For those who stayed Sunday night the social highlight of the weekend was the Sunday evening barbeque at Magpie Mine - we were lucky in that the rains of Saturday and Sunday morning had stopped and were treated to a superb sunny evening at the mine.

Sunset at Magpie mine during the Sunday evening Conference Barbeque.
Picture 3: Sunset at Magpie mine during the Sunday evening Conference Barbeque. (Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

On the Monday after the conference, underground trips to Ecton Copper Mine had been arranged, plus a mini-bus tour around the mining sites and soughs of the Wirksworth area.

13th Century engraving in Wirksworth Church - reputed to be a Lead miner.
Picture 3: 13th Century engraving in Wirksworth Church - reputed to be a Lead miner. (Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to make the conference a success.

Report: Kelvin Lake

More than 15 Club members travelled to Derbyshire in June for the 2009 National Association of Mining History Organisation's annual conference. Hosted by the Peak District Mines Historical Society, who were 'celebrating' their 50th anniversary, while NAMHO celebrated it's 30th 'birthday' - although they kept it low-key (rumour has it that those at the Sunday lectures had a free lunch and a NAMHO birthday cake!).

Most delegates took in a range of underground trips, and surface walks in various mining locations around the Peak District. Lectures were split between County Hall and the Matlock Bath Mining musuem.

For some if us the conference kicked-off with an interesting visit, on the Friday afternoon, to Pleasely Colliery, with it's impressive engines and preserved pithead buildings. Followed by rather wet trips (both surface and underground) on Saturday, due to rain!

Pleasley Colliery, one of the sites opened to delegates on the Friday of the conference.

Picture 1: Pleasley Colliery, one of the sites opened to delegates on the Friday of the conference.
(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Delegates sheltering form the rain in Odin's Cave, Castleton during one of the Saturday walks.

Picture 2: Delegates sheltering form the rain in Odin's Cave, Castleton during one of the Saturday walks.
(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)