Brief Trip & News items extracted from recent editions of 'Below' the Club's quarterly newsletter.
Change of Date
The date of the April Club meeting has been changed - it should have been on the 2nd of April (Good Friday), but it has been moved and will now be held on Friday 9th April.
Mining Publications
The Lead, Copper & Barytes Mines of Shropshire
While SCMC Accounts and Journals have often carried articles about the more obscure mine sites in the County, there has long been a need to try and pull together all these strands of information into a coherent publication. In this aim Mike Shaw has been very successful.
He has spent years researching records and books, talking to surviving miners, members of their families, SCMC members and tracking down original documents and the sites of numerous mines - many of which only lasted a year or two!
The first few chapters cover the early mining history of Shropshire, the products and processes, before delving off into the different mining areas and covering the mines in more detail, will appeal to a wide range of readers.
There are plenty of interesting snippets and facts to keep 'enthusiasts' engaged - for example Mike has made an excellent job of trying to untangle the ownership history of Bog Mine (which seemed to change owners almost every year at one time!), plus uncovering the histories of a lot of small mines.
Coupled with the extensive gazetteer, and references section this is a book that after the first read, will become a valuable reference for mining historians. It is well worth adding to your library as it successfully plugs a gap in Shropshire mining history.
ISBN: 978-906663-09-4
Softback, 320 pages, over 200 b&w photographs, drawings and plans. Available online at Moorebooks, www.moorebooks.co.uk
Snailbeach Lead Mine
The Shropshire Mines Trust have recently published a new book on Snailbeach Mine (several Club Members have also been involved in the production).
Although aimed at the general reader as a guide to the mine and it's environs, it will also appeal to mining enthusiasts with chapters covering the mine itself, the associated railway, geology and social history of the area.
ISBN 978-0-9556081-2-4
Softback, 172 pages, 120 b&w photographs, 23 drawings and maps. Available online at Moorebooks, www.moorebooks.co.uk
News
Pennerley Collapse
Earlier this year the last almost complete building on the Pennerley Mine site (the magazine/store/office?) finally collapsed. It has been in a precarious state for a number of years and the bad weather after Christmas was too much for it.
Picture 1: The last recognisable building at Pennerley in March 2005. (Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)
SDR Truck Re-built
On Good Friday, a small group of Shropshire Mines Trust and Club members assembled at the Snailbeach loco shed eagerly awaiting the arrival of the reconstructed Snailbeach District Railway hopper wagon, and we were not disappointed!
Picture 2: The reconstructed SDR truck outside the loco shed. (Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)
Once again Barry Ellis has worked his magic and done an excellent job on rebuilding the wagon. It is painted in traditional SDR gray with white lettering, and what’s more the hopper and brakes work!
Based largely on old photographs, the restoration has certainly been successful and the wagon now has pride of place in the loco shed at Snailbeach.
Picture 3: A photo-opportunity for the team who helped unload the truck.(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)