I haven't put up a report for ages, so not before time:-
I made another visit to the lead mines at Nenthead with a few caving friends at the weekend. This time we tried to explore more of the less visited parts away from the main routes.
Walking up the hill we nipped into an adit we had passed many times, only to discover it was actually the tail race from a 50 foot diameter water wheel which used to be there. Stepping out into the bottom of the wheel pit was quite impressive.
We carried on up the hill to Smallcleugh Mine. We had agreed not to take photographs this day and to concentrate on exploring, of course, individually we had all sneaked our cameras in inside our bags. I went off by myself along one passage and found an area which was taped off. I looked hard but all I could see was dried mud, so why the tape? Somebody was crawling along a low part of the passage to join me when suddenly, from the shadows cast by their light I saw an amazing sight, the hoof prints from the horses had been preserved for all these years in the dried mud, along with some footprints from small hobnail boots, presumably a child leading the horse. This was not easy to record on a photograph, but I was so glad I had brought my camera.
The next day we visited Brownley Hills Mine, the main purpose was to find the link to Nentsbury Haggs Mine which we had been through a few times, but on the last visit we couldn't find the start of the linking passage. The last time we made the through trip was around 8 years ago, and just before the exit at the side of the road there had been a roof fall. On that occasion we managed to dig through it, but we had since heared it was now blocked completely so having found the link passage we made a brief visit into the mine then returned to take a few pictures up on the Flats.
A 10 second shot of Dennis breaking open a rock with a steel hammer.
Dennis examining an ore chute.
On the way back, Paul wanted to go into Nentsbury Haggs to see the extent of the collapse for himself, he had taken his wet trousers off by then
but that didn't stop him. It is well and truly blocked now.
While Paul was in there we explored the building next to it, Smurf had taken her trousers off by then as well.
The next day we visited Rampgill Mine. This is not so extensive so was a good choice after the two previous days long tiring trips.
Edd.
John (another one, not me)
Then we made our way out, very happy after a great weekend.
I made another visit to the lead mines at Nenthead with a few caving friends at the weekend. This time we tried to explore more of the less visited parts away from the main routes.
Walking up the hill we nipped into an adit we had passed many times, only to discover it was actually the tail race from a 50 foot diameter water wheel which used to be there. Stepping out into the bottom of the wheel pit was quite impressive.
We carried on up the hill to Smallcleugh Mine. We had agreed not to take photographs this day and to concentrate on exploring, of course, individually we had all sneaked our cameras in inside our bags. I went off by myself along one passage and found an area which was taped off. I looked hard but all I could see was dried mud, so why the tape? Somebody was crawling along a low part of the passage to join me when suddenly, from the shadows cast by their light I saw an amazing sight, the hoof prints from the horses had been preserved for all these years in the dried mud, along with some footprints from small hobnail boots, presumably a child leading the horse. This was not easy to record on a photograph, but I was so glad I had brought my camera.
The next day we visited Brownley Hills Mine, the main purpose was to find the link to Nentsbury Haggs Mine which we had been through a few times, but on the last visit we couldn't find the start of the linking passage. The last time we made the through trip was around 8 years ago, and just before the exit at the side of the road there had been a roof fall. On that occasion we managed to dig through it, but we had since heared it was now blocked completely so having found the link passage we made a brief visit into the mine then returned to take a few pictures up on the Flats.
A 10 second shot of Dennis breaking open a rock with a steel hammer.
Dennis examining an ore chute.
On the way back, Paul wanted to go into Nentsbury Haggs to see the extent of the collapse for himself, he had taken his wet trousers off by then
but that didn't stop him. It is well and truly blocked now.
While Paul was in there we explored the building next to it, Smurf had taken her trousers off by then as well.
The next day we visited Rampgill Mine. This is not so extensive so was a good choice after the two previous days long tiring trips.
Edd.
John (another one, not me)
Then we made our way out, very happy after a great weekend.
