited to 6, plus Leaders. £1.00 trespass fee to farmer.
IMPORTANT	NAMHO delegates booking on this trip MUST have SRT experience. It is not a trip for SRT novices.
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential), full SRT kit
DESCRIPTION	Vertical trip involving 6 pitches – one optional. Three very impressive natural/mined caverns. None of the pitches are particularly deep, the 55 ft (17 m) entrance pitch being the deepest. However, if you like your pitches enclosed, such that you can touch the sides, then Oxlow is not for you. A number of the pitches are located in large caverns. It is not a technical trip but does involve deviations and rebelays.
BRIEF HISTORY	History of this mine is very sparse indeed and has been known as Rackety Mine, Rickety Mine & Opens Mine. Oxlow Caverns and the connecting Maskhill Mine are located on the Faucet Rake. The lead miners were no doubt disappointed when they broke into the huge natural vein cavities, nature had removed much lead ore before they got there.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Lead Mining in the Peak District’, edited by T D Ford & J H Riewerts (2000 edition) ‘Mining History ( PDHMS) Vol 14, no 5
REFRESHMENTS	Take packed lunch

TRIP U04 – Magpie Sough FULLY BOOKED

Saturday 20^th June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Paul Chandler
TRIP GRADE	Moderate (2)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at large lay-by on A6 on right hand side heading west – NGR SK182698
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders.
EQUIPMENT	Oversuit or wetsuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted)
DESCRIPTION	Wet trip. First part of sough deepest, gradually getting shallower. A Highlight of the trip are the remains of three sets of lock gates, two situated close to the ‘boil up’. Once past the ‘boil up’, water level and flow drop dramatically. Blende Vein Cavern situated approximately two thirds of the way along the sough will be visited and is quite spectacular. (Don’t forget your camera). In the final section of the sough you have a choice, either walking in the shallow water or stooping along the raised but dry walkway, complete with rail track and a lone tub. Sadly it is no longer possible to reach and view the Magpie Mine main shaft and workings due to a collapse. However, a small amount of workings are accessible, via a short scramble up just before the collapse. A magnificent sough, one of the best in this country.
BRIEF HISTORY	Magpie Sough was driven between 1873 to 1881, the last major sough in Derbyshire, to drain Magpie Mine. It was to be a financially disastrous though technically successful venture, draining the mine to about 575 feet below collar, and serving as a pumpway from greater depths. The sough is 1.25 miles in length. Compressed air drills and nitro-glycerine explosives were used, first in the area, in the driving of the sough. Once completed, ore was brought out of the mine to the River Wye using boats in the sough. Rather ironically after all the hard work driving the sough, mining operations ceased in 1883 as the workings were still uneconomic.
FURTHER INFORMATION	Lead Mining in the Peak District, edited by T D Ford and J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition) PDHMS Bulletin Special Publication No3, ‘The History of Magpie Mine’ by L Willies, V S Roche, N E Worley & T D Ford
REFRESHMENTS	Take a packed lunch

TRIP U05 – Good Luck Mine ONLY ONE SPACE LEFT

Saturday 20^th June, Morning

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 12.00
LEADERS	Good Luck Mine Preservation Club
TRIP GRADE	Easy
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at roadside lay-by on A5012 on left hand side heading west – NGR SK269566
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders. Access courtesy of Good Luck Preservation Club Donations welcome
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted although torch would suffice)
DESCRIPTION	Walk up to the mine is short but quite steep. Dry trip. There is a short stooping section as you enter, and then the roof can be a bit low in sections, but is generally easy walking. Highlights include superb stone stempling (‘herring bone’ arching), miners inscriptions, a steepish incline (driven to overcome a geological fault) and various displays. The mine has been developed as an underground lead mining museum with displays of miners tools, artefacts, small mineral collection and other exhibits. There is also a surface display with original buildings and other mine exhibits.
BRIEF HISTORY	The present entrance was opened in October 1830 by John Alsop a well known local lead mine owner and smelter. His agent Roger Knowles, who was associated with many other lead mining activities in Derbyshire supervised the driving of the level into the hillside. Its purpose was to intersect the very rich Goodluck vein, which was being worked separately by the Moor Jepson Mine, Goodluck Mine and the dales Founder Mine. These three mines were eventually linked up underground and consolidated into the Goodluck Title around 1831. By the turn of the century the mine became derelict as no vein deposits could be found. It is debateable if it ever was profitable as a mine when all years taken together and the price of lead fell rapidly, due to the importation of cheaper European lead. The mine saw renewed activity during the 1914/18 war but this was short lived. Further mining activity occurred during the 1920’s/30’s mainly for barytes, which sold for twenty-three shillings a ton. After this period the mine worked intermittently for lead and barytes right up to 1952. In this year the mine entrance collapsed and remained sealed until 1970/72. it was re-opened and re-built by Ron Amner (previous owner) with assistance from members of the Peak District Mines Historical Society.
FURTHER INFORMATION	Lead Mining in the Peak District, edited by T D Ford and J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition)
REFRESHMENTS	Bonsall has best selection, a short drive from the mine

TRIP U06 – Pretoria Chert Mine FULLY BOOKED

Saturday 20^th June, Morning

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 12.30
LEADERS	Paul Chandler & Briony Harvey
TRIP GRADE	Moderate (2)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 Lady Manners School, Bakewell – roadside lay-by – NGR SK212679
NOTES	Party size limited to 8, plus Leaders.
IMPORTANT	This mine is located in a very sensitive location and any ‘Access enquiries’ MUST be made through the Peak District Mines Historical Society (PDMHS).
EQUIPMENT	Boilersuit or Oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential)
DESCRIPTION	Dry trip. Access is via a 15 ft (5m) deep shaft, fitted with a fixed ladder. Mostly large walking size passages, steeply inclined in places. Light scrambling involved. This mine is full of interest, brief highlights as follows; high longwall working faces, massive packwalls, heavy-duty gauge & turntables, other mining artefacts and rock faces peppered with hundreds of drill holes made by a company from Duffield testing out new boring methods making a camera an essential piece of kit for those photographers amongst us.
BRIEF HISTORY	Originally worked by the Alsop family, the Pretoria Mine was opened in the early 1900’s as an opencast quarry to continue the supply of chert to the pottery industry and for other purposes. The seams of chert were soon followed underground. Its name comes from the Battle of Pretoria fought during the Boer War. After a long decline, the mine finally ceased production in 1968 bringing to an end chert production in the region.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Mining History’ (Bulletin of the Peak ~District Mines Historical Society) Volume 13, no 5.
REFRESHMENTS	Bakewell town centre, a short distance from mine

TRIP U07 – Engine Vein & Cobalt Mine, Alderley Edge

Saturday 20^th June, Afternoon

TIME	Meet at 11.00 – Finish 16.00
LEADERS	Dr John Barnatt
TRIP GRADE	Easy (1)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 11.00 at National Trust large car park off B5087 on right hand side heading west, adjacent Wizard Inn – NGR SJ859772 (approx)
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders. Visit concentrating on underground archaeology, and geology, including evidence for fire-setting and later mining in this very complex series of interconnected vein workings which slope with the bedding at around 20-25 degrees.
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential), kneepads (optional).
DESCRIPTION	Dry trip. Includes an uphill walk to entrance. A varied selection of passages will be explored, including walking size, stooping and crawls. Some easy scrambling.
BRIEF HISTORY	In the 19^th century this was a show ‘cave’ but has a much longer history as a lead mine on Coalpit Rake. In 1953 it was recorded that it had been in ‘fruteful’ work for 200 years. There is extensive archaeological evidence for fire-setting in the narrow side workings, probably dating to the 16^th and 17^th centuries. In the 18^th and 19^th centuries miners did some trial extensions but concentrated on reworking old deads. The highlight of the show mine was a large chamber with an unsupported flat roof measuring about 30 x 120 feet (9 x 37 metres).
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Mining History’ (Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society) Volume 14, No 6 and Volume 16, No 3.
REFRESHMENTS	Good choice at Matlock Bath

TRIP U08 – Peakshole Sough

Saturday 20^th June, Afternoon

TIME	Meet at 14.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Paul Chandler
TRIP GRADE	Easy/Moderate (1/2)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 14.00 at Castleton Visitor Centre – NGR SK149829
NOTES	Party size limited to 8, plus Leaders. Upper part of mine is not suitable for mine explorers of a large build (two of the fixed ladder climbs are quite constricted).
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential), kneepads (optional).
DESCRIPTION	Sough level itself is mainly of walking size, with short crawly pipe working up short climb. First part of the sough is wet, around wellie depth, water gradually gets shallower, with remainder of sough dry. A series of fixed ladders, a short climb and crawl, to reach upper part of mine. Short series of pipe workings, mostly of crawling size. Worth bringing a camera for mine artefacts and fine mineralisation.
BRIEF HISTORY	Peakshole Sough lies south of the village of Castleton in the west side of the entrance to Peak Cavern Gorge. Driving started in 1770 to unwater veins lying west of the Gorge, and it continued until 1784 when it had reached a final length of 872 feet. At this date (1784) the Sough Title was consolidated with the titles to Hurdlow Stile and Longcliff Mines lying well to the west. During sough driving 49 loads of lead ore were obtained and 256.5 yards of planking were installed to form a cartgate above the running water. Under the Consolidated Title of 1784 it is recorded that , a further cartgate was driven westwards from the foot of the shaft 116 feet deep, but it is not clear where this shaft was situated or where the second cartgate lay, except that it was concerned with Longcliff Mines. At present it seems to have no direct connection with Peakshole Sough itself. Mining activities on this consolidated venture ceased in July 1821. Digging by Dave Penney and team started in 1980 in a successful attempt to find Peakshole Sough. They also hoped to find the source of Slop Moll but this was not within the Sough. The project was completed in 1984.
FURTHER INFORMATION	See PDHMS Bulletin, Volume 9, no 3 and Lead Mining in Derbyshire: History, Development & Drainage 1. Castleton to the River Wye
REFRESHMENTS	Good choice at Castleton

TRIP U09 – Good Luck Mine

Saturday 20^th June, Afternoon

TIME	Meet at 14.00 – Finish 16.00
LEADERS	Good Luck Mine Preservation Club
TRIP GRADE	Easy
DIRECTIONS	Meet 14.00 at roadside lay-by on A5012 on left hand side heading west – NGR SK269566
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders. Access courtesy of Good Luck Preservation Club Donations welcome
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted although torch would suffice)
DESCRIPTION	Walk up to the mine is short but quite steep. Dry trip. There is a short stooping section as you enter, and then the roof can be a bit low in sections, but is generally easy walking. Highlights include superb stone stempling (‘herring bone’ arching), miners inscriptions, a steepish incline (driven to overcome a geological fault) and various displays. The mine has been developed as an underground lead mining museum with displays of miners tools, artefacts, small mineral collection and other exhibits. There is also a surface display with original buildings and other mine exhibits.
BRIEF HISTORY	The present entrance was opened in October 1830 by John Alsop a well known local lead mine owner and smelter. His agent Roger Knowles, who was associated with many other lead mining activities in Derbyshire supervised the driving of the level into the hillside. Its purpose was to intersect the very rich Goodluck vein, which was being worked separately by the Moor Jepson Mine, Goodluck Mine and the dales Founder Mine. These three mines were eventually linked up underground and consolidated into the Goodluck Title around 1831. By the turn of the century the mine became derelict as no vein deposits could be found. It is debateable if it ever was profitable as a mine when all years taken together and the price of lead fell rapidly, due to the importation of cheaper European lead. The mine saw renewed activity during the 1914/18 war but this was short lived. Further mining activity occurred during the 1920’s/30’s mainly for barytes, which sold for twenty-three shillings a ton. After this period the mine worked intermittently for lead and barytes right up to 1952. In this year the mine entrance collapsed and remained sealed until 1970/72. it was re-opened and re-built by Ron Amner (previous owner) with assistance from members of the Peak District Mines Historical Society.
FURTHER INFORMATION	Lead Mining in the Peak District, edited by T D Ford and J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition)
REFRESHMENTS	Bonsall has best selection, a short drive from the mine

TRIP U10 – Holmebank Chert Mine FULLY BOOKED

Saturday 20^th June, Afternoon

TIME	Meet at 14.00 – Finish 16.30
LEADERS	Martin Long
TRIP GRADE	Easy (1)
DIRECTIONS/	Meet Holme Lane, Bakewell near Packhorse Bridge – parking on road – NGR SK216690
NOTES	Party size limited to 12, plus Leaders.
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted)
DESCRIPTION	Dry ‘through’ trip. Mostly large walking size passages, light scrambling in places, no crawling. Very extensive mine, with over two miles of passages. Brief highlights as follows: Impressive packwalls, propped working face with stone blocks ready to drop, various mine artefacts, wide gauge railway track in places, flooded lower passages and a ‘double seater’
BRIEF HISTORY	Another of Bakewell’s Chert Mines producing Chert to grind flint for the Potteries. Although not as impressive as the Pretoria it still has a lot to offer, including a walk down the M1. Near to the Mine’s middle entrance can be seen the remains of Smith’s Runners Plant, which produced Davy Blocks for the building industry using stone deads from the mine. The last Mine Manager was Henry Sheldon who has actually been down the mine with us in recent times. Chert has been obtained from the Bakewell area since the early 1800’s, after it was found to be ideal to be used as a way of crushing flint to make the ‘slurp’ for the Pottery Industry. The Potters also financed the construction of the Hassop to Newcastle-under-Lyne turnpike road as a way of transporting the Chert. Various materials for crushing flint had been tried including gritstone, limestone but these were unsuccessful. Thomas Astbury was one of the key players in the development of the pan mill which also attracted interest from Josiah Wedgewood. Originally, Bakewell chert had been used to make the pan mill runners (crushing blocks) while the pavours (base stones) had come from the Halkin Mountains in Wales. Eventually all the chert came from the Bakewell mines/quarries. The only surviving pan mill can be seen at Cheddleton, near Leek. Extracting the chert underground (which came in beds up to 16 feet thick) was done by undercutting the softer limestone underneath them. Supporting the chert bed using timbers or rocks when the chert bed was reading for dropping the supports would be either pulled or blown away and more often than not the chert would drop under it’s own weight. In some cases a round of charges had to be set above the chert bed to bring it down. Once down, it would be cut to the desired size by using Plug and Feathers. Chert mining finally ceased in Bakewell in 1968. Other chert mines and quarries existed in Lathkill Dale, Stanton-in-the-Peak and Bonsall.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Mining History’ PDHMS Bulletin Vol 13, no 5
REFRESHMENTS	Good choice in Bakewell

TRIP U11 – James Hall Over Engine Mine

TRIP IS CANCELLED DUE TO INSTABILITY IN MINE.

REPLACEMENT TRIP IS KNOTLOW MINE AND THOSE

WHO HAVE ALREADY BOOKED HAVE BEEN ADVISED

BY EMAIL

Sunday 21^st June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Masson Caving Club Members
TRIP GRADE	Severe (5)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 Monyash village outside Old Smithy Café – NGR SK150666
NOTES	Party size limited to 6, plus Leaders.
IMPORTANT	NAMHO delegates booking this trip MUST have experience of ‘Advanced SRT trips’ and be a regular user of SRT. When booking onto this trip, please supply evidence of your experience, eg known to PDMHS, Masson Caving Group, CIC holder or provide reference(s). This is not only for your benefit, but also for the Leaders of this trip. Safety, both yours and the other people on this trip is paramount. Bookings will not be accepted from delegates who do not provide this information. Preference will be given to delegates who have not undertaken this trip before.
EQUIPMENT	Oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential), full SRT kit.
DESCRIPTION	Will be notified by email
BRIEF HISTORY	Not available at this time
FURTHER INFORMATION	See ‘Lead Mining in the Peak District’, edited by T D Ford and J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition and MINING HISTORY (Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society) Volume 13, no 3.
REFRESHMENTS	Take a packed lunch

TRIP U12 – Magpie Sough ONE SPACE LEFT

Sunday 21^st June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Paul Chandler
TRIP GRADE	Moderate (2)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at large lay-by on A6 on right hand side heading west – NGR SK182698
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders.
EQUIPMENT	Oversuit or wetsuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted)
DESCRIPTION	Wet trip. First part of sough deepest, gradually getting shallower. A Highlight of the trip are the remains of three sets of lock gates, two situated close to the ‘boil up’. Once past the ‘boil up’, water level and flow drop dramatically. Blende Vein Cavern situated approximately two thirds of the way along the sough will be visited and is quite spectacular. (Don’t forget your camera). In the final section of the sough you have a choice, either walking in the shallow water or stooping along the raised but dry walkway, complete with rail track and a lone tub. Sadly it is no longer possible to reach and view the Magpie Mine main shaft and workings due to a collapse. However, a small amount of workings are accessible, via a short scramble up just before the collapse. A magnificent sough, one of the best in this country.
BRIEF HISTORY	Magpie Sough was driven between 1873 to 1881, the last major sough in Derbyshire, to drain Magpie Mine. It was to be a financially disastrous though technically successful venture, draining the mine to about 575 feet below collar, and serving as a pumpway from greater depths. The sough is 1.25 miles in length. Compressed air drills and nitro-glycerine explosives were used, first in the area, in the driving of the sough. Once completed, ore was brought out of the mine to the River Wye using boats in the sough. Rather ironically after all the hard work driving the sough, mining operations ceased in 1883 as the workings were still uneconomic.
FURTHER INFORMATION	Lead Mining in the Peak District, edited by T D Ford and J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition) PDHMS Bulletin Special Publication No3, ‘The History of Magpie Mine’ by L Willies, V S Roche, N E Worley & T D Ford
REFRESHMENTS	Take a packed lunch

TRIP U13 – West Mine, Alderley Edge

Sunday 21^st June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 11.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Derbyshire Caving Club Members
TRIP GRADE	Difficult (3)
DIRECTIONS/ PARKING	Meet 11.00 at National Trust large car park off B5087 on right hand side heading west, adjacent Wizard Inn – NGR SJ859772 (approx)
NOTES	Party size limited to 12, plus Leaders.
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential) Sit harness and cow’s tails for optional traverse routes
DESCRIPTION	West Mine is the largest mine at Alderley Edge both in extent and in the size of the stopes. There are about 10,000 m of passages on several levels, the vast majority of which are accessible. In common with the other mines, West Mine follows down the dip of the sandstone beds except where the mine crosses a major fault. In the near reaches, the whole of three mineralised beds of sandstone have been mined out in a massive stope 30 m wide and at least 15 m high. This stope narrows after 100 m but continues down the dip of the beds. In the further reaches, the stoping is mostly in three separate levels connected by ore chutes and walking routes. During the trips, it will be possible to see most of the mine without special tackle but there are two places where the mine is rigged with fixed ropes to enable more interesting circular routes to be followed.
BRIEF HISTORY	The mines at Alderley Edge have been dated back to about 1900 BC with evidence at three separate locations of Bronze Age pits working malachite and azurite for copper. In recent years, indisputable evidence of Roman mining has also been found with a shaft and level in the hanging wall at Engine Vein providing a route to a point below Bronze Age workings. The majority of West Mine appears to have been worked in the mid 19^th century but signs are emerging of possible earlier workings. We believe that a trial tunnel pre-dated the main stoping but by how many years or decades is not known. The greatest part of the mine was worked under the leadership of James Michell and the Alderley Edge Mining Company between 1857 and 1877. During the main mining period, the copper was extracted from the sandstone using acid leaching with hydrochloric acid, a by-product of the Le Blanc process used at nearby Northwich. Copper metal was extracted from the chloride solution by using scrap iron, mostly from the tin-plate industry. During this period, the mine remained profitable for its twenty-one year life until the lease expired and reserves began to run low. A small amount of work was carried out in the period 1910-1919 when the main product was copper sulphate.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Caves of the Peak District’ compiled by David W Gill and John S Beck (1981 Edition) DCC website: www.derbyscc.org.uk/alderley
REFRESHMENTS	Tea Rooms near car park is open on Sunday. Pubs and (posh) cafes in Alderley Edge. The Wizard Inn only has a restaurant licence.

TRIP U14 – Great Masson Cavern

Sunday 21^st June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 16.00
LEADERS	Mat & Niki Adlam Stiles
TRIP GRADE	Moderate (2)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at Peak District Mining Museum, Matlock Bath
NOTES	Party size limited to 8, plus Leaders. Worth bringing a camera.
EQUIPMENT	Boilersuit or Oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted), kneepads (optional)
DESCRIPTION	The complex and extensive Masson system is part natural/mined, having been mined for lead and fluorspar. Part of the Masson system is open as a ‘Show Cave’ which is impressive in its own right, containing a large and spectacular natural cavern, a rake mine, ancient pipe work and miners inscriptions, which will be seen as part of our visit. The Masson system beyond the ‘Show Cave’ is full of interest, from very early ”woodpecker” pick working to hand picked coffin levels, buddling deposits and relatively modern mining artefacts. There are a couple of large and impressive part-natural caverns. It is also interesting both from the geological and mineralisation perspective. These include fine exposures of pipe mineralisation, vugh cavities with massive etched calcite crystals and cave deposits with reverse magnetic polarity. Most of the passages are of walking size and they are generally dry.
BRIEF HISTORY	The mine has an exceptionally long history. By 1470 workings on Bacon Rake (at that period known as Nestall’s Rake) and in the pipeworkings which were already extensive. Further work is recorded in the 16^th and 17^th centuries and a major breakthrough came in the 18th century when a link was made northwards to further rich deposits beyond the ‘Hard Forefield’. Lead mining continued into the 19^th century, extending ever northwards and reworking lesser deposits throughout. Part of the southern workings opened as a ‘show cave’ in the early 1870s. While much fluorspar extraction from within the mine was 20^th century in date, worked underground until the 1970s, this mineral was being sold from here to Ecton as a smelting flux as early as the 1780s. Different parts of the pipe workings were mined as at least four separate independent titles, which at different dates became physically linked to eventually form the single mine system of that was fully explorable until recent decades. In the later 20^th century a large opencast fluorspar quarry has truncated the northern half of the mine. Unfortunately this removed the link between the main workings and Gentlewoman’s Pipe, Old Jants Mine, Masson and Ringing Rake Soughs down to the River Derwent - the arduous through trip was reputed to have had the greatest vertical range in Britain
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Lead Mining’ in the Peak District’ edited by T D Ford & J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition); PDHMS Bulletin Vol. 8 No 2 ‘The Caverns and Mines of Matlock Bath’ by Flindall and Hayes 1976 Mining History Vol 14.No 6, and Vol 15 No 3
REFRESHMENTS	Good choice in Matlock Bath

TRIP U15 – Old Millclose Mine FULLY BOOKED

Sunday 21^st June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Norman Birkett and back-up
TRIP GRADE	Difficult (3)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at Darley Bridge car park off B5057 on right hand side heading west - NGR SK270624
NOTES	Party size limited to 8, plus Leaders. Well worth bringing a camera. IMPORTANT: NAMHO delegates booking on this trip must have SRT experience. Experienced mine explorers only.
EQUIPMENT	Oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential) Full SRT kit.
DESCRIPTION	Access/Exit to mine complex is via a 120 ft (36 m) shaft (no other SRT pitches). The mine is a very complex area of pipe and stope workings situated at the extreme end of the Mill Close Vein where it outcrops on the Southern side of the Winster to Wensley Road. The workings total some 15 km in a small area of about 1 km2. Mining artefacts/inscriptions in abundance.
BRIEF HISTORY	Old Mill Close Mine is situated to the northwest of Wensley Village in an area west of the Red Lion Inn. This incredible maze of mine workings heads north under Cambridge Wood. Numerous shafts were sunk to access the complex pipe workings and facilitate the removal of mixed materials. The miners obtained the ore from a complex of scrins and pipes of which there is no surface appearance. The workings were becoming troubled with water and to solve the problem over five soughs were draining the mine in between 1658 and 1678. The London Lead Company was involved with the mine and worked the vein north of Mill Close Brook, firstly by two water wheels located underground in the mine and in 1748 a Newcomen fire engine was installed. After 1778 the London Lead Company gradually sold their interests and little further work took place for 80 years. The mid 20^th century saw the removal of mine tips to be worked for fluorspar and shaft mounds were removed for grazing and hay production.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Lead Mining in the Peak District’ edited by T D Ford and J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition) ‘Mining History’ (PDHMS) Vol 14, no 3
REFRESHMENTS	Take a packed lunch

TRIP U16 – Bage Mine

Sunday 21^st June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 10.00 - Finish 17.00.
LEADERS	Wirksworth Mines Research Group
TRIP GRADE	Difficult (3)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at Bolehill Industrial Estate off B5036 on right hand side heading south – NGR SK288549
NOTES	Party size limited to 12, plus Leaders. Well worth bringing a camera. BCA insurance is essential for this trip. Small donations for the upkeep of the winch would be gratefully received.
EQUIPMENT	Oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential), belay belts and harness’s and knee pads for the crawls
DESCRIPTION	Access/exit to mine is via the 303 feet deep hard end shaft on Bage Mine which will be winched. This gives chance to visit the mine getting off at the 190 ft level then making your way down onto the 303 ft level, then being winched the full depth of the shaft back to the surface.
BRIEF HISTORY	Not a great deal is known about the history of this mine other than the mine appears to have been very busy in the latter part of the nineteenth century with the barmaster visiting the mine on a number of occasions. More history can be learnt by taking a guided tour of this fascinating mine system, and reading the article in the bulletin referred to below.
FURTHER INFORMATION	Bulletin of Peak District Mines Historical Society, Vol 8, no 4, pages 243-260
REFRESHMENTS	Take packed lunch

TRIP U17 – Pretoria Chert Mine FULLY BOOKED

Sunday 21^st June, Morning

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 12.30
LEADERS	Tony Wood & Mick Roberts
TRIP GRADE	Moderate (2)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at Lady Manners School, Bakewell – roadside lay-by - NGR SK212679
NOTES	Party size limited to 8, plus Leaders.
IMPORTANT	This mine is located in a very sensitive location and any ‘Access enquiries’ MUST be made through the Peak District Mines Historical Society (PDMHS).
EQUIPMENT	Boilersuit or Oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential)
DESCRIPTION	Dry trip. Access is via a 15 ft (5m) deep shaft, fitted with a fixed ladder. Mostly large walking size passages, steeply inclined in places. Light scrambling involved. This mine is full of interest, brief highlights as follows; high longwall working faces, massive packwalls, heavy-duty gauge & turntables, other mining artefacts and rock faces peppered with hundreds of drill holes made by a company from Duffield testing out new boring methods making a camera an essential piece of kit for those photographers amongst us.
BRIEF HISTORY	Originally worked by the Alsop family, the Pretoria Mine was opened in the early 1900’s as an opencast quarry to continue the supply of chert to the pottery industry and for other purposes. The seams of chert were soon followed underground. Its name comes from the Battle of Pretoria fought during the Boer War. After a long decline, the mine finally ceased production in 1968 bringing to an end chert production in the region.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Mining History’ (Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society) Volume 13, no 5.
REFRESHMENTS	Bakewell town centre, a short distance from mine

TRIP U18 – Good Luck Mine

Sunday 21^st June, Morning

TIME	Meet at 10.00 – Finish 12.00
LEADERS	Good Luck Mine Preservation Club
TRIP GRADE	Easy
DIRECTIONS	Meet 10.00 at roadside lay-by on A5012 on left hand side heading west – NGR SK269566
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders. Access courtesy of Good Luck Preservation Club Donations welcome
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted although torch would suffice)
DESCRIPTION	Walk up to the mine is short but quite steep. Dry trip. There is a short stooping section as you enter, and then the roof can be a bit low in sections, but is generally easy walking. Highlights include superb stone stempling (‘herring bone’ arching), miners inscriptions, a steepish incline (driven to overcome a geological fault) and various displays. The mine has been developed as an underground lead mining museum with displays of miners tools, artefacts, small mineral collection and other exhibits. There is also a surface display with original buildings and other mine exhibits.
BRIEF HISTORY	The present entrance was opened in October 1830 by John Alsop a well known local lead mine owner and smelter. His agent Roger Knowles, who was associated with many other lead mining activities in Derbyshire supervised the driving of the level into the hillside. Its purpose was to intersect the very rich Goodluck vein, which was being worked separately by the Moor Jepson Mine, Goodluck Mine and the dales Founder Mine. These three mines were eventually linked up underground and consolidated into the Goodluck Title around 1831. By the turn of the century the mine became derelict as no vein deposits could be found. It is debateable if it ever was profitable as a mine when all years taken together and the price of lead fell rapidly, due to the importation of cheaper European lead. The mine saw renewed activity during the 1914/18 war but this was short lived. Further mining activity occurred during the 1920’s/30’s mainly for barytes, which sold for twenty-three shillings a ton. After this period the mine worked intermittently for lead and barytes right up to 1952. In this year the mine entrance collapsed and remained sealed until 1970/72. it was re-opened and re-built by Ron Amner (previous owner) with assistance from members of the Peak District Mines Historical Society.
FURTHER INFORMATION	Lead Mining in the Peak District, edited by T D Ford and J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition)
REFRESHMENTS	Bonsall has best selection, a short drive from the mine

TRIP U19 – Rookery Mine ONE SPACE LEFT

Sunday 21^st June, Afternoon

TIME	Meet at 14.00 – Finish 17.00
LEADERS	Alan Keen
TRIP GRADE	Easy (1)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 14.00 at Ashford village outside church – NGR SK195697
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders.
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential – although torch would suffice)
DESCRIPTION	Approach to mine is through Rookery Wood which contains one steepish/slippery scramble. Low entrance followed by mostly walking size passages. Generally dry underfoot pillar and stall mining. Some 3,000 ft (1000 m) of workings are accessible.
BRIEF HISTORY	The Marble mined here is not marble in its true sense. It is altered limestone that when it is cut and polished resembles marble. The marble industry in Ashford in the water was started in 1748 by Henry Watson; he built the first water powered stone saw mill on the River Wye close to the Rookery plantation. The Marble was originally obtained by quarrying methods in what is now known as the rookery plantation, but the amount of overburden having to be removed to get to the marble made it necessary for underground mining and so the Rookery mine was started. The mine finally closed in 1905. The marble was used in stately homes and in churches. When polished it gives a jet black appearance, though after a while outdoors the marble soon goes back to a dull grey colour. It is used to make ornaments, table tops, fireplaces and bowls.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Lead Mining in the Peak District’ edited by T D Ford & J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition) ‘Derbyshire Black Marble’ by J M Tomlinson ( PDHMS special publication no 4, 1996)
REFRESHMENTS	Village shop and pubs in Ashford, otherwise good choice in Bakewell

TRIP U20 – Good Luck Mine

Sunday 21^st June, Afternoon

TIME	Meet at 14.00 – Finish 16.00
LEADERS	Good Luck Mine Preservation Club
TRIP GRADE	Easy
DIRECTIONS	Meet 14.00 at roadside lay-by on A5012 on left hand side heading west – NGR SK269566
NOTES	Party size limited to 10, plus Leaders. Access courtesy of Good Luck Preservation Club Donations welcome
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted although torch would suffice)
DESCRIPTION	Walk up to the mine is short but quite steep. Dry trip. There is a short stooping section as you enter, and then the roof can be a bit low in sections, but is generally easy walking. Highlights include superb stone stempling (‘herring bone’ arching), miners inscriptions, a steepish incline (driven to overcome a geological fault) and various displays. The mine has been developed as an underground lead mining museum with displays of miners tools, artefacts, small mineral collection and other exhibits. There is also a surface display with original buildings and other mine exhibits.
BRIEF HISTORY	The present entrance was opened in October 1830 by John Alsop a well known local lead mine owner and smelter. His agent Roger Knowles, who was associated with many other lead mining activities in Derbyshire supervised the driving of the level into the hillside. Its purpose was to intersect the very rich Goodluck vein, which was being worked separately by the Moor Jepson Mine, Goodluck Mine and the dales Founder Mine. These three mines were eventually linked up underground and consolidated into the Goodluck Title around 1831. By the turn of the century the mine became derelict as no vein deposits could be found. It is debateable if it ever was profitable as a mine when all years taken together and the price of lead fell rapidly, due to the importation of cheaper European lead. The mine saw renewed activity during the 1914/18 war but this was short lived. Further mining activity occurred during the 1920’s/30’s mainly for barytes, which sold for twenty-three shillings a ton. After this period the mine worked intermittently for lead and barytes right up to 1952. In this year the mine entrance collapsed and remained sealed until 1970/72. it was re-opened and re-built by Ron Amner (previous owner) with assistance from members of the Peak District Mines Historical Society.
FURTHER INFORMATION	Lead Mining in the Peak District, edited by T D Ford and J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition)
REFRESHMENTS	Bonsall has best selection, a short drive from the mine

TRIP U21 – Mouldridge Mine TRIP CANCELLED

Sunday 21^st June, Afternoon

TRIP U22 – Wood Mine, Alderley Edge

Monday 22^nd June, All Day

TIME	Meet at 11.00 – Finish 16.00
LEADERS	Derbyshire Caving Club Members
TRIP GRADE	Difficult (3)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 11.00 at National Trust large car park off B5087 on right hand side heading west, adjacent Wizard Inn – NGR SJ859772 (approx)
NOTES	Party size limited to 14, plus Leaders.
EQUIPMENT	Boiler suit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential)
DESCRIPTION	Wood Mine lies between two faults which show some evidence of primary ores but that was not the main source of workable copper. The rest of the mine follows a tortuous series of passages where copper ore has been extracted as malachite-impregnated sandstone. The mine is smaller than West Mine but no less interesting. Simply finding one’s way around Wood Mine can be entertaining.
BRIEF HISTORY	The mines at Alderley Edge have been dated back to about 1900 BC with evidence at three separate locations of Bronze Age pits working malachite and azurite for copper. In recent years, indisputable evidence of Roman mining has also been found with a shaft and level in the hanging wall at Engine Vein providing a route to a point below Bronze Age workings. However, Wood Mine appears not to have been worked before the mid 19^th century. There might have been some work on the surface where there was opencast mining, now filled with rubbish. Below ground, the mine appears to have been worked from four shafts which were subsequently linked together. The whole mine was then served by a tramming level laid through the sole which linked to the main haulage level (now known as the Hough Level). During this phase, the paying ore was malachite rich sandstone from which copper was extracted by acid leaching and precipitation with scrap iron. Wood Mine was worked for a short time at the start of the 20^th century as shown by some machine-drilled holes and use of high explosive near Sand Cavern.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Caves of the Peak District’ compiled by David W Gill and John S Beck (1991 Edition) DCC website: www.derbyscc.org.uk/alderley
REFRESHMENTS	Pubs and (posh) cafes in Alderley Edge. The Wizard Inn only has a restaurant licence.

TRIP U23 – Clayton Adit FULLY BOOKED

Monday 22^nd June, Afternoon

TIME	Meet at 13.00 – Finish 16.00
LEADERS	John Barnatt & backstop
TRIP GRADE	Easy (1)
DIRECTIONS	Meet 13.00 at Ecton on minor road below Ecton Hill – parking adjacent to road – NGR SK097582
NOTES	Party size limited to 12, plus Leaders. Visit focused on mine history and archaeology. It follows a morning introductory walk across Ecton Hill.
IMPORTANT	NAMHO delegates booking onto this trip will need to complete an indemnity form supplied by the Ecton Mines Educational Trust.
EQUIPMENT	Boilersuit or oversuit, ankle boots or wellies, electric lighting only (helmet or belt mounted essential)
DESCRIPTION	Mostly walking with some optional crawls/scrambles. Include a long walk along Bag Level. Water in places likely to be just over wellie depth.
BRIEF HISTORY	Mining in Clayton Pipe started on the hilltop in the 17^th century at latest. The main river level adit was started in 1755 and mining continued until the 1880’s. The workings reached over 1000 feet below adit (now flooded). The adit leads to a large chamber which once contained steam engines for winding and pumping. Engine beds and an impressive chimney base remain. Other highlights include flooded shafts, ore chutes, ventilation walls, long trial levels with rails and in situ minerals.
FURTHER INFORMATION	‘Lead Mining in the Peak District’ edited by T D Ford & J H Rieuwerts (2000 edition) ‘The Copper and Lead Mines around the Manifold Valley’, by Lindsey Porter and John Robey (2000) (Landmark)
REFRESHMENTS	Take packed lunch

Last updated 8th May 2009