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E L O W !B

Quarterly Journal of the Shropshire Caving & Mining Club Summer Issue No: 2010.2

Hermitage CavesThe sandstone “caves” at theHermitage, Bridgnorth where ateenager was tragically killed lastyear by falling rocks, after a bonfirewas lit in the entrance to one of them,have been fenced off.

Landowners Apley Estates haveinstalled 10ft. high metal fencingaround the entrances to the man-made caves to prevent access. If theyfind anyone in the area they intend tocall the police immediately.

Dawley Developments

Below: Paddock Mount by the trafficlights in Finger Road, Dawley.

(Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Above: Coal protest graffiti on the canopy of Finger Road garage, Dawley.

Coal ProtestersCampaigners protesting against theHuntington Lane Opencast coal sitenear Little Wenlock have been in thenews recently. According to pressreports they have spent the last fewmonths digging a network of tunnelswith a view to disrupting theoperations when UK Coal starts tobring machinery onto the site.

They also claim to have plans of theold mine workings on the site and aimto enter those if necessary, which isof some concern.

The area was once worked as theShortwoods Mine with a series ofadits into the outcrops of the TwoFeet and Best Coal seams. Workedusing the pillar and stall method theworkings were never very deep(about 20m). The last adit closed in1970.

The area suffered from a coal fire fora number of years - reputed to havebeen started in one of the aditentrances, so there is a seriousdanger of blackdamp in the oldworkings.

A major re-development programmeis currently under-way in and aroundDawley, Telford.

Part of this re-development is theplanned construction of a newschool on the site of Paddock Mount- a large pit mound on the left as youtravel down Finger Road fromDawley towards Madeley.

This building work has involvedremoving the trees from PaddockMount - quite a surprise when youfirst see it! Now the trees have gonethe sheer size of the mound is mostimpressive - you get good views fromthe top too! See page 14 for more ...

NAMHO 2011 - Ideasand Volunteers

Now that NAMHO 2010 has passed(very successfully), we begin therapid count-down to NAMHO 2011,which we will be hosting at PrestonMontford Study Centre. It mightseem a long way off, but .... !

At the moment we are short of peopleto help with trips - you don’t have tobe the trip leader, helpers are alwaysrequired!

During the next few months the list oftrips and surface walks that will be onoffer need to be finalised so peoplecan start booking. If you have anyideas please let Andy Wood know.

In addition to helpers on trips, we willalso need people to help out at thevenue, for example booking people inwhen they arrive, issuing delegatepacks, etc.. You don’t have to bethere all day, any help you can give,even for just a few hours, will bemore than welcome.

2 “Below” 2010.2

News Round-Up 1Ivor Brown

Memorial ReinstatedThe Telford Miners Memorial (scrapiron horse pulling a truck) onDonnington Road Island has beenrebuilt following it’s destruction by alorry.

Memorial Stone?There is (was?) a memorial stone inMadeley Church Yard to a youngman from “his pals at Kemberton Pit”- it was somewhere on the Madeleyside of the lower part of thechurchyard. Has anyone seen itlately?

Industrial Heritage IIThe latest part (Part II) of “TheIndustrial Heritage of the RuralParishes around the Wrekin”contains an article on theSteeraways/Hatch limestone minesand kilns.

Some interesting discoveries havebeen made, including an almostcomplete underground (?) limestoneplateway waggon. [Note: Because itwas low in height does not mean itwas used solely underground!].

Longville-BuildwasRailway

The Longville - Buildwas railway lineclosed for passengers on 31December 1951. It then became aminerals and goods only line to servethe limestone quarries on WenlockEdge.

It had, however, at least one specialtrain - on October 2nd 1954, whenMr. R.Allwood of Plaish moved hisfarm to Coton, near Whitchurch.

On the Tuesday all his various farmimplements and tools (weighing 25tons) were loaded into waggons atLongville and taken down the line toa siding at Presthope Quarry.

The following day all his stock (5horses, 30 cows, 32 pigs, 64 pigletsand 50 head of poultry) were loadedonto a special train at Longville. Thispicked up the wagons near Presthope

Quarry, then with the entire farm onboard, travelled through MuchWenlock, Buildwas and Shrewsburyto Coton.

The writer travelled over most of thisline by Special Train on aStephenson Loco Society tour ofShropshire branches on 12thSeptember 1959. This included theLongville Branch, the CoalportBranch and the Minsterley Branchamong others.

Longville branch closed to all trafficin 1962 and the writer parked his“permanent” Shropshire weekendcaravan on the site of WestwoodHalt (Halts were small “stations”available on request - like bus stops)near Presthope from 1977 to about1983. There is an abandoned railwaytunnel nearby said to give access tosome early limestone mine workings.[Have any Club membersinvestigated this tunnel?]

American ResearcherAn American researcher was recentlyshown around Snailbeach,Tankerville and Bog mines.

Her research is on the interpretationof Frisco Silver mine in Utah, and shewas comparing it with the ShropshireProjects.

Her background information, beforearrival here was found to be two

papers in the Memoirs of NorthernCavern & Mines Research Society byR.V.Davis and Albutt & Brookrespectively, both dated 1969.

Photocopies had been obtained by alibrary in Alabama (USA) from theNational Library of Australia, cost$13.20 each. I wonder how the BritishLibrary and more recent SCMC andSMT publications got left out?

[Note from the Editor:Frisco is a ghost town in BeaverCounty, Utah, The Horn Silver minewas discovered in 1875 and hadproduced over $20 million of silver by1910. Zinc, copper, lead and gold wasalso mined in the area.

On 12th February 1885 just as theday shift was about to descend Hornmine a series of tremours took place,and the main shaft and tunnels in theupper seven levels collapsed. Themine was 270m deep at it’s peak.]

Disaster TalkA talk on the Madeley MiningDisasters, 1804, 1810, 1864 and 1910will be given at the CoalbrookdaleMuseum, Wednesday November24th, 2010 at 7.30pm - see the specialitem on page 10 for more information.

The Shropshire Miners Union Bannerwill be on display (hopefully) duringthe talk.

Above: The rebuilt Gerry Foxall sculpture on Granville Roundabout,Donnington (near to ASDA) 1st March 2010. (Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

3“Below” 2010.2

Lighting is one of the key items ofequipment for exploring caves andmines but the types of cap lampavailable have been changingdramatically. One trip during the 2009NAMHO Conference had ninepersons – all with different types oflamp.

This article is intended to be a simpledescription for those not familiar withrecent changes but it will almostcertainly be out of date as soon aswritten so do not consider it to bedefinitive.

What is wanted from alamp?Everyone will probably agree thatcaplamps should not weigh too muchand that they should give ample, andpreferably adjustable, levels of light.There will be different opinions onthe desirability of a tight versusbroad beam and whether batteriesshould be on the belt or on thehelmet.

Some prefer to have a tight beam totheir lamp such that they can see asfar as possible. Others prefer to flooda broad area immediately in front ofthem. Batteries that are mounted onthe back of the helmet, or built intothe light itself, avoid having cablesthat can snag but can disturb the

balance on the helmet. Having thebattery on a belt means less weighton the helmet and having a cableavoids loss of the light should thehelmet come off on a pitch.

Original lampsAt one time miners relied on candlesor possibly simple oil lamps but thesewere replaced by carbide lamps andthen electric lamps – with lead acid ornickel-iron (NiFe) with alkali.

Carbide lamps depend on waterdripping on calcium carbide toproduce acetylene which is burnt togive light (and some warmth). Thereare still modern carbide lampsavailable but, due to the disposal ofcarbide waste, there use isdiscouraged in many locations.Carbide lamps have more recentlybeen used more for expeditionswhere electricity for re-charging isnot available.

NiFe lamps were readily availableafter the Second World War but arerarely encountered now. Until recentyears, the ex-coal mine lead acidbattery based electric lamps were themainstay of cave and mineexploration. With a battery in goodcondition, 10 hours plus of mainbeam use was available and thelamps are easily charged by a

connection through the head-set.Lamps produced by ‘Oldham’ are thebest known and these are stillavailable.

Modern LampsThe lead acid based lamps are stillavailable. The more modern batteriesare ‘maintenance-free’ but they areheavy and need to be belt mounted.

The big changes in lamps relate tothe chemistry of the battery cells andthe nature of the light source.

The first change from lead-acidbatteries was to nickel-cadmium(NiCd) cells but the production ofthese has now generally beendiscontinued (due to the cadmiumcontent) and these have beenreplaced by nickel-metal-hydride(NiMh) cells and lithium-ion (Li-Ion)cells. The NiMh and Li-Ion cells aremuch lighter and this has enabled thecells to be helmet mounted or builtinto the lamp as an alternative to beltmounting.

The quality of the light output wasinitially improved by introducinghalogen bulbs and more recently theintroduction of light emitting diodes(LED’s). The power consumption ofLED’s is much lower than traditionalbulbs which means the size of batteryrequired is considerably reduced.

Lighting for Cave & Mine ExplorationSteve Holding

Wells Oil lamp, discovered in a mine in Broseley. Now in the Broseley LocalHistory Society Collection. (Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Helmet mounted carbide or “stinky”.(Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

4 “Below” 2010.2

The rapid change in lamps currentlyavailable is largely due to continuousimprovement in the capability ofLED’s and new ‘caving lamps’become available with each new LEDdevelopment. A light output of 100 to150 lumens is probably satisfactoryfor most purposes.

Spelio Technics & NovaSpelio Technics were one of the firstcompanies to introduce NiCd cells –first as the belt mounted FX-2; FX-3and FX-5 and then helmet mountedbattery systems. The NiCd cells havebeen replaced by NiMh cells to give2.4 volt DX-2 and 3.6 volt DX-3 (thelater crudely equivalent to atraditional lead-acid Oldham) andthere are NiMh or Li-Ion batteries forhelmet mounting.

There are headsets that are like thetraditional Oldham lamp but withoptions to have arrays of 7 or 14small LED’s – alternatively there isthe ‘NOVA’ headset specificallydesigned for a more powerful LED.

The ‘traditional’ headset with 7 smallLED’s is perfectly satisfactory formoving around underground – usingthe halogen main bulb for justlooking into the distance. TheNOVA+ headlight gives up to 200lumens and can give 30 hours use(on lower settings). This has recentlybeen upgraded to the SuperNovawith 400 lumens and up to 19 hours(lower settings). For more details see:

www.spelio.co.uk

StenLightStenLight – the current StenLightproduct is the S7+ which has twoseparate 3 watt LED’s. These arebuilt into a small aluminium blockheadlamp that can be connected totwo different battery sizes either ofwhich can be mounted on the back ofthe helmet or be carried in a pocket.The maximum light is 420 lumens butwill probably be used most at its 138lumens light setting – the two lightscan have different reflectors to givealternative tight or wide beams. Moredetails can be found on:

www.excellentstuff.co.uk

Lighting for Cave & Mine Explorationcontinued ...

Above: Spelio Technics DX2 - belt mounted battery, with halogen headlightand tungsten side light. (Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Left: SpelioTechnics FX2 -helmet mountedbattery (on rear ofhelmet), withOldham size lampunit containing ahalogen headlightand 7 LEDs for aside light.

(Kelvin Lake -I.A.Recordings)

ScurionScurion lamps – one basic designbut options including up to 1,300lumens (provided you have bothmain and side lights on together).

All lamps have two LED’s – onetight focus and one broad beam thatcan be controlled independent ofone another. This has been one ofthe brightest lamps available but ata high cost.

The Li-Ion battery pack is normallyhelmet mounted and used at 100lumens should give 24 hours plusduration. These are the mostexpensive of the modern lights(typical prices for the more powerfulversion are over £600).See: www.scurion.ch for details.

KL5M LEDKL5M LED Miners Lamp – fromChina. This is a simple belt mountedLi-Ion battery lamp with single LEDbuilt into something close to atraditional head set.

Above: The Stenlight S7. Themagnetic ON/OFF switch is on thetop. Physically the lamp is very smalland light.(www.excellentstuff.co.uk)

Above: The Scurion - about thesame size as an Oldham cap lamp,but phenomenally bright!.(www.scurion.ch)

5“Below” 2010.2

The light operates at two levels – themain beam being quite focused andpiercing but the secondary setting isnot really bright enough for normalmovement underground (adequatefor emergency and while taking abreak).

The system has charging through theheadset. This is a rugged lamp andthe battery will give 15 hours light onmain beam. It is a bit odd in that thecable comes into the top of the headunit, rather than the side. Currentlyavailable for ~£100 (with charger) andmust be one of the most economicalpackages available. See

www.ledcavinglamp.co.uk

Raptor ProRaptor Pro Caving Lamp (KL6l7M)Basically similar to the KL5M lampbut with smaller battery – helmetmounting battery option available.Through the headset charging –different in that the cable does comeinto the side of the headset.

Although the battery appears to besmaller, a similar duration is claimed.This is also priced around £100 (withcharger) and is another economicalpackage. See www.caving-gear.co.uk

Oldham DL-16Oldham DL-16 Li-Ion Lamp – thelithium-ion battery and LED versionof the traditional lead acid system.The battery is belt mounted but muchlighter than lead-acid. This is claimedto give similar light output to a 1 amphalogen bulb with 25 hours duration.See www.excellentstuff.co.uk

Cavers Cap LampThis is a unit with the battery built into the light unit itself. There are 7LED’s with different power settings.Broad beam rather than tightfocussed but very good for thosewho do prefer a broad beam.

At a cost of ~£70, with charger, thisis a good light for those just gettinginto caving/mine exploration. Anadvantage or disadvantage is that itcomes with its own helmet bracket –this means that it is not compatiblewith a helmet that already has a lamp

Lighting for Cave & Mine Explorationcontinued ...

mount. Although the whole unit isonly small, it still gives 15 hoursduration on main beam. See

www.caverslamp.com

TrogliteTroglite – another unit with thebattery built into the lamp unit. Incontrast this has a focused mainbeam, 1 watt LED with 6 small LED’sas the sidelight – the sidelight isgood enough to walk underground.The main beam gives 14 hours +duration.

This unit will fit a normal helmetbracket and at a cost of ~£60, withcharger, is another good light for newcomers to caving/mine exploration.See www.troglite.co.uk

PetzlPetzl produce a wide range ofoutdoor and undergroundexploration products, including arange of lights. Many of these lightsare very suitable to carryunderground as back-up lights – ifthey have a headband, there arespecific hooks that can be purchasedto ensure that they do not come off

the helmet. Most of these are notintended to be used as main cave/mine exploration lights.

The Petzl-Duo is one that is intendedfor underground exploration and canbe purchased ready mounted on tohelmets (e.g. Petzl Vertex with Duo)or with a headband. The Duo has twolight compartments – one normallyhas a halogen main beam for lookinga distance and the other compartmentwith a variable number array ofLED’s. In later models, the halogenbulb can be replaced by a main beamLED. The normal battery pack ishelmet mounted and takes 4 x AAbatteries but a belt mounting optionis available.

Note that the standard halogen bulbis 6 volt and not as good with 4 xrechargeable AA’s (i.e. 4.8 volt).See www.petzl.com

Above: KL5M LED Miners Lamp andbattery.

Left: Detail of the KL5M light - singlecentral LED with smaller LEDs asside lights around it.

(Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Below: The self-contained Troglite.

6 “Below” 2010.2

ConversionsLots of individuals make up their ownlight systems or amend other lampsusing various batteries and LED’savailable. Those without theknowledge of electronics canpurchase a ‘Retro 2’ conversion kit(see www.mineexplorer.org.uk) oryou can obtain a lamp re-built froman Oldham head-set with fitted LED’sand Li-Ion batteries (more details onwww.ledcaplamps.com).

The Oldham conversions are fromclub member Roy Fellows. Royprovides a relatively simpleconversion of your existing lamp for~£50 as well as a more powerfulmodel; both of which charge throughthe headset using the same chargeras for Oldham lead-acid cells. Roy isalso developing some very powerfulversions designed to run at a highervoltage.

TorchesThe developments in LED’s havemeant that quite small torches, withthe latest LED’s can be helmetmounted. Rather than the normalheadlamp mounted on a bracket inthe centre of the helmet, some nowchoose to mount small torches onone or both sides of the helmet. Thishas been common practice for use asemergency lights but the improvedlight quality and duration is such that

Lighting for Cave & Mine Explorationcontinued ...

some now to choose to use these asmain lights.

See www.ledlenserusa.com andwww.fenixtorch.co.uk

Tips and CommentsFor many of the lamps describedabove, a degree of adaptation ispossible – many of the headsets canbe run off different battery types butthere will normally be a minimumvoltage to obtain maximumperformance.Many lights have the option ofrunning off AA or flatpack non-chargeable alkaline batteries –rechargeable batteries can be used

but remember that these are lowervoltage and may not be fullysatisfactory.

Lithium-ion batteries seem to betaking over but they do requirecareful charging and storage. Therecommendations are that thesebatteries are kept cold and partcharged – the sensible practice is toput your lamp in the refrigerator afteruse and charge it just before nextuse! Correct charging will be criticalto the life (and safety duringcharging) of lithium-ion cells and theproper chargers will often be asignificant additional cost.

Left:The Retro 2conversion kitfitted to anOldham cap lamp,with 2 brightLEDs.

(Kelvin Lake -I.A.Recordings)

Firefighters RescueDog

On Monday 17th May, at 21:00 afour-year-old black terrier (called Rip)got stuck down a hole into a disuseddrift mine in woodland near UpperCwmbran, Torfaen.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Servicewere called on Tuesday evening. Thefirst attempt to reach the dog, whichwas barking throughout, with the aidof Mines Rescue was called off forthe night after 7 hours, at 02:30.

On Wednesday (19th) a diggerexcavated a 4m hole and the dog,which was trapped behind a smallwall, was finally freed at 10:15.

New Reports 19th May 2010

Wrexham Gas Drilling

Two of the 18 UK sites earmarked byComposite Energy are in theWrexham area.

The company is in the process ofseeking permission for another borehole at Bowling Bank near WrexhamIndustrial Estate.

However, Planning consent for thisoperation was originally refused lastyear, but Composite Energy haslodged an appeal.

The matter will be decided at a publicinquiry in July.

News Reports 8th June 2010

Composite Energy has been giventhe go-ahead to start test drilling forgas in former mining areas near thevillage of Penley, Wrexham.

Wrexham council's planningcommittee approved a 60-day trial,allowing the firm to sink a bore holeon farmland off Hollybush Lane.

The company will drill around theclock in an attempt to find anticipatedstocks of naturally occurringmethane in coal seams.

This work is part of a £15m contractto identify gas sources across formermining areas in Wales, Scotland andEngland.

7“Below” 2010.2

Miners Checks are known to havetaken many forms, they are usuallyold “penny size”, round, square, orsimilar with the name of the collieryand the number of the recipient.However, an article recently appearedin a book “Historical SouthYorkshire”, showing two roundchecks with the name of the colliery“Elsecar Low Pit” and, in the centre,the initials of their recipients “A.L.”and “J.T.”. Research by their presentowner has shown that Elsecar LowPit worked 1840 to 1920 and that theoriginal colliery ledgers still survive.From these the owner discoveredthat ‘A.L.’ was Albert Lomas, collierin February 1881 and ‘J.T.’ was JamesTaylor who was aged only 14 yearsin February 1881.

More recently, however, the writerhas seen a round pit check fromMadeley Wood Colliery, Shropshirewith just the name Madeley and theinscribed name of the recipient. Itwas given to Colin E.Richards in1955, when he was a recruit aged 17and used during his training for pit

Miners ChecksIvor Brown

Figs 1 & 2, Above: Sketches of the Elsecar Low Pit Checks.

Fig 3, Above: an unusual pit checkfrom a Madeley Wood Collieryworker!

work. There seems no doubt aboutthe authenticity of the check, but heis known to have had normal systemchecks (No. 669) at about the sametime.

It is also known now that some of theMadeley Miners themselves hadtheir name engraved on a miners lampafter they had left the pit. This wasnot the normal practice of the NCBand any number found on a lampdoes not usually match the numberof the individual who used it. Thenumber applied only to the lamp.

Welbeck ClosesProduction has ended at WelbeckColliery, Nottinghamshire. The lastshift at the colliery, which dates backto 1912, was worked in early May.

Operators UK Coal had earmarkedthe pit for closure in 2005 as it hadstarted working its final reserves.

Seventy of the 410 miners will be kepton at the site, near Meden Vale, forseveral months to salvage equipmentworth £6m and to seal off the mine. Afurther 120 are transfering to otherpits and 60 have left the industry.

At its height, Welbeck employedabout 1,400 miners and had an annualoutput of around 1.5m tonnes.

In its last six weeks Welbeck hasproduced 360,000 tonnes from its lastface.

Thoresby is now the only remainingworking mine in the county. Haworthhas been mothballed and couldpotentially be re-opened.

Camborne, Pool andRedruth get £5m boostThe Heartlands scheme, designed toopen up access to businesses inCamborne, Pool and Redruth, basedaround the Robinson’s shafts area ofSouth Crofty Tin Mine has beengiven more than £5m of Europeanfunding.

The roads project is part of a largerregeneration initiative for the creationof 6,000 new jobs and thedevelopment of 6,000 homes (on thearea around Robinsons shaft).

Part of the aim is to transform aformer mining area into a culturallandscape.

Heartlands is scheduled to open nextsummer with play-spaces and formalgardens. No mention has been madeabout the plans to renovate theRobinsons engine house and it’sengine or create a museum ‘gateway’to the World Heritage site as wasoriginally proposed.

Nottingham Caves tobe Laser MappedResearchers at the University ofNottingham are using lasertechnology to work out the exactshapes of all of Nottingham'ssandstone caves.

Over the next two years they plan toproduce a virtual fly-through tour ofthe 450 caves in hte city. Whencompleted they plan to put the scansonline for cave lovers across theworld to enjoy.

Nottingham's ‘caves’ date back tothe medieval period. Over the yearsthey have been used as dungeons,beer cellars, cess-pits, tanneries andair-raid shelters.

The area under the modern shoppingis particularly interesting with theremains of tan-pits cut into thesandstone. An easy caving trip is toJeruselum.

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Plateways were developed in the late18th Century and were pioneered byJohn Curr1 . The track consisted of L-shaped plates which allowed the useof tubs with unflanged wheels. Thiswas in contrast to the earlier edgerail, which needed flanged wheels.Whilst of course the edge raileventually became dominant, in theearly 19th Century many systems werebuilt using plate rail. There wereextensive systems in Shropshire; thelast of these were still operational inthe 1950s.

Plate rails, being heavy castings, arecommon artefacts. They had atendency to break and so were oftendiscarded; they also madeconvenient lintels and so found theirway into many buildings.

Typically the plates were attached tostone blocks by means of a spikedriven into a hole drilled in the stoneand filled with a dowel. Cast iron tiebars were also sometimes used; thesehad the advantage of helping tomaintain the correct gauge.

Cast iron chairs were also sometimesused to hold the rails to blocks orsleepers. It seems to be the case that,generally, in early times, the railswere attached directly to the blocks,with chairs appearing as laterrefinements. It is difficult to date the

introduction of chairs. For example,they seem to have been widespreadon certain tramways such as theKington railway, constructed in 1818-19 and have also been found in someplaces on the slightly earlier Hayrailway2 .

However, many plateway systemshad long lives and it is impossible toknow whether the finding of a straychair represents an artefact from thestart or end of the lines existence. Onthe Peak Forest tramway, it isconsidered that chairs becamecommon around the 1830s3 .

In the Wyre Forest Coalfield, aplateway was constructed from awharf on the River Severn in Highleyto a colliery at Billingsley in 1796;about this time or shortly afterwardsa spur was constructed to moremines at Birch Farm in Kinlet4 .

The mines had all closed by 1812 andit is unlikely that the plateway sawmuch use after this. It was amongstthe materials of Billingsley Collieryand associated blast furnace that wasoffered for sale. In 1814 “about 30tons of straight and turned iron rails,and sleepers in proportion” with 43railway wagons were put up forauction. This sale may have been afailure as the complex was offeredagain in 1817; lot VII included “about

50 tons of cast iron rails, sleepers etcnow upon a rail road”5 . Thissuggests that the plateway had notyet been taken up. It appears thatthis sale was more successful as nomore is heard about the mine, furnaceor plateway after this date.

Some years ago I discovered abroken section of plate rail from thissystem whilst putting some stepsinto an embankment along the formertrack. Subsequently more pieces ofrails and a chair were found by SimonCowan and Hugh McQuade whowere tracing its route.

Very recently, I came across anotherchair from the system on the Kinletbank of the Borle Brook at LogwoodMill, SO 740820 (Figure 1). It is castiron, and approximately 6½” x 5”. Atthe one end there is 1” high flange; atthe other is a curled lip about ½”high which extends for only half thelength of the plate; however, it isextended as a slight ridge in thecasting which terminates in aninverted L-shape. There is a ½”diameter hole in the centre of thechair and two in projecting lugs ateither end. There are also 4 lugswhich extend beneath the chair.

The rail I found from the plateway is3½” x 2¼”; the casting is ½” thick. Ithas clearly been broken at the oneend and may also have beenfractured at the other.

A rail found by Simon and Hugh,whilst also broken, has one endcomplete. It is of the same size buthas ½” lugs projecting for about aninch either side of the base plate atthe complete end. These mean thatthe rail would fit comfortably in thechair, with the one lug fitting underthe curved lip and the other touchingthe bottom of the flange. Therewould be room for a key to be drivenbetween the upright section of therail and the flange, to further tightenthe fit. (Figure 2a, b).

The presence of a hole in the chairimplies that there was acorresponding hole in the end of the

An Early Chair from the Billingsley Colliery PlatewayDavid Poyner

Figure 1: The Logwood chair (David Poyner)

9“Below” 2010.2

rail. Whilst no hole is present inSimon and Hugh’s rail, thisarrangement can be found on railsfrom the contemporary plateway atMamble; in Figure 2 a possiblearrangement for fixing a pair of railsto the chair is shown. An alternativeis that two plates butted together atthe centre of the chair, each having ashallow notch to accommodate halfthe width of a spike. A single spikedriven into this with a countersunkhead would secure both plates6 .Bolts or spikes through the holes inthe two projecting lugs would securethe plate to the sleeper; the lugsbeneath the plate would furthersecure the chair and stop it twistingon the sleeper. They would allow theuse of a 4” wide sleeper.

The chair differs in some respectsfrom one found by Simon and Hugh,shown in Figure 2c and d. The twomost significant differences are thattheir chair lacks the upright flangealong the one edge, instead justhaving anther curled lip to take thelug on the rail. Secondly, it lacks thecentral hole. However, it has a similararrangement of lugs underneath it, tohold it to the sleeper.Perhaps the Logwood chair was usedin places where it was thought thatthe track would be subject tosignificant stresses (on sharpbends?) whereas the simpler chairwas for general use.

The Logwood chair is considerablymore sophisticated than thoseillustrated in the accounts of the PeakForest, Hay and Kington railways. Itshows some resemblance to a chairillustrated in an account of theBlisworth railway in Leicestershire,but unfortunately it is not clear wherethis chair was found or its date7 . TheLogwood chair must be no later than1812 and could be as early as 1796.One of the original partners inBillingsley was William Chapman, anoted Newcastle engineer whoplayed an important part in thedevelopment of railways in theregion8 . By 1801, Thomas Telfordwas also a partner in the concern.Thus two eminent engineers were

associated with the venture andpossibly one or the other may havesuggested the use of such chairs.Whoever was responsible for it, it isof some importance as an early,dateable example of advanceddesign.I would like to thank Hugh McQuadefor showing me the material he andSimon Cowan found, and also forsuggestions on how the rail mayhave sat in the chair.

References1 A.W. Skempton, A biographical

dictionary of civil engineers inGreat Britain and Ireland, 163

2 G. Rattenbury and R. Cook, The

Hay and Kington railways, (1996),69-71.

3 P.J. Whitehead, A Report on theIndustrial Archaeology of thePeak Forest Tramway, (2005),http://www.brocross.com/iwps/pages/tram.htm

4 D. Poyner and R. Evans, TheWyre Forest Coalfield (1999), 77-82

5 Salopian Journal Jan 5th 1814;Shrewsbury Chronicle Aug 13th1817

6 See illustrations in Whiteheadand Rattenbury and Cook

7 http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/HillRailway.htm

8 Poyner and Evans

Figure 2: Logwood chair (a, b) and chair found by Simon Cowan and HughMcQuade (c, d), showing the possible arrangement of plate rails .

An Early Chair from the Billingsley Colliery Platewaycontinued ...

Above: Detail of a joint between cast iron fish belly rails of theCromford and High Peak Railway (Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

10 “Below” 2010.2

The Kemberton Pit Disaster, Shropshire, December 4th 1910Ivor Brown

As mentioned in the last issue ofBelow (2010.1, page 17) this year isthe 100th Anniversary of thisincident. The accident was the lastmulti-fatal (more than two) miningdisaster in the County.

There was no special Inquiry intothis winding accident by the Mines’Inspector as there would have been ifit had been an explosion or fire.Haulage and winding accidents werenot considered by Parliament to beimportant even though theyaccounted for the loss of far morelives in the mines. In his annualreport the local Mines’ Inspectorhowever did give full coverage of theresults of his investigation.

“In this incident 5 men and 2boys lost their lives through thebreaking of a winding rope. Theyhad got on the cage and werebeing lowered from the shaftmouth, when the rope suddenlysnapped immediately in front ofthe winding drum, and the cagewith its load fell to the shaftbottom, a distance of 338 yards.The rope had been supplied by awell known firm of makers andwas invoiced by them as ‘1.25inch diameter, our special qualityplough steel rope’. It was put touse on 16th August 1909 and hadtherefore been used for a periodof 16 months”.

The Mines’ Inspector “found itshowed comparatively little evidenceof wear and there was nothingwhatever in its appearance toaccount for its breaking”. Heconcluded “that it was impossiblethat it could have broken undernormal conditions and it must havebeen submitted to a violent jerk”.This was confirmed when heinspected the capping or connectingpoint with the cage support and itcould be seen that the rope had beenpulled out of the capping by oneinch. He could not find anyindication that the jerk had occurreddue to the rope riding over the edgeof the headgear pulley or the windingdrum and dropping on to its axle. Allthe shaft equipment appeared tohave been in order except for thekeps or legs which were pushedunder the cage each time it arrived atthe shaft top. These keps had to bepulled manually by a lever from underthe cage before it could be lowered.The two keps appeared to have beentwisted one foot being one and a halfinches in advance of the other.

After careful consideration of all theabove evidence the Inspector cameto the conclusion that the banksman,whose job it was to pull the kepsfrom under the cage to allow itsdescent had, somehow, not initiallypulled the keps far enough and then

perhaps one of the keps had caughtthe cage and held it. Then somemovement, either of the men in thecage or of the banksman, caused thecage to tip slightly and release itself.Its fall would cause a jerk on theslack rope sufficient to cause it tobreak.

A full account of the events leadingup to the accident and of thosewhich followed is being published bythe Madeley Local History ProjectGroup shortly. At least one otherevent to mark the occasion is beingorganised by the Friends of theIronbridge Gorge Museum. Thisevent will take the form of anillustrated talk by Dr. Ivor Brown on“Madeley Mining Disasters” onWednesday 24th November 2010 at7.30pm in the Meeting Room atCoalbrookdale Museum.

As well as the Kemberton PitDisaster the talk will cover the otherfour known disasters in Madeley.Three miners killed in an explosion atBlists Hill Pit in 1804, 4 men after afire at Madeley Pit in 1810, 9 miners ina shaft accident at Brickkiln Leasowor Crawstone Pit in 1864 and 3 minersgassed by blackdamp at Halesfield in1888.

Members will be very welcome at themeeting.

Below: Cromford and High Peak Railway Co. cast iron fish belly rails preserved with stone sleepers or sets by theMiddleton Top visitor centre, Derbyshire. (Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

An Early Chair from the Billingsley Colliery Plateway continued ...

11“Below” 2010.2

Some Notes on the Mines of the Lilleshall Company, No.4Pits in the Donnington Field (Colliery), Ivor Brown

12 GranvilleSJ 725 120Worked: Coal and ironstone.

Sunk: 1856-60. It was a NationalisedColliery from January 1st 1947.

Closed: 1979

Shafts: According to the publishedshaft section, the shaft reached atemporary bottom at 356 yards depthon 31st July 1860, from where thetwo-yard thick Double Coal and theBlue Flat Ironstone could be worked.

By 1891 the two 10ft. diameter shaftswere 400 yards deep, but No.2 Shaftwas widened to 16ft. diameter anddeepened to 444 yards during 1954-56. The bottom-most valuable coal isbelieved to have been the LancashireLadies at about 409 yards. Granvillewas intended to “open up” theEasternmost area of the field. It is theonly separately listed pit under theLilleshall Company name on theofficial list of collieries for 1860, allother pits were shown as part of agroup.

Winding: Initially there was only onewinding engine, but this was placedbetween the shafts. It worked onNo.1 Shaft.

In 1870 there was a company-builtvertical (32 in. diameter cylinder, 5ft.stroke, 40 psi), non-condensingsteam engine in use, which acted bydirect connection to a drum shaft. Asecond engine, added back-to-backlater had two 16 inch diameter verticalcylinders.

Flat wire ropes were in use at bothshafts. In the 1940s the CompanyEngineer, Atkinson, described theengines as; at No.1 Pit a singlecylinder vertical, connecting to thewinding drum by crank, with 2 flatropes, and at No.2 Pit there was a pairof engines with vertical cylinders andtwo flat rope drums. These engineswere removed in 1949-50 andreplaced by a 670 hp electric engineat No.1 Pit. At the same time thewooden headframe was replaced by asteel one.

A plaque on the No.1 Pit Enginehouse wall stated that the electricwinder was commissioned in 1949,the first to be ordered and installedby the NCB.

In 1966-7 a 2700 hp winder fromHampstead Colliery was installed atNo.2 Pit. This had formerly been thepumping shaft.

Pumping: In 1870 the pumpingengine was described as being of theCornish type, Company built with a24 inch cylinder, 10 ft. stroke, steampressure of 24 psi, condensing,working three sets of pumps, lowest9 in. (lifting), middle 14 in. (forcing)and top set 14 in. (forcing); raisingwater from a depth of 200 yards.

The engineer, Atkinson, did notmention a steam pumping engine atthe pit in the 1940s, so presumably ithad been removed by then, althoughthe engine house remained.

At Nationalisation in 1947, there wasan electric (?) pump at the New MineSeam level at No.2 shaft, which liftedthe water to the surface, but thispump was stopped in 1954 when theshaft was filled for re-widening anddeepening. According to Ian Myatt,pumping was then carried out bymeans of a ‘Lee Howl’ pump set on aconcrete plinth about 20 yards intothe return airway. “The containersystem for the water from the inbyepumps was a series of metal tanksabout 4 yards cubed, linked bypipework”

Above: Detail of the vertical strata at the bottom of the Granville shafts, fromthe Lilleshall Company’s 1864 shaft section scroll. (Shropshire Archive)

Below: The original single winding engine house, between the 2 shafts onthe Lillleshall Company’s 1864 shaft section scroll, drawn by T.Doody.(Shropshire Archive)

12 “Below” 2010.2

This system continued until shaftdeepening was complete in 1956 andpumping then reverted to No.2 Shaft,the new sump being formed at thebottom, 444 yards down.

In the 1960s there were 2 electricPulsometer Pumps; one 67½ hp, 3-stage pump, with a head of 600 ft.,pumping 227 gallons per minute from559 ft. depth and a second; 7 stagepump of 95 hp with a head of 1261 ft.pumping 158 gallons per minute from1,211 ft. depth.

Ventilation: In 1870 the pit wasventilated by a furnace at pit bottom,which produced about 35,000 cu. ft.air per minute. By 1890 this had beenreplaced by a 20 ft. diameter GuibalFan driven by steam and producingabout 43,000 cu. ft. per minutethrough 2,500 ft. of ventilationairway. In 1947 there was still aGuibal Steam Fan in use, but in 1948/9 it was replaced by a DavidsonSirocco Axial Flow Fan. This wasagain replaced by a 375 hp WalkerMacord Fan in 1951. In 1953 this fanwas transferred to Grange Pit as partof the merger. Granville shafts thenbecame the downcast shafts.

Methane: Methane drainage (andsale) was practised at Granville Pitduring the 1960s using drill rods, aNash-Hytor pump and a pipe range.Initially the mine gas was exhaustedinto the return airway, but later it waspumped by underground pipe rangeto Grange pit and from there toWellington Gas Works.

Above: Granville Colliery about 1944, prior to modernisation. The Cornishpump appears to have been removed at this date, as the engine house (onthe left) is empty.

Below: The plaque on the wall of the No.1 Electric winder house, GranvilleColliery in 1979. (Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Below: Granville Colliery as it appeared on the 1902 Ordnance Survey map.Scale: 1:4000

Some Notes on the Mines of the Lilleshall Company, No.4Pits in the Donnington Field (Colliery), continued ...

13“Below” 2010.2

Employed: The number of personsemployed gradually increased overthe years from 211 in 1894, through272 in 1905, 250 in 1917, 334 in 1923,329 in 1936, 295 in 1945, 331 in 1948,386 in 1950, 570 in 1955 (after mergerwith Grange), 537 in 1964, 882 in 1969(after the transfer of some 350 menfrom Kemberton Pit in 1966/7). Fromthis date numbers gradually fell againto 512 just before closure in 1979.

Granville pit suffered many accidentsand events over the years, includingthe loss of 3 lives in one incidentinvolving the pump rods in the shaftin 1904 (in consequence of whichpart of the mine was flooded causingdeath to 4 ponies and hunger to 15others).

There was a 6 month strike of minersin 1913. Other incidents included,even in recent years, fires,spontaneous combustion andexplosions (see references).

Granville pit was probably the last pitto work under the Chartermastersystem (to 1913). It was the very lastpit to operate in the County ofShropshire when it closed in 1979.

Production: This has varied over theyears; in the first full year aftermerger in 1954 over 152,000 tons wasproduced and this rose to 206,000 in1958. By 1970 the peak output hadbeen 300,000 tons per year, but was

falling again, to about 200,000 in 1972and 145,000 in 1977. The pit wasclosed in 1979, the NCB giving themain problem as “geological”

Nothing remains of the mainbuildings and the site is now aCouncil Tip.

References1. “Granville Colliery

Reconstruction”, Colliery Engng,Jan. 1960

2. “Granville CollieryReconstruction”, Iron & CoalTrades Review, Jan. 1960

3. “Reconstruction of Lilleshall &Madeley Wood Collieries”,Colliery Guardian, Aug. 1953

Some Notes on the Mines of the Lilleshall Company, No.4Pits in the Donnington Field (Colliery), continued ...

4. “Spontaneous Combustion atGranville Colliery”, I.J.Brown,Below 2007.3

5. “Granville Colliery Disaster 1904”,I.J.Brown, Shropshire Unfolded,Dec. 1998

6. “Gas Problems at GranvilleColliery”, I.J.Brown, Below 2007.1

7. “Ignition of Firedamp at GranvilleColliery, 1960”, I.J.Brown, Below2007.2

8. “Lilleshall Mines RescueStation”, I.J.Brown, Below 96.3

AcknowledgementsThanks to R.Rushton, I.Myatt andT.Price for reading the original scriptand making useful comments.

Below: Ray Rushton standing by the last tub of coal produced at Granville.

Below: View of the main Granville buildings in 1979 from Grange Lane.(Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

14 “Below” 2010.2

Paddock Mount Developments

The trees on Paddock Mount were cut down inFebruary, before the birds started nesting andit has dramatically opened up the sky line!

The plan seems to be to remove most of themount - a huge task considering it’s size,presumably they’ll dig a hole to put it in!

A number of mine shafts have been revealedon the mound. Two of them, covered byconcrete pads with drain pipes in the middleare on the brow of the mound by the traffic

Above: The Mount as it appeared in late February.

Left: The same corner on June 12th - with theHollywood style “Dawley” sign and a fenced area (topleft) which contains 2 large concrete pads with drainholes in the middle. (See below)

Above and right: The M. & J. Drilling Services rig onthe shaft at the Northern end of the Paddock Mount pitmound.

(Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

lights in Finger Road, while another one, which iscurrently being treated (by M. & J. Drilling Services -former sponsors of ‘Below’) is at the Northern end ofthe mound near the High Street.

Some local artists have also recently erected aHollywood style sign on the mound.

How this project will be affected by Public spendingcuts remains to be seen.

Right:Looking upFinger Road tothe traffic lights,with PaddockMount on theright.

15“Below” 2010.2

What the Papers Said - From the Colliery Guardiansubmitted by Steve Dewhirst

I REGRET to state that no improvement is, as yet,visible in the demand for iron. Prices, consequentupon competition, and the practice of undersellingon the part of some of the South Staffordshirefirms, are still receding. Some improvement in theshape of home orders has been manifest at some ofthe foundries for finished articles of a useful kind,also for bar iron. The price of the latter article isusually so much above that of the South Staffordshiremakers, that smiths often get supplied from theSouth Staffordshire makers.

Some of the blast furnaces in the neighbourhoodhave suffered from a formation of zinc, which,notwithstanding attempts to dislodge it, accumulatesin masses around the interior, so as to choke up thework. In a furnace recently blown out for repair,belonging to Beriah Botfield, Esq., M.P., as much as11 tons 9 cwt. has been cleared away. From aspecimen I have seen, and in the opinion of Mr.Onions, the White Flat, one of the ores in use in thatdistrict, contributes largely to produce the state ofthings described. I believe, however, that nearly allthe iron ores of the Shropshire field contain aportion; crystals of that metal are often foundforming a sort of nucleus wherever a nodule havinga fossil occurs.

In the COLLIERY GUARDIAN, some monthsago, I directed attention to a very futile attemptmade by a landed proprietor in this neighbourhoodto sink for coal in strata which any tyro in geologywould know to be silurian. Fortunately for the

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT MADELEYThe Iron Trade in Shropshire—Zinc from the Ore—Sinkings in Silurian Limestones.

estate, water has at last put a stop to theproceedings, after a large outlay of money, and anamount of anxiety and perseverance worthy abetter cause. The error was so palpable from thefirst, that it is really astonishing how any man couldhave been led astray. The first spadeful of earth,after the surface soil had been removed, broughtup silurian fossils by handsful; yet, mislead by itscolour and appearance, they were declared to beone of the coal-measure shales. In this shale and itsunderlying silurian member, men have beenfruitlessly labouring for eighteen months or more.

What makes the matter still more preposterous is,that the millstone grit, which marks the passagefrom the carboniferous formation to the siluriansystem, lies in an elevated ridge but a few hundredyards from the sinkings, while the cuttings into thestrata from the high grounds where the severalshafts have been sunk, to the river below, made bybrooks, display every variation of rock down tothe base of the Wenlock limestone. As is usual insuch cases, every one who offered a disinterestedopinion upon the matter was suspected to be inthe pay or under the influence of some coal or ironcompany of the district.

For the honour of our countrymen, let me say, thewiseacre who conducted the proceedings is aforeigner, who professed to bel ieve thegovernment survey maps erroneous, and who, Ibelieve, is entirely ignorant of geology.

24th July 1858

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT COALPORTThe Branch Railway from Hadeley to Madeley.

Some time back it was understood that this line wasto terminate al Madeley, instead of, as was originallyintended, at Coalport Bridge. The reason assignedfor stopping short of Coalport was the veryconsiderable engineering difficulties presented inthe formation of the line down Madeley Lane. Sincethen, however, that resolution has been abandoned,and it is now determined that the whole of thebranch line shall be carried out in its integrity.

The loss of water in the upper canal leading fromStirchley to Donnington incline is so great thatprevious to the late rains the five-ton boats couldconvey along this distance only a freight of one ton.

The working of stone pits near to the canal hascaused a serious loss of water; indeed it is quitepossible that the formation of a kind of lock—socalled—at the spot where the water escapes mayhave contributed quite as much to the depth ofwater as the recent heavy fall of rain.

One thing, however, is clear, that should theworking of pits be continued, there will be afailure of water. To remedy this the railway worksare being vigorously pushed on at that part of theline where the water escapes.

30th October 1858

16 “Below” 2010.2

‘Beehive’ Brick Structures at Shropshire PitsIvor Brown

Structures with a brick bonnet-shaped top looking like an old bee-hive were once fairly common atcollieries in the CoalbrookdaleCoalfield. One of the uses of thesestructures was to cap off disusedmine shafts, another was to form ashelter at the road-crossing on theLilleshall Company’s 20 mile privaterailway. A third use, of which less isknown, was to provide a workingplace for more general surfaceworkers. It is possible that at leastone of the latter was constructed byconverting an old bee-hive typecoking oven or similar kiln.

Bee-hive covered shafts could still befound in the 1940s and 50s, the writeras a child played around two at theLloyds and Orchard Lane, MadeleyWood, but others still existedelsewhere (see Fig.1). Most werebroken-in and the shafts filledfollowing the loss of a boy down ashaft at Priorslee in the late 1940s.

The bee-hive covers almost alwaysseemed to have a hole in the top andthe writer like everyone else used tolie on the covers to look through thehole and down the shaft! He nowappreciates fully the dangers in this!

Having seen how archwork wasformed by bricklayers using woodentemplates. The writer wonders nowhow the caps were made, particularlyover the larger diameter shafts. Henever found evidence of timberinside the domes, which would havebeen sealed in when capping wascomplete. Nor has he found the holeswhere the timber bracing was held,such as appear at intervals, along theTar Tunnel and other local tunnels.

Bee-hive shelters for railway flagmenhave been reported at OakengatesStation Hill (see Fig.4, right, and thephotographs in “LilleshallCompany’s Railways” by Bob Yate,page 90, and the Rookery pits in thesame book, page 95) and the LodgeCrossing. A photograph thatappeared in the local newspaper on5th August 1973 is said to be thethird but as seen below there aredoubts about this.

The Photograph (Fig.5) has beenprovided by Neville Surman whosays that he was told it was a ‘PitCabin’ or workshop and that the twomen in front were his uncles on theirway to enrol at the local pit afterdemob in 1945. The photographhowever shows that it’s a conversionfrom something else (note the filled ingap by the door), it has an extensionto the rear on the right, and that ithas a very substantial chimney.

One correspondent has said that heremembers it as a blacksmiths shopfor fitters repairing the Lilleshall

Fig. 1: Typical Shropshire ‘Past-time’. Edwin Thorpe looking into theMilburgh Shaft cap, 1982.(Peter Eggleston - I.A.Recordings)

Fig. 2: Beehive shaft cap atCaughley. (Kelvin Lake-I.A.Recordings)

Fig. 3, Left:

Shaft filling at OrchardLane, Madeley Wood in1974. (I.J.Brown)

Fig. 4, Right:

Local railwayman’s hut.(from “RememberingDonnington - Hopes andmemories of local people”,Anon, c1980s)

Company’s own railway trucks. Theanvil, truck and metal bars in thepicture probably confirms this. Aforge inside would need a chimneyand the extension at the back couldprovide a store or stoke hole for thefuel. But could this be a singlesurvivor of a batch of beehive cokeovens - see figure 6.

There were coking arrangements atseveral local pits, although the writerhas seen no evidence of beehivekilns being used. Local methods seeninclude rectangular kilns and openheaps.

17“Below” 2010.2

Other “beehive” topped structures are known in localmining including the use of one at Guest Deep Pit as acabin, but surrounded by tipped material (“circularstructures supported the side pressures better thanrectangular”, see Below 2008.4) and the finding of a“kiln” in a pit heap at Mossey Green (see SCMCJournal 1977).

The writer’s grandfather Griffiths was a “masterbricklayer” who specialised locally in round structuresand kilns (walling brick shafts, chimneys and kilns - helost his foot in one job at Hinksay). So there werespecialists in the area who could do “beehives”,probably over shafts too. He and his six sons are nowdead, so cannot be asked how it was done. Has anyoneany ideas?

NoteThe photograph of the “bee-hive shaped workshop”(Fig. 5) has been supplied by Neville Surman of Yate.

In front are his two uncles Charles and Dennis Kinseyen-route to Grange Colliery to get a job in 1945. Theyare wearing their wartime demob suits. The dog was thefamily pet called Scamp, born 1940.

The structure has been identified as being theblacksmiths/fitters shop used to repair Lilleshall Co.wagons, it was situated at the Lodge Crossing (NGR:SJ 716 120 approx.). The structure was apparentlyreplaced by a portable building c1950, which was laterremoved (A photograph survives showing thisremoval).

Mr. Surman supplied a second photograph of hisuncles at Grange Pit which appeared in Below 2010.1,p12. It is understood that their mission was successful.

The assistance of Mr. T.Price and R.Rushton inproviding information is acknowledged.

‘Beehive’ Brick Structures at Shropshire Pitscontinued ...

Fig. 6, Above:Beehive Coking Ovens. (ICS reference Library 1906)

Fig. 5, Above:

Charles and Dennis Kinsey outside the cabin at at theLodge crossing, 1945. (Neville Surman)

Figs. 7 & 8, Below:

Beehive shaft caps at Longway Bank, Whatstandwell,Derbyshire in 1985. The larger one (which EdwinThorpe is looking into) has now been ‘capped’. (KelvinLake - I.A.Recordings)

18 “Below” 2010.2

News Round-Up 2

Marble Arch MilestoneWhen famous cave explorer EdouardAlfred Martel discovered the MarbleArch caves in Fermanagh 1895, hethought they would make a goodtourist attraction.

Ninety years later, the caves wereopened to the public, and Mantelwas proved right. Over 1.2m peoplehave visited the caves in Fermanaghsince 1985, which celebrated the 25thAnniversary of their opening to thepublic on 28th May. They are one ofNorthern Ireland’s most importanttourist destinations.

Walkways and electrically poweredboats allow visitors to see an array ofcave features, including stalactites,stalagmites, mineral veils, cavecurtains and rimstone pools.

The exceptional geological heritageof the caves was recognised in 2004when the area was awarded Geoparkstatus by UNESCO.

Due to excessive peat cutting on thelimestone hills above the systemheavy rain quickly finds it’s way intothe cave now, as was discoveredwhen Club members tried to visit thesite in 2003 (after the Irish NAMHOconference), flood water was lappingat the entrance steps and the caveexit was a solid wall of water!

Above: Flood waters in the MarbleArch Rising in 2003.

(Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Clogau For SaleJewellery firm Clogau Gold Limited ishoping not to lose out if aninternational company takes over thegold prospecting licence for thefamous St David's Gold mine inBontddu, near Dolgellau.

Overseas gold prospectors arereputed to be in talks with the CrownEstate over the licence at the mine.Clogau Gold currently produce alltheir jewellery from supplies minedbefore the closure of St David’s, butsay the company is growing at sucha rate it is consuming those suppliesat an increased pace. They feel theywould be the natural point of contactfor anyone wishing to sell gold andregularly buy from local prospectorsand panners.

The mine operated for 150 yearsbefore its closure in 1998 due to thesoaring cost of health and safetymeasures.

Gold from Clogau is reputed to havebeen used for many royal weddingrings, for example The Queen,Princess Diana, Princess Margaretand the Queen Mother all had theirrings made with gold extracted fromthe Clogau St David's mine.

News Reports 8th June 2010

Carbon Storage PlansExperts believe the CaptainSandstone field which lies half a milebelow the sea bed of the Moray Firthcould be used to store 95% of CO

2

from Scotland’s coal-fired powerstations.

A study funded by industry and theScottish government is using newgeological mapping to assess thethickness of the rocks and theircarbon storage potential in an areaclaimed to be “twice the size of Fife”and “as big as Belgium”.

The storage system would involvecarbon displacing the sea water inthe porous rock (won’t this then raisesea levels?). Researchers will also beevaluating the challenges of gettingcaptured CO

2 into the rock surface.

News Reports June 2010

Slate Dam DrainedWater from the reservoir at HendreDdu, Gwynedd, (which is between10m to 15m deep) has been drainedso that engineers could strengthenthe dam.

The dam was consider unfit byengineers working for the ForestryCommission, to cope with suddenfloods. The thickness of the dam wallwas increased by one metre and thevolume of the spillway increased toimprove run-off from the reservoir.

The Hendre Ddu Slate and SlabCompany was established in 1864 bySir Edmund Buckley, whichspecialised in producing slate slabsfor billiard table beds. Water from thereservoir powered machinery in slatecutting sheds. There are several slatemines in the area: Abergynolwyn,Corris and Aberllefenni.

Earliest NeanderthalsTwo pieces of flint unearthed atmotorway works in Dartford, Kent,have now been dated to 110,000years ago. The flints date to a timewhen no humans were thought to bein Britain and have pushed back thepresence of Neanderthals in Britainby 40,000 years or more.

An absence of archaeologicalevidence suggests peopleabandoned Britain between 200,000years ago (or 160,000 years ago,depending on who you ask) and65,000 years ago.

Archaeologists from OxfordArchaeology (working for theHighways Agency on the M25/A2road junction at Dartford) have datedthe sediment in which the hand axeswere sitting to 110,000 years ago,placing them squarely within the“abandonment period”, but at a timewhen sea levels were droppingcreating a ‘land bridge’ across theEnglish Channel.

However, not all researchers areconvinced by the evidence presentedso far.

BBC News Reports 1st June 2010

19“Below” 2010.2

Report on MCRO AGM & Other Rescue ItemsJune 2010

Cave Rescue Round-up,Trips and Digs

Tony’s TripsA brief round-up of trips in Mayundertaken by Tony Wilson.

Dinas Silica MineThere are mines on both sides of theriver Neath. The one on the far bankis smaller but still worth a visit. Alarge chamber leads into levels. Youcan follow the rails or zig zag throughthe chambers. Half-a-day mine trip,well worth a visit.

Llanfair Slate QuarryAn old show mine. If you are in thearea and it is raining, find somethingelse to do! That’s not very fair, it is ina unique position on the coast andthe intresting fact is that it wasstarted by 2 Cornish Men!

AberleifenniVery deep mine, main tramming levelno rails just four wheel drive tracksstraight through the hill. More toexplore. Will need to return to thismine.

RatgoedOld quarry workings linked by shortlevels. Bolted traverse line broken,possible SRT trip. Best of the daywas exploring the old Ratgoed hallnow derelict. Long way off the road.

CwmorthinLevel 1 NorthA route has been found leading up tofloor 3 North. A fabled floatingbridge. The route is still going.

Old Vein InclineExplored down to level 3 a fine set ofsteps.

OakleyOver the rails in the drainage leveland explored the stripy vein.

Lower Back Vein InclineTo round the day off we descendedthe back vein incline and returned upthe slab steps A RIGHT GOODDAY!

If you have spare time int he weekand fancy a trip, it is worthcontacting Tony.

There was a well attended AGM forMCRO on 13th May. Most of thediscussion does not need reportingback to SCMC but there are a numberof points worth noting:

1. There continue to be externalpressures for all CRO’s to havebetter documentation and beingable to demonstrate its degree ofcompetence.

2. There have been changes withMCRO Officers with: Chair -Steve Holding, Secretary - MikeClayton, Treasurer - DaveBowdley.

3. We have increased the number ofWardens in Shropshire but this isnot in accord with the MCROconstitution - some change willbe required.

4. It has been agreed to haveadditional MCRO CommitteeMeetings and one has beenagreed to be held in Snailbeachon 7th August 2010.

5. There is a ‘major’ MCRO RescuePractice scheduled to be held inShropshire on 4th September witha training day on 5th September.We will look to arrange campingfor Dudley members and membersfrom other CRO’s.

Mentioned at the AGM & somethingfor discussion by SCMC is theproposal that SCMC and DCC ceasehaving separate rescue equipmentand funds and that this all betransferred to MCRO (to be initiallydiscussed by Shropshire Wardens).

Some SCMC members are also on thecall out list for the new South & Mid-Wales Cave Rescue Team(previously West Brecon & GwentTeams) and attedned their Mid-Wales Mine Rescue Practice onSaturday 19th June (along withcolleagues from Dudley CC andNorth Wales CRO).

Steve Holding

News from Mountain Rescue England & WalesMidland CRO through it’smembership of the British CaveRescue Council (BCRC) is entitled toattend and be involved in meetingsand events organised by MountainRescue England and Wales (MREW)- formerly known as the MountainRescue Council of England andWales.

On behalf of MCRO I’ve attended thelast two 6 monthly meetings ofMREW. While most of the businessconcerns Mountain Rescue, the mainknock on effect for Cave Rescue isthe desire to improve training anddocumentation for all rescue teams.

This will effect us mainly in the desirefor teams to meet 10 core capabilities- most of which we can do already.

MREW are also working ondeveloping a standard PoliceInsurance scheme to cover rescuers -in theory it comes into play on 1stAugust, but it’s not clear if WestMercia and West Midlands Policehave signed up to the scheme yet.

Another initiative is the developmentof a National Benevolent Fund toprovide relief to anyone injuredwhich taking part in a rescue. Therelief would be in the form of grants(repayable) to help injured rescuerswhile they are unable to work. Workon the fund is currently in it’s earlystages, but there will be an individualmembership category.

The BCRC Incident reports for 2009,show that due to the dog rescue atOld Grit, MCRO was more active thanGloucester Cave Rescue Group - whohad no call outs!

Kelvin

Club DigsPitchcroft - the engine houseexcavations have been suspendedfor the summer. David Adams hassent an initial report to the farmer andDuchy of Cornwall Agent.

Yew Tree - the fall beyond thedam is proving bigger and harderthan expected, so extra mid-weeksessions have been scheduled.

20 “Below” 2010.2

Regarding John Heathcote's letter inthe last issue about Spar Cave onSkye, he mentions there are reallimestone caves on Skye as well.

I visited one such cave there lastyear; High Pasture Cave (Uamh anArd Achadh), which is particularlyinteresting due to it having being thescene of an ongoing archeologicaldig which has uncovered evidence ofprehistoric human activity.

Letters to the Editor

I have attached a few photos of thecave (below), including one lookingout towards a man-made entrance,dating I believe, from the bronze-age.

Information about the cave(discovered in 1972 by students fromthe University of LondonSpeleological Society) can be foundat www.high-pasture-cave.org

Alun Cureton

Below, left: View looking out of thecave towards a man-made entrance.

Below, right and bottom: Views of acouple of passages within the cavecomplex. There is approximately320m of accessible passageswithin the cave (making it thesecond longest cave complex onSkye), formed in the CambrianDurness Limestone.

Pictures: Alan Cureton

Volunteers WantedThe High Pastures Cave &Environs Project are asking forvolunteers to help with theirfieldwork for the 2010 season.

The second half of thisseasons dig starts on 4th July(continues until September),visit their web site for contactdetails:

www.high-pasture-cave.org

21“Below” 2010.2

Library Additions

During renovation work at an early19th cottage near Catherton Common,Clee Hill, the iron objects illustratedin the picture below, were found; onewas buried in plaster beneath thefloor of an outhouse and the otherwas embedded within a wall.

Letters, Library, and News

They are about 7 inches long and3/8ths of an inch thick. The end ofthe top one has clearly beenhammered as it is slightly flattened.

These do not look like any nails that Ihave ever seen and they look to bethe wrong shape to be hooks. Could

Below: Iron objects found at a cottage on the Clee Hill. The scale bar at the top is 6 inches.

they be part of a set of plug andfeathers to split stone?

Plugs were iron wedges driven intoholes bored into rocks to force asplit. Any thoughts would bewelcome!

David PoynerDavid@D-Poyner.freeserve.co.uk

New Power StationA full planning application for a £3bncoal-fired power station withexperimental carbon capture andstorage (CCS) technology atHunterston in Ayrshire has beensubmitted to the Scottishgovernment by Ayrshire Power.

If the proposal is approved, thefacility would be the first of its kindin the UK. Environmentalists opposethe scheme saying it will damagelocal wildlife and the environment.

The proposals are for a site betweenthe existing Clydeport coal handlingfacility at the Hunterston Terminal,and the Hunterston B nuclear powerplant. The developers said thefacility could provide energy to threemillion homes, while capturing andstoring carbon emissions if thattechnology can be proven. CCStechnology turns the carbon dioxideproduced by the station into liquidusing chemicals and stores itunderground.

A public consultation on theapplication is due to run until 15 July.

BBC News Reports 2nd June 2010

Subterranea Britannica,Subterranea, Issue 22: April2010 - This entire issue is devoted tothe “Story of the Central GovernmentWar Headquarters - ‘Top Secret -Acid’” (a new secrecy classificationintroduced in the 1960s). It alsoincludes a loose leaf index toSubterranea, from issue 11 (August2006) to issue 20 (September 2009).Issue 23: June 2010 - contains theusual mix of news items, and articleson bunkers, tunnels around Europe.

NAMHO Newsletter June 2010 -features an update on the ResearchFramework for the Archaeology ofthe Extractive Industries, details onthe current state of Dorotheapumping engine house, plus detailsof forthcoming conferences by theNorthern Mines Research Soc. &Welsh Mines Soc. (see back page).

Field Guide to StiperstonesMines, Edited by Adrian Pearce, A5,60pp. Published on behalf of theShropshire Mines Trust, to providean introductory field guide to themines of the Stiperstones area.

North Wales Caving ClubNewsletter, Issue 314, April2010. A new look and new editor forthis issue. Trip reports to OHA, thereport on the Three Counties SurveyProject, and brief caving trip news.

Mendip Caving Group - MCGNews, No.359, October 2009 -Includes an update on conservationwork in Bone Hole, Cheddar Gorge.MCG News, No.360, February2010. A mix of news and trip reports- Titan, Skye, Sicily, King Mine andBone Hole update.

Norfolk Mineral & LapidarySociety, Stone Chat Vol.30,No.3, Spring 2010 - Severalinteresting items about gem stonesand a larger item on the preservationof Wheal Peevor, (near Redruth).Stone Chat Vol.30, No.4,Summer 2010 - features an item onBickerton Copper mine (andencourages readers to search out thecopper mines in the Wem area.. Plusnews items about Mineral TramwaysTrail and mine preservation work inCornwall.

22 “Below” 2010.2

ISBN: 978-906663-09-4Softback, 320 pages, over 200 b&wphotographs, drawings and plans.Price £12.95.

Books

The Lead, Copper & BarytesMines of Shropshire

By Michael Shaw, Logaston press.

Ratgoed- A Study in Slate,The Quarries, the Tramway

and the Social Life of aMerionethshire Valley

By Sara Eade, SB, A4, 132pp fullcolour photos - cost £15.00 + P&P

This in one of the best books I haveseen for a while, it is well researched,contains excellent photography andis everything it says on the tin. Thisis not just a run of the millphotographic volume, it has a clearlogical text throughout.

The photos are mainly in colour withsome archive black and white archivephotos. A very well produced book,and a bargin at £15.

Mike Moore

The Riches Beneath ourFeet - How Mining Shaped

BritainThe author, Geoff Coyle, is analumnus of the Royal School ofMines at Imperial College London.

The book details the history ofmining in Britain, from the early flintmines to the present day. Coyle looksat the history of a wide range ofminerals, including copper, tin, chinaclay, lead, zinc, slate, granite,limestone, salt, coal, and iron.

The book focusses on the tales ofminers’ lives, their work, theconditions, and mining disasters.Geoff, as a former mining engineerand from a mining family, is wellqualified to tell this story, andweaves his personal experience andpassion into the book, illuminatingthe industrial history, geology, andtechnology.

The book closes on the present stateand future possibilities for Britishmining.Price is £20.00 + P&P

Both books above are available fromMike Moore at Club meetings oronline at www.moorebooks.co.uk

Field Guide to StiperstonesMines, Shropshire

Edited by Adrian Pearce, A5, 60ppPrice: £6.00 inc P&P

Published on behalf of theShropshire Mines Trust, This pocket-sized (A5) book provides anintroductory field guide to the minesof the Stiperstones area.

Snailbeach is world famous howeverother mines in the area are alsoworthy of a visit. This guidedescribes 12 of the ‘main’ mines inthe area, giving the NGR of each,along with advice on any accessrestrictions the visitor may face.

There is also a potted history of eachsite, with photographs and notesabout the surviving remains. Thereare a number of mistakes whichshould have been corrected beforegoing to print, such as technicaldescriptions ending in mid-sentence.

The book is designed for a non-technical visitor to the area to be ableto spend a day driving around to seeeach site and in that respect it willachieve it’s aim.

Price: £6.00 inc P&P

Hard Graft - Botallack Minein the 20th Century

By Peter Joseph, SB, 238pp colourand black and white photos.

This book covers the last years ofone Cornwall’s premier mines. Themine is famous for the cliff sideCrowns Engines Houses which areprobably the most photographed ofany in the world Most of what can beseen on surface dates back to thesuccessful re-working of the minebetween 1907-1914.

In this volume Peter Joseph hasresearched and put together thepreviously unpublished details of thefinal phase of this famous mine .There are maps descriptions andphotographs which will enable thevisitor and historian to make sense ofthe site. The pioneering conservationof the Crowns Engine houses is alsotold in detail. What I do like aboutthe book are the excellent mapsshowing locations of the mine andassociated works.

Price: £16.99 + P&P

Available from the Miners Dry VisitorCentre, Snailbeach or Mike Moore atClub meetings, or online atwww.moorebooks.co.uk

23“Below” 2010.2

Books and Videos

Glengowla

for details of availability visit: www.iarecordings.org

A TOUR OF IRELAND’S FIRST SHOW MINEGlengowla lead mine nearOughterard, County Galway inIreland started in 1851 and miningwas suspended in 1865. During thatshort 14 year period, 545 squaremetres was stoped to produce 390tonnes of lead containing 28kilograms of silver.

Today the mine is rich in what wasleft behind by the miners.

Underground, many artefacts can beseen, including ladders, pump rodsand pipes, pulleys, windlasses, guidechutes and timbers.

There is also a scintillating variety ofminerals: Marble, dolomite, quartz,calcite, barite, sphalerite, chalcopyriteand very rare blue/greenoctahedral fluorite. Vugs largeand small are lined with gleamingcrystals.

On the surface, the powdermagazine, blacksmith’sworkshop and the agent’scottage have been restored andthe stables is a museumfeaturing mining history,minerals from this mine and allover the world and items rescuedfrom the mine.

A hand windlass and a horse-ginhave been constructed over theshafts where they had originallybeen used.

The mine is owned by theGeoghegan family who havedone an astonishing amount of

work to stabilise the surface, pump-out the mine, build steps to giveaccess to the upper workings, andrepair the buildings.

This DVD shows highlights of theunderground tour, then goes evendeeper to show what might be seenin the future!

Extra chapters feature Dr. MatthewParkes telling us what is specialabout Glengowla Mine, Dr. MartinFeely describing the fascinatinggeology of the area, and a tour of themine museum with PaddyGeoghegan.

£12.95 DVD(£10 to Club Members at meetings)

Pitmen, Poachers andPreachers - Life and thePoor Law in the Madeley

Union of Parishes 1700-1930by Ken Jones, published by the DogRose Press, Ludlow, 2009.This book takes each of the parishesthat formed the Madeley Union andcovers how they treated the poor,under the Poor Lawt before theUnion was formed and afterwards,giving numerous examples. Thoseinterested in Social history will findthis a valuable addition ot theirbookshelf. The book also contains anoral history CD “Days They Recall”,with a number of interviews withlocal people about their working livesand families, conducted by Ken (whorecently received an MBE in theQueens Birthday Honnours, for hisservices to Local History).Price £25. ISBN 978-0-9528367-5-9

The Cooksons - AShropshire Family History

1639 - 2001A private publication about aShropshire mining family ofPontesbury and Madeley. Moreinformation will be available later.

Ivor Brown

(Club members will recall that“Samuel Cookson 1878-1955,Madeley Miner”, by Ivor Brownappeared in Below 1998.3 as part ofthe ‘Mining Characters’ series).

The Mines of the PeakDistrict - An underground

Field Guide Volume 1By Byron Machin, A5, sb, 36 pp,colour, illustrated with photographs.

Byron has set out to provide adetailed underground guide to themines of the peak district. Each mineand level has an exact gridrefernceand details of pitch lengths and aditlength In this volume he includes -Mines of the Manifold Valley - EctonHill - The Bincliffe Mine Mines - TheDove valley - The Churnet Valley -The Mines of Axe Edge.Price: £4.00 + P&P

Mike Moore

British Mining Publications - from NMRSBritish Mining No.88 - Memoirs

2009, A5, sb, 138pp.

A collection of articles from variousauthors.Contents:The Rothwell Haigh Collieries, Leeds.Mr Pope’s pots and the rapid

smelting of Lake District copperand lead ores 1579-83.

The Inverness Gold.Tracing the Traces (gold).

Dyliffe & Dyngwm Mines - revisionof lode geometry.

Women’s place in lead mining atGrassington, Yorkshire.

Onshore oil and gasfields.The ‘Iron Man’ coal cutter.The East Cumberland Coalfield.

British Mining No.89 - TheMetalliferous Mines of Cartmel& South Lonsdale, A5, sb, 104pp,by Max Moseley.

24 “Below” 2010.2

Diary DatesClub Officers

21st - 30th Aug.: Craven PC GapingGill winch meet.

29th Aug.: Columns Open Day, OgofFfynnon Ddu.

24th - 26th Sept.: ‘Hidden Earth’ -National Caving Conference, LeekHigh School, Leek. Check their website for the latest details:

www.hidden-earth.org.uk

1st - 3rd Oct.: ‘50 Years of MiningHistory’. Jubilee Conferencecelebrating the 50th anniversary ofthe founding of Northern MineResearch Society at Reeth MemorialHall, Swaledale. More details on:

nmrs.org.uk

9th - 10th Oct.: Welsh MinesSociety Occasional Conference“Towards a better Understanding -New Research on Welsh Mines”. AtPlas Dolguog Hotel, Machynlleth.

www.welshmines.org

23rd - 25th Oct.: 26th SUICROSymposium, Ramada Hotel,Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim.

16th - 20th Nov.: ‘Speleology &Spelestology’, Internationalconference, Naberezhnye Chelny(550 miles east of Moscow), followedby 2 days of excursions and trips.Details on tinyurl.com/ybn82m3

Checking the Rescue Stores ....

Catch us on the World Wide Web. Club activities & the labyrinth: http://www.shropshirecmc.org.uk/

Membership, Insurance &BCA Rep: Mike Davies

Tackle: Andy Harris

First Aid Officer:

Librarian: Alan Robinson

Bat Officer:

Rescue Officer:NealRushton

‘Below’ Editor, Publications:Kelvin Lake

e-mail: scmc@factree.org.uk

President: David Adams

Chair: Neal Rushton

Vice-Chair: Tony Wilson

Secretary: Andrew Woodscmc.secretary@factree.org.uk

Treasurer: Marian Boston

Training Officer: Ian Davies

Conservation & NAMHORep: Steve Holding

I’ve found an old bottle

of Entonox!

Is it any good?

I don’t know, let’s see ...

give it a sniff ....

Good - it’s OK then !

Did that hurt? Errrr ... No !