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#Post#: 73203--------------------------------------------------
Smallcleugh lead mine
By: Dave Date: September 2, 2013, 3:21 pm
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Another epic exploration by members of the OLLR minex group.
The (very brief) history bit.
Smallcleugh is an long-abandoned lead mine near Nenthead,
Cumbria. It is believed to have been started in 1770 but was
soon abandoned. In 1787 the work was re-started by an agent of
the London Lead Company across the Smallcleugh Cross Vein, which
produced an immense amount of lead ore. Notably, the mines in
this area tend to contain large 'flats, which are huge areas of
lead ore that, instead of following a vein, are expansive flat
areas. In one in Smallcleugh, known since as the Ballroom Flat,
a dinner party for 28 people was held by the local Masonic Lodge
in 1901. The mine was finished by the end of the 1900s but
re-opened briefly in 1963 but little mining was done.
The mooch
Chippers and I were the only members of the minex group to go on
this one and, armed with a plan of the mine (courtesy of
Redwinch), we aimed to find the Ballroom flat.
The adit.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh01_zps2bd13042.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh01_zps2bd13042.jpg[/img][/URL]
Inside the Old Fan Flat.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh02_zps1725bfbb.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh02_zps1725bfbb.jpg[/img][/URL]
Somewhere along the way...
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh03_zps3e8cca50.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh03_zps3e8cca50.jpg[/img][/URL]
On hands and knees in the Gullyback Crosscut, heading into
Smallcleugh Main Flat.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh04_zpsd8e86cfb.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh04_zpsd8e86cfb.jpg[/img][/URL]
In the Main Flat and looking back into the hands and knees
crawl.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh05_zps3d2615b6.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh05_zps3d2615b6.jpg[/img][/URL]
Smallcleugh Main Flat.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh06_zpsfe96a2cb.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh06_zpsfe96a2cb.jpg[/img][/URL]
Having a breather, a drink from our water bottles and Chippers
checking the map in the Main Flat.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh07_zps61e3ed99.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh07_zps61e3ed99.jpg[/img][/URL]
Ore chute near Emerson Cain's crosscut.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh08_zps01f36381.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh08_zps01f36381.jpg[/img][/URL]
Junction looking from the old flat crosscut.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh09_zpscf10f0f5.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh09_zpscf10f0f5.jpg[/img][/URL]
Wheel Flat
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh010_zps23ad98ba.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh010_zps23ad98ba.jpg[/img][/URL]
Luke Halls (Sugdon's sump) looking back into the old flat
crosscut.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh014_zps51be0f26.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh014_zps51be0f26.jpg[/img][/URL]
This is as far as we got. Crawling through some major collapses,
we were running out of time and energy. By now we'd been
underground 2 1/2 hours and had to be back out and phone
Redwinch by a pre-determined time so we gave up the aim of
finding the Ballroom flat and turned back.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh016_zps2b38c2cc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh016_zps2b38c2cc.jpg[/img][/URL]
Strange yellow coluring (sulphur?) on part of a heading running
through shale with a thin coal seam within it.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh018_zpscde0600d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh018_zpscde0600d.jpg[/img][/URL]
Bridge of death. Chippers balances on a single rail over a drop
to a sump or lower level.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh017_zps55693ace.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh017_zps55693ace.jpg[/img][/URL]
Daylight at last! 4 hours we were underground. We'll feel it
tomorrow and will ache like fuck!
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/smallcleugh020_zps2dda018f.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/smallcleugh020_zps2dda018f.jpg[/img][/URL]
#Post#: 73206--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smallcleugh lead mine
By: chally2 Date: September 2, 2013, 3:31 pm
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I'm envious of all the mines up your way. I now live around
Essex so not many mines (I know of) that way. I grew up in
Cornwall and was always fascinated by the tin mines. Been down
a few of them but never on my tod. If any one know's of any
round my way I would love to have a look around them.
Anyway great pics. Cheers.
#Post#: 73211--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smallcleugh lead mine
By: chippers Date: September 2, 2013, 4:02 pm
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Epic day - sumptatstic. Determined to go back and finish the
job. So who's coming?
#Post#: 73233--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smallcleugh lead mine
By: kev Date: September 2, 2013, 4:43 pm
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There's some nice features in there, shame I couldn't attend.
I didn't realise you'd be tackling crawls. - You both remembered
the kneepads, right? ;D
[quote author=chippers link=topic=6646.msg73211#msg73211
date=1378155740]
Determined to go back and finish the job. So who's coming?
[/quote]
Still not examined your doodle, :o but cashflow permitting it
should be a go-er if we can all manage the same date(s).
#Post#: 73263--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smallcleugh lead mine
By: NiteMare Date: September 2, 2013, 7:36 pm
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that looks rather more solid than the one we crept around in the
other week, just a shame it's almost the other side of the known
universe from here
that'd have to be a weekend camping/laning/mooching for me to go
#Post#: 73283--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smallcleugh lead mine
By: mistericeman Date: September 3, 2013, 3:50 am
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[quote author=NiteMare link=topic=6646.msg73263#msg73263
date=1378168596]
that looks rather more solid than the one we crept around in the
other week, just a shame it's almost the other side of the known
universe from here
that'd have to be a weekend camping/laning/mooching for me to go
[/quote]
Trust me, having spent a good few hours in there last Xmas....
Its plenty flakey enough for me in places lol.
#Post#: 77695--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smallcleugh lead mine
By: Dave Date: October 20, 2013, 10:36 am
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We've been back recently and with Harry2a this time and we got
to the Ballroom Flat. It's hard work getting there and involves
a lot of hands and knees crawling. We took another route in this
time so I got to see a lot of new stuff that I didn't see last
time and took a few pics on the way.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/sml01_zps182b1eaa.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/sml01_zps182b1eaa.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/sml02_zps5edf3579.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/sml02_zps5edf3579.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/sml03_zps93a485ad.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/sml03_zps93a485ad.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/sml04_zps1e739ef7.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/sml04_zps1e739ef7.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/sml05_zps609030af.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/sml05_zps609030af.jpg[/img][/URL]
And finally... The Ballroom Flat. It was difficult to light and
my pic really doesn't do it justice. I should have got someone
in shot for scale but I'd say the walls are about 20 feet high.
[URL=
HTML http://s623.photobucket.com/user/rustynail2009/media/sml06_zpsbe096407.jpg.html][IMG]http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/sml06_zpsbe096407.jpg[/img][/URL]
Big thanks to Chippers for sorting the bunk house and for being
designated driver to and from the Allenheads Inn last night.
:thumbs:
#Post#: 77697--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smallcleugh lead mine
By: kev Date: October 20, 2013, 10:51 am
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Congrats on reaching the ballroom. 8)
I'm only a little bit jealous. Dmmy spit
#Post#: 77754--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smallcleugh lead mine
By: espacekiller Date: October 20, 2013, 5:16 pm
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A famous occurrence at the mine was the dinner party held down
it. On September 2nd 1901, 28 members of the local Masonic
branch held a dinner down the mine in a large stope know today
as the Ballroom Flat.
:thumbs: excellent, is the football still there?
Apparently they carried tables chairs, table cloths and the full
works down there.
HTML http://www.sbury8.freeserve.co.uk/mines1/nenthead/nenthead/ballroom.jpg
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