Shropshire Caving & Mining Club

SCMC Shropshire Caving & Mining Club

Shropshire Caving & Mining Club

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About Us News Publications & Research Labyrinth Gadgets Digging Training Links

SCMCWelcome

 

We are an active group of people interested in the exploration and study of mines and caves in Britain, Europe and ... well anywhere actually!

For contact details, membership form and to find out more visit our About Us page

MCRO

We support the Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation (MCRO)

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)

Mills: Now & Then cover.
To celebrate Mills in 2026 SPAB produced a new and comprehensive picture of mills of all types throughout the UK, Ireland, and Europe entitled "Mills: Now & Then". Club member Mike Shaw submitted an article to them on "Cothercott Barytes Industrial Mill" which was accepted and published (pages 17 to 20) in the final publication.

The Club has been involved in the preservation of the mill site and the excavation and placement of the mill stones to create a history trail. At the moment we are still waiting to hear if Historic England consider the site worthy of being scheduled as an Ancient Monument.


Maintenance work at Snailbeach Lead Mine

Over the summer months in addition to the endless trimming of shrubs, bushes, brambles and nettles, a number of maintenance jobs have been completed around the site by Club members and members of Shropshire Mines Trust.

The wooden steps to access the 1840s pumping engine house were in need of some attention. The Thursday work party group successfully replaced the five top planks and support beams. Later one of the ‘inside’ steps was deemed to be unsafe and was also replaced.

Due to the very hot weather the work party team decided to utilise the cooler, shaded interior of the 1872 horizontal winding engine house. It was cleaned out, and the items inside the building reorganised. David Poyner (Club Conservation Officer) also repaired the wooden wash boxes and launders to ensure that they each stayed in one piece.

Wall repairs

Repairing one of the walls in the Snailbeach 1872 engine house. (Kelvin Lake)

Lime mortar wall repairs.

The repairs to the engine house wall were carried out using lime mortar.


The tidy Snailbeach engine house

View of the South-east side of the 1872 winding engine house after cleaning out the building and repairing some of the walls. (Peter Eggleston)

View to the shaft from inside the engine house

View from the rear of the cleaned and tidied 1872 engine house to Old Shaft. (Kelvin Lake)


 

More News and Trip Reports

Exploring underground

Exploring underground for over 60 years

Shropshire Caving & Mining Club logo

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a flying batImportant Note

  • Underground exploration can be dangerous if you do not have the right equipment and skills. This is why you should consider joining a well established Club, who can train you and lend you equipment for your first few trips.
     
  • Have a look at our Links page to find links to other underground exploration groups, both in Britain and around the world.

 

It's bats !Warning These pages are under continuous development, so beware of false links, and blind headings .... !!

Entrance to the Labyrinth ...

Enter the Labyrinth
.... if you dare !!!
or be an Armchair Caver!!

© Shropshire Caving & Mining Club. Last updated: 29-Sep-2026