Dates for the Diary  
1st January: Columns Open Day, Ogof Ffynnon Ddu.
21st. January:10:30 for 11:00 start. NAMHO Research Framework seminar at the National Coal Mining Museum, Caphouse Colliery, Wakefield, WF4 4RH.
 
11th February: 10:30 for 11:00 start. NAMHO Research Framework seminar at Sidcot School, Winscombe, North Somerset, BS25 1PD.
 
10th March: BCRA Cave Science Symposium, University of Leeds.
14th - 18th March: 15th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology, Amman, Jordan.
 
1st - 8th April: 4th Argentine Congress of Speleology (and 1st Latin American Congress of Speleology), Mendoza, Argentina.
8th April: Columns Open Day, Ogof Ffynnon Ddu.
17th - 20th April: 9th International Mining History Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa.
 
6th May: Columns Open Day, Ogof Ffynnon Ddu.
 
9th - 10th June: Welsh Mines Soc. Summer Field Meet, North Wales.
 
29th - 1st July: NAMHO 2012 Conference at Quarry Bank Mill, Style near Wilmslow. There will be talks on Saturday and Sunday morning, with field trips to North Staffordshire, Lancashire and Alderley Edge area in the afternons.
Visit www.namho.conference.org.uk to find out more.

News  
Snailbeach - Successful Rescue
Many Club members will have heard of, and been involved in, the rescue from Snailbeach on Wednesday 16th November.

A typical Wednesday night Snailbeach trip changed dramatically when one of the party (a visitor from Devon) suffered an epileptic fit as she reached the top of the short ladder on the slope up from the 40 yard level.

Two of the group exited the mine and raised the alarm, initiating a full Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation (MCRO) call-out at 9.20pm. In view of the location of the incident assistance was requested from Gloucester Cave Rescue Group, seventeen of their members making the journey up to Shropshire.

Due to the medical condition of the casualty, it was decided to extract her via Chapel shaft. It was felt the time it would take (over 4 hours) to move the stretcher up the pitches to Perkins level was too long. Although to cover all eventualities both the pitches and Chapel shaft were prepared for use.

In the end Chapel shaft was opted for, and the casualty was brought up the 90m pitch to surface at 3:30am, Thursday morning.

MCRO would like to thank everyone who turned out to help on the night. The smooth and effective rescue is a testament to all the rescue practices and training that has taken place over the years.

Dawley Pit Mound Fire
Telford Firefighters were called to an unusual fire (at least for present day Firefighters) after an old pit mound in Dawley started to spontaneously combust.

A man clearing a plot of land in Cemetery Road, Dawley Bank, Telford, to make room for two bungalows unearthed an old coal heap, which caught fire and started to cause the ground to smoke.

The builder told firefighters he was not aware of the old pit heap before starting the work. He told them he suddenly saw steam coming from the ground and felt an intense heat.

Firefighters were called to the site at about 5.45pm on 5th November and began digging out some of the coal in an attempt to douse the fire. They were on site in Cemetery Road from 5.30pm until 10pm and returned at 11.30pm to carry out a reinspection.

The heap was on the edge of the builders property, which he had only just bought.

Walker Technical Institute Arson Attacks
Hama Developments submitted plans on the 23rd September for a multi-million pound scheme to convert the buildings of the Walker Institute, in Hartsbridge Road, Oakengates into 14 luxury apartments and add 14 detached homes at the rear.

Unlike previous developers who owned the site (which has been empty for over 9 years, since Telford College of Arts and Technology left) the new owners are keen to stress that they want to preserve the character of the 1920s building - once the centre for mining education in the area. However, during the last week of October a series of 5 arson attacks took place on the building, literally one a day!

The last blaze started in a single storey extension building, before it spread to the main building. Luckily fire-fighters were able to contain the blaze and saved most of the main building.

Hama Developments have now drafted in security staff to prevent further attacks.

The Walker Institute, Hartsbridge Road, Oakengates in March 2010
 
Above: The Walker Institute, Hartsbridge Road, Oakengates in March 2010, sadly falling into disrepair after being derelict fo 9 years.
(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Welsh Copper now online!
A website based on the resources created for the Global and Local Worlds of Welsh Copper knowledge exchange project is now online at: www.welshcopper.org.uk

It makes many of the resources generated for various parts of the project freely available and is packed full of information about copper's industrialisation in Wales and how it impacted upon world trade. Many of the resources are still being added to but as this site is now run on a voluntary basis contributions are welcome.

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.

The Lead, Copper & Barytes Mines of Shropshire by M.Shaw

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


Brief Trip & News items extracted from recent editions of 'Below' the Club's quarterly newsletter.

Dark Lane Shafts
During October 2011 the Dark Lane (Cage Pit) shaft caps were exposed by excavations for a new Volkswagen Car dealership. The best view of them is from the footpath (formerly Dark Lane itself) and bridge over Stafford Park 1.

The exposed shaft caps from Dark Lane footpath.
 
Above: The exposed shaft caps, as seen from the path over the modern footbridge - formerly Dark Lane.
(Picture: Richard Hewer)

Detail of one of the shaft caps.
 
Above: Detail of one of the shaft caps - it appears to be just a concrete slab resting on fill.
(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

View East from the Darl Lane footpath.
 
Above: View East from the footpath showing the shafts in relation to Stafford Park 1.
(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Dark Lane Pit was the site of Shropshire’s worst mining disaster in 1862 (See SCMC Journal No.8 2003, pp 4-6).

Trip to Snailbeach 112 yard level
During the NAMHO 2011 Conference 2 delegates on a trip to the 90 yard level found a way down to the 112 yard level beyond the large roof fall that has blocked previous explorations. This route was only possible because of the “low” water levels.

On the 2nd October, 5 Club members ventured down the rather unstable slope from the 90 yard level to the 112 yard level.

There was some doubt about this slope - chunks were dropping off while we looked at it! Eventually a lifeline was rigged over the lip of this unstable area and we descended to the 112, trying not to look too hard at the large boulders poised about our heads!

Kelvin Lake carrying his camera gear.
 
Above: Kelvin Lake trying to keep his camera gear dry in the 'low' water on the 112!
(Picture: Andy Kennelly)

Stuart Tyrer in the small 'island' stope.
 
Above: Stuart Tyrer in the small 'island' stope.
(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Wading along the level we were effectively moving out-bye, following the level towards the drainage tunnel that emerges at Waterwheel in the Hope Valley.

View from the T-junction, looking outbye.
 
Above: View from the T-junction, looking outbye to the low, small arch (middle picture) along the 112 yd level. The route to the shaft chamber is on the right. .
(Picture: Stuart Tyrer)
More pictures and report >>

Snailbeach - 'New' Building Opened
Renovation work on the building next to the former Miners dry at Snailbeach was completed in May, although other conservation work and the re-erection of Black Tom headframe is still in progress.

The building, which will be used by the Shropshire Mines Trust as a “mess room” was opened to the public on the 28th May 2011. The “Explosives” cupboard from Gritt Chapel has been fitted to the wall in the new “mess room” and looks good.

Opening of the building.
 
Above: Edwin Thorpe giving the ‘opening address’ of the completed building, 28th May 2011.
(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

The refurbished Gritt Chapel cupboard.
 
Above: The Gritt Chapel cupboard in the new “mess room”.
(Picture: Kelvin Lake - I.A.Recordings)

Chartermaster’s Chapel to Close
It has been announced that the Fletcher Memorial Methodist Chapel, Madeley is to close. It was formerly known as the “Chartermaster’s Chapel” because much of the money to build it came from local mine chartermasters, who also helped run it for their employees until the early years of the 20th Century.

It's story has been told recently in a booklet produced for the building's 170th Anniversary (1841 - 2011) by I.J.Brown (available free from Madeley Parish Council, Jubilee House, Madeley).