NAMHO NEWSLETTER 43 - Summer 2002

SPECIAL ABERYSTWYTH CONFERENCE EDITION
8 - 11 July 2002


INTRODUCTION TO ABERYSTWYTH AND THE NAMHO 2002 CONFERENCE WELCOME TO ABERYSTWYTH

Aberystwyth has, for nearly 400 years, provided a centre for servicing mining activity in mid-Wales. With the development of large scale mining from the late 16th century onwards the harbour provided an ideal shipping point for ore and metals. The castle provided a secure location for the mint used by Thomas Bushell during the Civil War of the 1640s, coining silver from Cwmsymlog, Cwmerfin and other mines in the hinterland. As the mines developed as major lead producers in the 18th century, Aberystwyth developed as a major service centre. A lead smelter, the Anchor works, established close to the harbour in the late 18th century was short lived. The increased mechanisation of mining, waterwheels, crushers and other dressing machinery, led to the establishment of a local foundry operation - a building which housed Green's Foundry stood until quite recently opposite the railway station. The railway itself came late to the area, the narrow gauge line to Pontarfynach/Devils Bridge was intended to open up the hinterland but carried little lead and zinc ore as the mines were already in terminal decline. Aberystwyth did however benefit from increased tourism, building on its popularity with the gentry from the 18th century, and better communications meant a wider market for agriculture in the surrounding area.

Today, as well as continuing to provide a service centre for the agricultural and tourist industries, Aberystwyth has become a significant cultural centre for Wales. The National Library/Llyfrygell

Genedlaethol Cymru, the University, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales and the Arts Centre all play important roles at national and local levels. Surrounded as it is with impressive countryside, a large section of which is designated as a Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest having mining at its centre, Aberystwyth provides an outstanding location for the NAMHO 2002 conference.

The conference theme, the application of water power, will strike a chord with most, if not all, mining historians. It has an international appeal which is reflected in the lecture programme. Delegates will also have the opportunity to explore the theme in visits to mines in the hinterland to Aberystwyth as it is no coincidence that the high rainfall of the Ceredigion Uplands and its location, remote from the coalfields, promoted the extensive use of water power.

The conference and its location are yours to enjoy. Please make full use of the facilities, visits the trade stands and poster displays in Penbryn Hall, and above all interact with the contributors and other delegates.

Peter Claughton - Chairman of the Organising Committee

WELCOME TO THE 2002 NAMHO CONFERENCE

I was elected Chairman of the National Association of Mining History Organisations in April of this year. Ivor Brown, the previous Chairman, did not stand for re-election. At the same meeting Wes Taylor stood down as Secretary and Rob Vernon as Conservation Officer. All three have contributed a lot of time and effort in promoting NAMHO and have involved themselves in many projects which will have long term benefits for us all and I would like to thank them for all their efforts.

We have to be wary of Local Authorities and officials within public and, now increasingly, privatised bodies who see only the dangers of disused mine sites and not their value as archaeological remains. Often on abandoned mine sites, the archaeological interest lies hidden away in the undergrowth. NAHMO is currently reviewing guidelines for archaeological research to provide a way forward to protect these invaluable time capsules. Local politicians and environmentalists see these in a different way to mining historians and explorers. Rob Vernon spent many years negotiating with the Forestry Commission in North Wales regarding the preservation of mining remains within the Gwydyr Forest but he was never able to convince them to provide NAMHO with an access agreement. In Shropshire, we have worked closely with the Local Authorities and have achieved a lot of good work in the South of the County. This is not necessarily true throughout the area where relationships can be difficult to build up with suspicious Council officials. These guidelines will help strengthen your hand when negotiating difficult scenarios.

A big project NAMHO is considering taking on board is getting the Mining Journal indexed and put onto CD-Rom where it can be of real use to researchers, explorers and historians alike. As with all good ideas, we need volunteers to help with a project like this. There are lottery grants available to do this sort of work but it does require someone to apply for the grant and co-ordinate the project. Please contact one of the committee members or your club representative if you would like to get involved with this project.

I am proud to be Chairman at this year's conference having spent a lot of years wandering around Mid Wales enjoying the splendid scenery and exploring the hidden wealth of industrial remains this part of the country has to offer. Water power is the theme of this years conference - certainly there is no shortage of sites where you can view first hand how and where it was used to good effect. The Underground Waterwheel at Ystrad Einion is perhaps one of the most famous water wheels in the area and delegates will have the opportunity to view it over this weekend. The area has many other fascinating remains which many of you will discover and discuss over the Conference weekend. I have spent many years up to my neck in mud and water exploring the remains many of you will visit and hear about this weekend and I hope you enjoy finding out about this area as I have done.

I have attended all sorts of conferences over the years and I always think ours as the best, both in terms of content and because it provides opportunities to meet old friends at each Conference. There have been many positive links set up through NAHMO, such as the group made up from at least 7 clubs who visit Nenthead for at least 3 weeks every year. By making contacts I have been able to visit sites as far afield as Ireland, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Scotland and the South East. I see NAHMO as one big family - let's ensure it continues for many years to come.

Mike Moore - NAMHO Chairman

NEW CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY FOR NAMHO

At the recent AGM, the representatives of the Member Organisations of NAMHO elected their Officers for the coming year. The previous Chairman and Secretary did not offer themselves for re-election.

Ivor Brown had been an Officer of NAMHO since it was founded in 1979. He was Treasurer from 1979 - 1988, Deputy Chairman from 1989 - 1993 and Chairman from 1993 - 2002. Wes Taylor had been Secretary from 1996 - 2002.

The new Chairman is Mike Moore and the Secretary is Sallie Bassham. The elected oficers of NAMHO are:

Chairman:
Mike Moore, 53 Vineyard Drive, NEWPORT, Shropshire, TF10 7DF Tel: 01952 405105. E mail: mike@moorebooks.freeserve.co.uk
Deputy Chairman:
Peter Claughton, Blaenpant Morfil, Rosebush, CLYNDERWEN, SA66 7RE Tel: 01437 532578. E Mail: P.F.CLAUGHTON@EXETER.AC.UK
Secretary:
Sallie Bassham, Winshaw Barn, Chapel-le-Dale, INGLETON, LA6 3AT Tel: 01524 241851. E mail: sbassham@nildram.co.uk
Treasurer:
Roger Gosling, 51GreenhillRoad, Alveston, BRISTOL, BS35 3NA Tel: 01454 883607. E mail: roger.gosling@blueyonder.co.uk
Editor:
Wes Taylor, 18 Station Lane, Walton on Trent, SWADLINCOTE, DE12 8NA. Tel: 01283 713315. E mail: wes@wtaylor44.fsnet.co.uk

ITEMS OF NAMHO INTEREST DISCUSSED AT THE NCA AGM - 23 MARCH 2002.

The following resolutions, which have possible implications for NAMHO clubs, were passed at the recent NCA AGM.
1. Insurance
Since the events of 11 September 2001, there have been, and continue to develop, particular consequences for insurance. It has been jointly agreed by BCRA and DCA that there has to be one insurance scheme and that this should in future be administered by NCA. It is essential that this is simple to operate and does cover the bulk of caving/mining interest.

It is proposed that NCA take over administration of the caving/mining insurance and that this be part of membership of NCA - i.e. every club wanting insurance will have to join NCA and all members of each club will be insured. This is not much different from current BCRA insurance except in that all clubs will have to affiliate to NCA (current fee £15/annum). Any change will have to come into force by October 2002 and there still needs to be much discussion on the subject. It is unlikely, however, that there will be any choice on this subject.

It is possible that the insurance will not cover Ireland and this might have implications for NAMHO 2003. The importance of this to NAMHO has been emphasised.

2. Merger of NCA and BCRA
There was unanimous support for the merging of NCA and BCRA activities to provide the 'one-stop shop' provisionally called "Underground Britain". The new approach (as reflected in the name) gives due emphasis to mine exploration as well as caving and it might become more appropriate for mining only NAMHO clubs to join and hence be eligible for insurance as discussed in item 1.
3. Individual membership of NCA
There are plans to allow individual membership of NCA or "Underground Britain". This may give a route to insurance if clubs do not want to participate. However, it is doubtful whether individual membership will be much cheaper than club membership.

NCA is extremely democratic and the above changes still have to approved by a postal ballot of member clubs. This will be of particular interest/concern to NAMHO clubs who currently use BCRA (or DCA) insurance but are not affiliated to NCA.

Steve Holding - NAMHO representative on NCA

CORNWALL'S OLDEST ARTEFACT?

During the first week of March, a potentially very significant object was discovered by Geoff Treseder of the St Just Mines Research Group. Recent heavy seas had removed boulders from the area in front of the adit of Wheal Hermon, near St Just, to expose this object. The adit is just above high tide level.

The object was excavated by the Cornwall Archaeology Unit with the co-operation of the National Trust, the landowners, and staff from Geevor Tin Mine Museum. It was hauled up the cliff and taken to the Museum where it is being stored in water before dating and conservation work is carried out. The National Trust has agreed to undertake this work and it is hoped that the artefact will eventually be on show at Geevor. The excavation and recovery were video recorded by Mines Group member John Potter, who has made many films on local mining themes.

The artefact has been provisionally identified as part of a pump column, probably made of elm, which was later re-used as a section of pipe to take water out of the adit. The section is reinforced with a wrought iron band and is very similar to Agricola's illustrations of pumps from 1566.

Hermon is one of the oldest mines in the St Just area. There have been suggestions that it was working underground as early as the 16th century. It was worked extensively in the 18th Century and sporadically up to the 1940's. The lodes running through the cliff and across the rocks of the beach are obvious and it seems likely that they would have been followed underground at an early date. This would have entailed working below sea level. A small winze can be seen just inside the adit.

The object may thus give some hard evidence for the earliest date at which underground mining as opposed to lodeback working began in the local area.

Bill Lakin (Geevor Mine)

"RECORDING THE UNDERGROUND ARCHAEOLOGY OF MINES - A DESCRIPTIVE SPECIFICATION"

Recording of surface features on mine sites is usually carried out to certain defined standards or specifications. When it comes to underground sites no similar standards exist. This document aims to fill that gap. It is aimed at two key audiences. Firstly the professionals who manage archaeological resources in the UK. Secondly it is aimed at the members of NAMHO organisations who are the people most likely to carry out the recording of underground sites.

By defining standards of survey it is easier to raise the profile of underground archaeology and ensure that underground sites are recorded and given the same protection as surface sites. To complement this document the NAMHO guidelines on collection of artefacts have also been updated to bring them into line with current good archaeological practice.

Copies of the guidelines are available on the NAMHO website, (www.namho.org) and I would welcome any comments.

Martin Roe - NAMHO Conservation Officer

NEW UNDERGROUND DIMENSION-STONE QUARRY TO OPEN ON THE ISLE OF PORTLAND, DORSET

Work has commenced on establishing a new underground building stone quarry on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. Albion Stone Quarries has planning permission for a room-and-pillar quarry under 25 hectares of agricultural and amenity land belonging to the Crown Estate at Stonehills, (NGR SY 682705), between the settlements at Weston and Southwell. Developmental trial mining is scheduled to commence in summer 2002. It will extract a bed of commercially suitable stone, averaging six metres in thickness, with diamond-wire saws and 'jet-belt' stone-cutters. The existence of a strong ceiling bed has been established, and the quarry will have rooms and pillars five metres wide, giving an extraction ratio of 75%.

The underground quarrying option has been adopted in response to environmental concerns relating to extended openworks on the island. The new mine (underground quarry) will be accessed via a 120m open 1 in 10 inclined roadway. This, with low-level ventilation shafts, will disturb less than 0.5 hectare (less than 2% of the site.) All extraction and associated activity, including workshops and welfare provision, will be underground. The amenity and agricultural and archaeological values of the surface will be safeguarded. The main planning consideration relates to increased traffic, estimated at five additional HGV vehicles each way daily. Quarry waste will be backfilled underground.

Paul Sowan (Quarry Management, March 2002)

THE OLLERENSHAW TABLE

The Ollerenshaw Table, a Blue John and gilt brass work of art created some 140 years ago, was recently sold by Sotherby's for a reported £100,000. The top of the table consists of segments of Blue John fluorspar known as "bull-beef" which came from the Blue John Cavern.

The table was acquired by the parents of Arthur Ollerenshaw in 1945 and gave it to Arthur and his wife as a wedding present. The Ollerenshaws (senior) had bought the Blue John Cavern at Castleton in 1920.

Eva Ollerenshaw, the widow of Arthur, opened the Ollerenshaw collection of Blue John at the Cavendish Museum in Castleton. The Ollerenshaw Table was on display in the Museum until recently

PDMHS Newsletter(Derbyshire Times 29/11/01)

SIR KINGSLEY DUNHAM MINERAL EXHIBITION

The Friends of Killhope have recently set up a display of North Pennine Minerals at the Killhope Museum. The display includes samples of the spectacular Weardale Fluorites, Witherite, Alstonite, Barytocalcite and other minerals.

The minerals in the collection are decribed fully within the display.

The display has been dedicated to the late Sir Kingsley Dunham, a former President of the Friends of Killhope, for his enthusiasm and understanding of the geology and minerals of the North Pennines.

Friends of Killhope Newsletter

DEVELOPMENT OF LISHEEN ZINC MINE, IRELAND

Development of the Lisheen Mine in County Tipperary, the largest underground zinc mine in Europe, is being speeded by specialist admixtures from Sika Ireland. Two Aliva wet process concrete spraying machines are fed by an 11m3 mine truck containing fresh concrete which has to be transported nearly 2km underground over rough roadways. The concrete mix has to survive the journey without segregation, need no remixing before use and spray with minimum rebound.

Spraying rates of up to 55m3 a shift have been achieved, and the system is now also in use at the nearby Galmoy Mine.

New Civil Engineer Concrete Supplement Nov 2001

NEW PUBLICATION

"The Miners' Strike - Day by Day" edited by Brian Elliot. 2002 published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN: 1 903425 166. Cost £9.99

This is an illustrated personal diary of Arthur Wakefield. Arthur recorded his experiences, impressions and events in considerable detail as he fought for jobs and communities throughout the great miners strike of 1984/85.

The diary is a unique personal day by day account of the most bitter industrial dispute since the 1926 General Strike. Armed with nothing more than a camera and great determination, he by-passed countless blockades and in the early hours of the morning he would join his colleagues at picket lines, ports, powers stations and works in many parts of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and the Midlands.

Arthur Wakefield is a key witness at the 'Battle of Orgreave' on 18 June 1984, the 100th day of the strike, which he describes as 'Monday, Bloody, Monday'. His descriptions of the 'Battle' described in this book have also helped produce an historical live re-enactment shown on Channel 4. The Editor of the book, Brian Elliot, is Barnsley's local historian who and has produced a number of publications during his research of Barnsley's history.

BOOK REVIEWS

1. "Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks. Published by Fourth Estate, London. ISBN 1-84115-457-1. Hardback 310pp, cost £12.99.
This book is a novel that is loosely based on events in Eyam, the "plague village" in 1666. It contains many references to lead mining which the author claims to have been gleaned from "A History of Lead Mining in the Pennines".

The reader will discover references to firesetting, a "lead seam", "large toadstones", a "fother of ore", an attempted nicking at "Burning Drake" Mine (near Eyam?), the "Barmester", the "Body of the Mine" (of 20 men) and a descent "over the lip of the adit".

Students of lead mining are advised to consult other publications whereas keen readers of novels will discover explicit sex, violence, strong language and witchcraft.
PDMHS Newsletter

2. "The Practice of British Geology, 1750-1850" by Hugh Torrens. Ashgate, Variorum Collected Studies Series, March 2002, 372 pp., ISBN 0 86078 876 8. Cost £59.50.
This collection of papers explores an area seldom considered by mining historians, the contribution made by geological practitioners to the advance of mining in the growth period of the Industrial Revolution. The papers, listed below, largely focus on the advantages of understanding the stratigraphical column in mineral prospecting, confining attention to the search for clays, limestone, ironstone and, of course, coal which are found in stratified form. Prospecting for minerals occurring in veins is given only passing mention.

Torrens' papers are punctuated with accounts of futile trials for coal in unsuitable strata, some well into the 19th century. Up to the late 18th century fossils had been studied as curiosities in their own right but it was William Smith who, in the 1790s, used them to identify the rocks in which they were found. In doing so, Smith could unravel the stratigraphy of rocks, establishing a sequence in which the principal coal bearing strata, the Carboniferous Coal Measures, could be placed with accuracy. Smith built on the work of his predecessors and was often assisted by that of other practical men of the period. Torrens has identified the role of these men, practical surveyors and miners, men with little or no formal training. Friction between the practical geologists and the 'gentlemen' of the Geological Society of London is highlighted in Torrens paper on Sir Joseph Banks, and a second, co-authored with Dr Trevor Ford, exploring the work of John Farey. Banks' early patronage of the practitioners brought him into conflict with the new scientific establishment. The economic benefits of the former were clearly in evidence on Banks' own estates in Derbyshire, and he made representation to the Society on behalf of both Smith and Farey, yet he and the establishment tend to be at the forefront of geological historiography whilst the practical men seldom warrant a mention. Torrens' work has countered that tendency. Despite what he describes as the 'papyrophobia' of such practitioners his accounts paint a credible, well researched picture of men who influenced the direction of mining in Britain and abroad at a time of increased industrial demands, but whose work has largely gone unrecognised.

As in all such collections in the Variorum Series, the papers retain their original pagination. The original language of publication is also retained which, in the case of one paper in French and substantial sections of another in Italian, still makes them inaccessible to a largely English speaking audience.

The contents are:

Peter Claughton
3. "Friends on the Northern Lead Dales - An anthology of the Friends of Killhope" - edited by Bryan Chambers. Published 2002 by The Friends of Killhope. A4, paper covers, 134pp, many photos, maps and illustrations. ISBN 0 951 8939 20. Cost £12
This is the third publication in this series and is again an eclectic collection of articles, which except for two or three short pieces are for the North Pennines. In all some 43 contributions, though some of these are just photographs. It is profusely illustrated and some of the photographs are especially welcome, both as first-published and for their intrinsic interest. If you ever wonder why it is difficult to get enough volunteers nowadays, see the caption on the page 3 (1966) photograph, and for the really glorious days of ill-health and un-safety, page 32.

The book covers the whole range of activities associated with Mining History. The individual articles range from the geology of the North Pennines, the working of the mines, the preparation of the ore for smelting and the smelting of the ore. The social history of the area is covered, including the migration of people from the area to New Zealand.

Publication quality is economical and good but, though the quality of articles is mixed, most fully deserve this wider publication: their origin was largely in the Friends' Newsletter, which is designed for its members and not necessarily for an academic readership. It is particularly pleasing to see the strong representation here of mining/ore processing in the 20th century, a century for which I fear we will lose a much higher proportion of our mining history than for the two earlier unless we act very soon.

For this reviewer, the top three were June Crosby writing on Ignatius Bonomi the Durham architect; M.R. Graham's clear description of desilvering and Margaret Manchester's note on pre-conquest smelting on Bollithorpe Common but, using a little imagination, Colin Short's exposition of the Stanhope Lead and Manure Works almost takes the breath away! Choose your own favourites!

Lynn Willies

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

The Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes in Belgium have been declared a World Heritage Site. This is an encouraging move towards recognising the importance of underground archaeology, albeit in Belgium rather than Britain.

Spiennes is a hamlet 5km south east of Mons (Bergen) and is on a par with Grimes Graves in England, Ryckholt -St Geetruid in The Netherlands and Krzemionki in Poland. A description, site map and mine sections are given in Robert Shepherd's "Prehistoric Mining and Allied Industries". (Academic Press, 1980, pages 68-76).

Paul Sowan

LAKELAND NOTES

1. High insurance premiums hits proposed new quarry
The proposal to reopen Guards Wood Quarry, a flag slate quarry near Coniston and which is on National Trust land is under threat. The quarry was last worked in 1920. The proposal, which is supported by the National Trust, is for small scale working to provide materials for restoration of local properties.

The problem with the proposed reopening of the quarry is that insurance companies are asking for circa £10,000 per year to provide the required indemnity to protect the operation. These costs, coupled with the low level of production proposed may make the proposal uneconomic.

2. Greenside Mine
A start was recently made to stabilise the ground at Greenside Mine. The £1.4m project involves the reshaping of Tailings Dam and with other work on watercourses and retaining walls on the site.
3. Low Brandy Crag Quarry, Coppermines Valley, Coniston
The Lake District National Park Authority has given permission to extract 20,000 tonnes of the distinctive silver grey slate from the quarry at Coniston. The 10 year extraction programme will result in the lowering of the quarry floor by 15 metres.

The level of proposed output will result in six lorry loads of slate clog being transported to a production unit in Kirkby in Furness each week

CAT Newsletter

HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND HELPS COMMUNITIES TO EXPLORE AND CELEBRATE THEIR COALMINING HERITAGE

The Heritage Lottery Fund is committed to helping people in Britain's former coalmining areas to develop new and exciting projects that explore their rich heritage and play a part in their community's regeneration. It enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions customs and history, the Heritage Lottery Fund grants open up our nation's heritage for everyone to enjoy. We have made more than 8,100 grants worth over £1.9billion to projects across the UK.

Over the past year, the Heritage Lottery Fund has supported the Coalfields Heritage Project which has given coalfield communities a real say on what heritage in coalfields could and should be. The project was run by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in partnership with the Coalfield Communities Campaign and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.

It has given over £6million in grants to the National Coal Mining Museum for England in West Yorkshire, including £4.4million for the latest project to safeguard the heritage of the site, preserve the nationally important collections and provide new visitor facilities.

But the Heritage Lottery Fund has also supported many other projects aimed at ensuring more people can learn about and appreciate Britain's coalmining heritage, from headgears and steam engines to miners' welfares.

The other projects include:

  1. The proposed transformation of Woodhorn Colliery in Northumberland into a major visitor attraction and new home to the county's archives. The Heritage Lottery Fund has allocated £l0million of Lottery players' money in a Stage One Pass and awarded £258,750 in development funding.
  2. Denaby & Cadeby Miner's Welfare in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, has restored the Denaby Main Colliery Banner and put it on public display to celebrate the area's mining past, supported by a grant of nearly £6,000.
  3. St Hilda's Colliery headstock is being restored by South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council, with a grant of £43,200, so that visitors, including schoolchildren, can learn about Tyneside's coalmining heritage.
  4. The Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange, Midlothian, has been restored and transformed into the Scottish Mining Museum with the help of grants totalling nearly £3.6million.
  5. Bersham Colliery headgear at Rhostyllen, Clwyd, has been restored to become an important centre for telling the story of Wales' coalmining industry, supported by a grant of £61,400.

CLOSURE OF COLLIERIES

1. Longannet Colliery
The extensive Longannet Colliery in Scotland suddenly closed in March 2002 as a result of a serious inrush of water that effectively flooded the mine. The owners, Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd, have called in the receivers following a mining engineering report that states that the cost of recovering the mine would be horrendous. There are still large reserves of coal available to the mine.
2. Blenkinsopp Mine, Northumberland
The last production coal face at this colliery was established earlier this year. The face is planned to finish in August 2002. The colliery will be abandoned on completion of the working of this face.
3. Prince of Wales Colliery
Prince of Wales Colliery, the oldest working coal mine in the UK is to be run down over the next 6 months. The Pontefract (West Yorkshire) colliery dates back to 1860 and further investment cannot be justified due to limited reserves of coal.

ENERGY NOTES

1. TXU to close two plants
The American energy company TXU is reducing capacity at two Midlands coal-powered power stations due to the falling price of electricity. The plants concerned are the 333MW unit 12 at its 999MW Drakelow C power station in Derbyshire and the 189MW unit four at its 945MW High Marnham plant in Nottinghamshire. (15 Jan Guardian)
2. UK Coal seeks £100m shutdown aid
UK Coal is seeking up to £100m in state aid to shut its large Selby mining complex.(1 March Times)
3. Hydrogen found in Earth's crust is 'limitless fuel supply'
The world's energy problems could be over after the discovery in the Earth's crust of vast quantities of hydrogen gas - widely regarded as the most promising alternative to today's dwindling stocks of fossil fuels. (14 April Sun Tel)
4. Nevada tunnels will house US nuclear waste.
The US Congress has voted in favour of storing thousands of tonnes of nuclear waste in a network of tunnels in the Nevada desert. The plan has caused outrage with citizens in Nevada although Congress feel the plan would deter terriorists. (10 May Times,)

Roger Gosling

BOTALLACK ENGINE HOUSES, CORNWALL

The ownership of the Crowns Engine Houses has been transferred to the National Trust and the lease to the Botallack Trust has been terminated.

The Trust will not be wound up and the Trustees are now invesigating other suitable sites for restoration.

Carn Brea Mining Society Newsletter

NORTH PENNINE HERITAGE TRUST - NENTHEAD MINES

Admission arrangements for NAMHO Groups and Independent Mine Explorers
  1. All visitors are required to obtain the permission of the Trust before entering the site.
  2. The Trust assumes that all visiting groups will comply with statutory Health and Safety requirements. The Trust expects that visitors will have third party liability insurance.
  3. Visits can be arranged in advance or during the opening times of the visitor centre. You can contact NPHT by phone, e-mail, fax or personal call. When the visitor centre is closed during the winter season our staff can be contacted via the Trust office in the Rampgill Mine wood yard.
  4. The admission charge is £1.00 per person for each visit. NPHT members are not charged.
  5. No person may descend Brewery Shaft without making special separate arrangements with the Trust. You should contact the Trust office by post or via e-mail with a detailed proposal. Proposals will only be considered for periods when the Visitor Centre is not open to the public.
  6. Vehicles must be parked in the Visitor Centre car park. There are no car parking spaces at the end of the byway at Mill Cottage.
  7. No vehicles will be allowed to travel to Smallcleugh Mine or any other mine entrance.
  8. Club members may visit Carrs Mine with a Trust official and normal visitor charges will apply.
  9. Payment will be made in advance or at the time of the visit.
  10. Members of any group must obey all Health and Safety warnings, follow any instructions on NPHT notices, and comply with the directions of NPHT employees and Directors.
  11. Groups will not be permitted to remain overnight on the site, except as residents of the Mill Cottage bunkhouse.
  12. Mines on the Nenthead Mine site include Carrs, Caplecleugh Low, Rampgill, Smallcleugh, Hodgsons Low, Hodgsons High, Firestone and Middlecleugh.Levels, and Brewery and Hangingshaw Engine shafts.
  13. Contact numbers are:

    14. Visitor centre 01434 382037
    Trust office 01434 382045
    Fax 01434 382294
    E mail np.ht@virgin.net
Comments about these arrangements should be directed to Peter Jackson, NPHT via the Trust offices or by phone on 01642 564100.

North Pennines Heritage Trust, Nenthead Mines, Nenthead, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3PD
Company number 2241272 Charity number 700701

Copy, articles, photographs, letters etc for future editions of the Newsletter should be sent to:-

Hon Editor - Wes Taylor, 18 Station Lane,
Walton on Trent, Swadlincote, Derbys, DE12 8NA.
Tel:- 01283 713315
E-Mail: wes@wtaylor44.fsnet.co.uk
NAMHO web sites:

  • http://www.namho.org/
  • http://www.mininghistory.org/
    • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MINING HISTORY ORGANISATIONS
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    Registered Office, c/o Peak District Mining Museum, The Pavilion, South Parade, Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3NR.
    Tel:- Matlock (01629) 583834.
    The contents of this publication are in the public domain. There is no restriction on the publication of articles from this Newsletter provided acknowledgement of the source is made in any subsequent publication. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the National Association of Mining History Organisations. Copy submitted for publication is not checked by the Editor for accuracy
     
     


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