Box Freestone Mine in Wiltshire. It'd always been a place that amazed me, seeing photos of the Cathedral chamber, endless junctions, tunnels and features of interest. But somehow I never got round to making plans to go there.
So as it happens, my first trip there came about entirely by accident. I was in the area, had all the necessary gear with me and my actual plans came to an abrupt halt. I was at a loose end and just a mile from Box, the choice was obvious that a trip to the Quarryman's Arms was in order.
With the key and a laminated map of the central region in hand, it was time to get cracking. Within 10 minutes we were in the infamous Cathedral.
'ello treacle
This place seems even bigger in the flesh, and one helluva lot darker that's for sure. ISO800, f/8 and 30 seconds in case you were wondering.
After following the tourist trail printed on the back of the map so as not to get lost in the 90km+ of tunnels, I took barely a single other photo.
I was hooked.
A year past and I'd still not had a chance for a revisit, that was until a chance coinciding of dates amongst friends took place. Back we go!
It really is hard conveying the scale of this chamber.
Of course, with there being a lot more to see than just Cathedral, we pressed on back into the darkness.
Following the tourist trail again as my companions had not visited before, we swung by to say hello to the robots.
Towards the East of the central region, beyond the robots, things get a little interesting... With anti-personnel wire making an appearance.
And the grate leading down Brewer's Drift into Groundstone Quarry.
Brewer's Drift, aka Heart Attack Alley.
Brewer's Drift was used as an air supply drift from Box for Tunnel Quarry when the MOD took over Tunnel, Spring and Groundstone.
At the end of the drift you reach a sealed steel red door, with a constant loud droning noise coming from beyond. I wonder what could be in there?
Heading back up the drift to Groundstone Quarry proper, you reach a junction with the left fork heading south to wind tunnel.
While Brewer's Drift was grated off as seen above, Wind Tunnel was a little more interesting.
Lots of anti-personnel wire here.
Wind tunnel was used as an air supply drift for Spring Quarry, while Brewer's supplied Tunnel Quarry.
At the dead end of Wind Tunnel, you reach another interesting red steel door. No noise from behind this one, I wonder what's beyond?
After many tiring hours underground, it was time to call it a night.
Refreshed by sleep the following day, back we went!
An underground cloud. Neat.
This time we ventured north...
The north region was one of the last operational workings in the complex, as such a lot of artefacts remain.
There's also many tracks still left in tact.
But what it's really famous for, is the cranes.
Unfortunately we had to cut the day short, as real life got in the way and we had to return to normality.
I definitely have to go back and see more of the North and South regions...
So as it happens, my first trip there came about entirely by accident. I was in the area, had all the necessary gear with me and my actual plans came to an abrupt halt. I was at a loose end and just a mile from Box, the choice was obvious that a trip to the Quarryman's Arms was in order.
With the key and a laminated map of the central region in hand, it was time to get cracking. Within 10 minutes we were in the infamous Cathedral.
'ello treacle
This place seems even bigger in the flesh, and one helluva lot darker that's for sure. ISO800, f/8 and 30 seconds in case you were wondering.
After following the tourist trail printed on the back of the map so as not to get lost in the 90km+ of tunnels, I took barely a single other photo.
I was hooked.
A year past and I'd still not had a chance for a revisit, that was until a chance coinciding of dates amongst friends took place. Back we go!
It really is hard conveying the scale of this chamber.
Of course, with there being a lot more to see than just Cathedral, we pressed on back into the darkness.
Following the tourist trail again as my companions had not visited before, we swung by to say hello to the robots.
Towards the East of the central region, beyond the robots, things get a little interesting... With anti-personnel wire making an appearance.
And the grate leading down Brewer's Drift into Groundstone Quarry.
Brewer's Drift, aka Heart Attack Alley.
Brewer's Drift was used as an air supply drift from Box for Tunnel Quarry when the MOD took over Tunnel, Spring and Groundstone.
At the end of the drift you reach a sealed steel red door, with a constant loud droning noise coming from beyond. I wonder what could be in there?
Heading back up the drift to Groundstone Quarry proper, you reach a junction with the left fork heading south to wind tunnel.
While Brewer's Drift was grated off as seen above, Wind Tunnel was a little more interesting.
Lots of anti-personnel wire here.
Wind tunnel was used as an air supply drift for Spring Quarry, while Brewer's supplied Tunnel Quarry.
At the dead end of Wind Tunnel, you reach another interesting red steel door. No noise from behind this one, I wonder what's beyond?
After many tiring hours underground, it was time to call it a night.
Refreshed by sleep the following day, back we went!
An underground cloud. Neat.
This time we ventured north...
The north region was one of the last operational workings in the complex, as such a lot of artefacts remain.
There's also many tracks still left in tact.
But what it's really famous for, is the cranes.
Unfortunately we had to cut the day short, as real life got in the way and we had to return to normality.
I definitely have to go back and see more of the North and South regions...
