Peter Burgess attended another NAMHO conference and reports his impressions. With a great set of talks, field trips and social events it seems to have scored top marks despite the unsettled weather! Another excellent NAMHO conference has come and gone; this year’s event was held at Grasmere in the Lake District from 7th to 10th…
NAMHO Conference 2023, and Venue Sought for NAMHO 2024
The annual conference arranged by NAMHO members is fast approaching! Have you booked your place? It is only a few weeks now to the NAMHO 2023 conference and field trip, being held at Grasmere in the Lake District and be hosted by the Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society (CATMHS). The conference runs from Friday…
Cobalt Mine: a rare ‘time capsule’ on Alderley Edge
A cobalt mine, abandoned in the early 19th century, has been discovered at Alderley Edge in Cheshire revealing a ‘time capsule’ of personal objects and equipment the workers left behind. The shaft ran in after the unusually wet weather in 2019/2020 and was found by a warden surveying the field. The Derbyshire Caving Club then…
NAMHO 2022 – doing it the Cleveland way
A full mining history conference complete with field trips, steam trains and beer was recently held in North Yorkshire, from 17th to 20th June. Peter Burgess attended and gives the event an enthusiastic thumbs up! Retirement brings mixed blessings for those who are fortunate enough to have sufficient income to live reasonably well. On the…
Caving club funds new tunnel in Reigate
Reigate has a brand new tunnel, thanks to the efforts of High Peak Geotechnical Ltd., acting on instruction from the Wealden Cave and Mine Society (WCMS). WCMS opens three caves within the centre of Reigate, Surrey, for public tours, under licence from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. One of the three caves is an abandoned…
AditNow mining talks to go ahead as planned
Mine explorers have found their favourite online communication channel out of action in recent days. The AditNow website was set up in 2005 by mine enthusiast Simon Lowe, as a place to share photos and information about the mines he and his friends were exploring. Since those early days, the website has grown into an…
In the news
Here we go with our latest round-up of news and views from around the world. If you see anything you think we might have missed, do drop us a line. Many thanks to Herman de Swart for his continued support sending in links! Cave Art Ancient Origins: Ancient Cave Found in Egypt with Unique Predynastic…
2020 AditNow mine exploration calendar available
Since 2008, members of the AditNow UK mine exploration forum website have contributed an impressive variety of photographs to calendars, produced each year, which are sold to raise money for good causes in the mine exploration community. Photographs are drawn from members of the website, who have been very generous with their photos, contributing…
How can we make mining more sustainable?
Guest contributor Becky Morris provides some thoughts on how the effects of mining on the planet can be minimised. Becky is a content and digital marketer working on behalf of Mineco. She specialises in creating inventive and engaging articles, blog posts and graphics. Becky has a high level of knowledge within the mining industry. As…
NAMHO 2019 Mid-Wales – A programme of excellence
My workplace annual leave is a precious resource, and I try to use it sparingly and wisely. In respect of this year’s NAMHO Conference, I think I made a good decision, extending the weekend on which the conference presentations took place by three days, so I could also attend some field trips. The organisers, the…
Descent 268 now available
Descent 268 is now available! If a copy hasn’t arrived with you, it’s time to head over to Wildplaces Publishing to subscribe now or if you’re lucky enough to have a caving shop anywhere near you, call in and get a one from them. Descent is the best way to stay in touch with what’s…
Getting some elfy exercise
Chesney the Chipmunk and Valentine the donkey go caving in Reigate. Peter Burgess was there to record the occasion! Cavers do some pretty daft things at times. Spending hours on end in cold gloopy mud, digging out blocked passages that you can barely fit through even after you have forced your way into them, or…
Ritual protection in the Chaldon Quarries – health and safety in the 16th century
For the first time, curious chalk inscriptions on the walls of an ancient stone quarry in Surrey are being systematically recorded, as part of a wider research project to better understand the long and hitherto hidden history of this important source of stone for London. Many of the chalk inscriptions have been identified as ritual protection marks (RPM).
Review: Descent 263 Now Available
Descent 263 is now available! If you’re not already got your copy, we hope this short round up will tempt you to subscribe now, so head over to Wildplaces Publishing or if you’re lucky enough to have a caving shop anywhere near you, call in and get a one from them. As we say every…
News: Chaldon Quarries, Surrey – Radiocarbon Dating Results
In January 2018, we reported that the Wealden Cave and Mine Society had been awarded the opportunity to get free radiocarbon dating work performed on archaeological samples from the Reigate area. By the end of March, the results were available, but disappointingly, two of the three samples submitted did not contain sufficient carbon to provide…
NAMHO 2018 – Lecture Review
The 2018 annual conference of the National Association of Mining History Organisations was hosted jointly by Gloucester Speleological Society, Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club, Hades Caving Club, South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group and Clearwell Caves, and held at Park End in the Forest of Dean. There was a comprehensive list of field trips available…
Review: Descent 262 Now Available
Descent 262 should have landed on your mats and in the shops by now! If you’re not a subscriber, we hope this short round up will tempt you in and send you over to Wildplaces Publishing to get your copy, or if you’re lucky enough to have a caving shop anywhere near you, call in…
Safety Advice – Cwmystwyth Mine April 2018
Roy Fellows would like the following safety advice to be published: With regard to the ladder at the top of a very loose slope of rocks on the climb up / SRT route above to skipway, please heed this advice for your safety. Following a recent incident, it is felt that there is a need…
Welsh Mines News Digest, Spring 2018
Here are some brief snippets of news, courtesy of Roy Fellows. Filming for “Hidden Wales” Lazerbeam Productions has been filming surface and underground at Cwmystwyth for a forthcoming series “Hidden Wales”. Roy accompanied a filming team underground and he will probably feature quite a lot in the Cwmystwyth episode, which he hopes will provide a bit of…
News: UNEXMIN UX-1 Robot, First Field Trials due in June
On the 31st of January and 1st of February, the UNEXMIN consortium partners and advisory board members gathered in Bled, Slovenia, to discuss the current and future developments of this EU-funded project. They discussed the work carried out by each partner in the previous months, but mainly focussed on the robot’s assembly, due in April,…
News: UNEXMIN: An Autonomous Underwater Explorer for Flooded Mines
Thirteen organisations from seven countries across Europe are collaborating in an ambitious project to develop a submersible robotic system for surveying and exploration of flooded mines. The €5 million project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research programme, includes the development of a Robotic Explorer (UX-1) for autonomous 3D mine mapping to gather valuable…
Wealden Cave and Mine Society Wins Radiocarbon Dating Award
In the summer of 2017, I was made aware of a scheme to encourage community archaeological groups to submit material for radiocarbon dating. The scheme is known as the Community Archaeology Radiocarbon Dating (CARD) Fund, and there is a simple online application process for suggesting suitable items for dating. The Wealden Cave and Mine Society…
Descent 259 Coming Soon
Descent 259 will landing on your mats very soon! If you’re not up to date with your subscription, now is the time to renew. The lovely folks at Wild Places Publishing will be happy to add you to the subscriptions list so you don’t miss out. There’s a packed Newsdesk for you, with even more…
News: Cambrian Mines Trust To Host NAMHO 2019
Cambrian Mines Trust will be hosting the NAMHO 2019 event in association with Dr Peter Claughton as lecture programme organiser. Peter has extensive experience in organising events and the trust is extremely grateful for his expertise. Cave Access Ltd will be providing access to mines on land owned by the Welsh Government. The theme of…
News: Update on Cwmystwyth Lefel Fawr works
Roy Fellows has sent us an update about the the underground works in Cwmystwyth Lefel Fawr. These are now completed and the Steel Road which replaced the second (awkward) tube is now open. The truck which was right up against the new roadway is currently being relocated further in, it has now moved back about…
Descent 258 Coming Soon
Descent 258 will be winging its way to your doormat very soon! If you’re not up to date with your subscription, now is the time to renew. The lovely folks at Wildplaces Publishing will be happy to lay out the red carpet to welcome you into the fold, but remember to wipe your wellies first……
Summer 2017 Mining News Digest
Talybont (Source: Roy Fellows) Access is now open with the rotten timberwork all stripped out and the access shaft concreted. Rotten ladders have been replaced by steel ones. There is no more work required on this site in the near future. Cwmystwyth Lefel Fawr (Source: Roy Fellows) Work on replacing the second tube with a…
News: Descent 257 Now Available
Descent 257 is now available! As ever, Newsdesk will bring you up to date with news from around the world, including the news that the Royal Geographical Society is hosting a British caving weekend from 1st to 4th December at its headquarters in London. The title of the event is A Golden Age of Cave…
Descent 257 Coming Soon!
Descent 257 will soon be landing on your mats! If you’re not up to date with your subscription, now is the time to renew. The lovely folks at Wildplaces Publishing will be only too happy to welcome you into the fold. There’s a lot to look forward to in the new issue. As well as…
News: No Access to Box Mines, Wiltshire
Following two recent rescues from Box Mines, Wiltshire, quarry owners Hanson UK are proceeding with the gating of other entrances. One of the recent rescues was caused when a party who had entered the disused stone mines via the entrance known as Back Door were unable to exit through Jack’s Working due to a grill…
News: Two Rescues at Box Mines, Wiltshire
Firefighters and cave rescuers have had to attend Box Mines near Corsham, Wiltshire, twice in three days to assist parties in trouble underground. On 2 July 2017, Corsham Fire and Rescue assisted a group of three who had entered the mines via Back Door entrance and made their way to Jack’s Working entrance where a…
NAMHO Annual Conference 2017 – Lecture Review
It fell to me to arrange and host the two days of lectures for the 2017 conference of the National Association of Mining History Organisations (NAMHO), while other members of the hosting group, the Wealden Cave and Mine Society, worried about pig-roasts, field trips, beer and the Saturday evening’s live band. The conference was held…
News: Descent 256 Now Available
Descent 256 is now available! As ever, Newsdesk will bring you up to date with news from around the world. A new species of blind crab has bee n discovered in Meghalaya, India, and the first cave-dwelling fish to be discovered in Europe has been found in the Danube-Aach system in Southern Germany. There’s information…
Cwmystwyth Lefel Fawr -Urgent notice from Cambrian Mines Trust
UPDATE: 6th April 2018 – the work described below has now been completed. Roy Fellows has been in touch with the following notice: Cwmystwyth Lefel Fawr Please be advised that the route through the second tube is temporarily closed, don’t try it unless you want steel RSJs down on your head! A diversion route to…
Descent 255 Coming Soon!
Descent 255 is on its way! Make sure your subscription is up to date so you don’t miss out on all the latest caving and mining news from around the regions! The new issue will have a story on the HOG Assault, the tale of how the Peak District has given up yet another of…
Kan-i-Gut Expedition – an open invitation
Kan-i-Gut is a natural cave that has been extensively extended by miners over the centuries. The cave is located in the northern foothills of the Turkestan Range in the Batken region of south west Kyrgyzstan. The cave is being explored by the Kyrgyz based Foundation for the Preservation and Study of Caves, who…
News: Descent 254 Now Available
Descent 254 is now available! The latest issue starts with a three page Newsdesk spread with a quick fire round up of news from around the world. Amongst other things, there’s a course on new cave surveying techniques coming soon in South Wales on 18 – 19th February and a BCRA filed meeting on Gower…
Bookings for NAMHO 2017 Now Live
Bookings are now open for the National Association of Mining History Organisations (NAMHO) Conference 2017, to be based around Godstone, Surrey, UK over the weekend of 23-26th June 2017. A lively and exciting weekend of underground trips, lectures and social events, hosted by the Wealden Cave & Mine Society, in their 50th anniversary year, so…
News: Descent 252 Now Available
The latest edition of Descent is now available. Issue 252 is packed with news from around the regions at home and abroad. The four page Newsdesk spread contains such fascinating snippets as a new theory that the European cave bear might have become extinct for diet-linked reasons. A new study has shown that they were…
New Website : Northern Mine Research Society
If a society wants to thrive nowadays, it is important that they have a good website. It is by far the best way to promote what you do, and to encourage others to get involved. The Northern Mine Research Society has recently introduced a radically improved website. In the course of reviewing it for this…
Caving in Derbyshire – DCA Cave Registry now online
The Derbyshire Caving Association have launched an online guide to Derbyshire caves in the form of the DCA Cave Registry, a new resource which builds on earlier work by John Beck, among many others, and software from the Mendip Cave Registry and Archive, by kind permission of Matt Voysey. You can find the main search page…
NAMHO Conference 2017 – Call for Papers
The 2017 Annual NAMHO Conference takes place over the weekend of 24th / 25th June, and will be based at Godstone in Surrey. It is to be hosted by the Wealden Cave and Mine Society. The theme will be: “Mining History Organisations – Achievements and Challenges” WCMS are very keen to provide a full set…
News: Latest NAMHO Newsletter highlights launch of mining research agenda
In the latest newsletter from NAMHO, Peter Claughton gives a detailed account of the launch of the Archaeology of Mining and Quarrying in England Research Framework at a seminar earlier this year in April. In the discussions that followed the presentation, and quoting from Peter’s report, it was the matters of maintaining comprehensive inventories of…
News: Cwmystwyth Mine works – Phase 1 completed
Roy Fellows reports another completed stage in the stabilisation program in Cwmystwyth Mine. The underground works phase 1, support of the stull above the skipway, is now completed and the area cleared. Normal access to Roman Level is now open, the path has been widened at the bottom as the work has encroached on this…
News: Tratman Award 2015
The Tratman Award, 2015 The Tratman Award has been awarded annually since 1979 to a caving-related paper-based publication in memory of E.K. Tratman, who died in 1978. It covers books, journals and articles published in a calendar year and is administered by the Ghar Parau Foundation, but judged by independent cavers; for 2015 these were…
Update: Cwmystwth Lefel Fawr work commences
The planned stabilisation work in Cwmystwyth Mine, reported here in December 2015, has now started. Roy Fellows reports: Work started on 10th April. Please note that the climbing route above the skipway up to Roman Level is out of bounds due to the work being done to reinforce the big stull and to support the sagging…
News: Full lecture and field trip programme for NAMHO 2016
The full programme of lectures and field trips for the 2016 NAMHO conference has now ben published. The National Association of Mining History Organisations is holding this year’s event in the Republic of Ireland. The theme of the event is “Mining and Social Change”. The event starts on Friday 17th June with a field trip…
News: New app helps lead mining come to life in the Yorkshire Dales
One of the pleasures I get from being involved in the underground exploration of old mine workings is discovering that there is often just as much on the surface to discover as there is below ground. I have taken an interest in industrial archaeology for as long as I have been going underground – indeed…
News: Descent 249 Now Available
Descent 249 is now available! Catch up with caving and mining news from around the regions. Features in this issue include: a fascinating article on the loss of Penderyn Cave mentioned in the previous issue (248); a description of the at times hair-raising Croesor-Rhosydd traverse through a mountain in north Wales, complete with some excellent…
News: Roy Fellows Completes Impressive Efforts in Talybont Mine
Roy Fellows reports that his hard work stabilising Allt-y-Crib (Talybont) Mine is now completed. This project featured briefly on Darkness Below in January this year. Roy has been working on this for about 12 months, visiting the site about once a week. A log of the progress on this impressive project over the past year can be…
Force Crag Mine Tours 2016
The National Trust is offering guided tours of the surface remains of Force Crag Mine, worked for zinc and barite, high in the Lake District. There will be one tour per month from April to September (excluding July), on the dates listed below. Tours will take about an hour and will cost £6. Although the…
March 2016 NAMHO Newsletter
In the March 2016 NAMHO newsletter, the headline story is, understandably, the closure of Kellingley Colliery, the last deep coal mine in Britain, which took place in December 2015. There is a link to Ian Castledine’s impressive photographic record immediately after the closure, at http://www.kellingley.co.uk/ Details of a forthcoming publication are described. “The Archaeology of Mining…
News: Progress at Tankard Shaft, Somerset
In January, Darkness Below reported that work had started on a new dig called Tankard Shaft, an undocumented mine shaft, tantalisingly close to Tankard Hole, itself a promising dig abandoned in the 1950’s. The dig team is happy to report that after a significant amount of shaft stabilisation work, they have broken into a complex series…
News: Farleigh Down Quarry clean-up welcomed
The old Farleigh Down Quarry workings in Wiltshire have been the target of some serious vandalism recently, and also some controversy over what to do about it. It is therefore heartening to see members of the Devon and Cornwall Mine Explorers’ Group make the effort to restore one of the vandalised features: a square well. On…
News: Remarkable 5,000 year-old silver mine discovered in Greece
A team of mining archaeologists, supervised by Prof. Dr Denis Morin of the University of Lorraine, connected with the UMR National Center for Scientific Research 5608 of Toulouse, has been investigating 5,000 year old silver mine workings in Greece. The scientists have used a drone to locate above-ground installations connected to the mining. It is…
News: BCA February News Page now available
The latest edition of the British Caving Association’s Newsletter for February 2016 is now available. The contents include: news about the Eurospeleo 2016 congress; funding for cave conservation in the north; a major reorganisation of the British Caving Library; information on a project concerning anchors for use in North Wales Slate mines; the publication of…
News: Cambrian Caving Council Newsletter now available
The latest edition of the Cambrian Caving Council Newsletter for January 2016 is now available. The Newsletter contains reports from all over Wales, including a report on the finds at Ogof Marris (described here by Darkness UK), details of the permit system for access to the Castlemartin Range for new exploration, an account of the…
Events: Nenthead Mines Open Days for 2016 Published
For many mine explorers, Nenthead in Cumbria is the Mecca of British mining, with a vast amount of underground exploration potential. For those who prefer an easier introduction to the mines, the open days run by the Nenthead Mines Conservation Society, are an attractive option. Carrs Show Mine is an established site where you can…
News: Tungsten Mine opened in Devon
Mining firm, Wolf Minerals, has opened the UK’s first new metal mine in 40 years at its Drakelands Mine near Hemerdon, Plymouth. The huge site has one of the largest tungsten and tin resources in the western world. This area has been recognised as an important source of tungsten minerals for many years, and was…
Event: Derbyshire Caving Club Open Weekend, Alderley Edge, 23rd – 24th April 2016
The Derbyshire Caving Club (DCC) are holding an open weekend at Alderley Edge, Cheshire on the weekend of 23rd to 24th April 2015 when you will be able to pay a visit to Engine Vein, one of the extensive series of mines under the steep sandstone outcrop that overlooks the Cheshire plain. The mines have…