Our second visit to this impressive mine / quarry system following
the SMCC Northern Region route with entrance via the
Backdoor.
Immediately on entering we turned left and pasted a collapse
which brought us out on the OXO II route, from here we then picked up the AO
route and headed for the Tank. At the Tank we hit the Cliffworks Passage which
is the main route and haulage way into the Northern Region of the mine. Along
the Cliffworks Passage we passed examples of stone walling and fine archways
all on a very large scale. Eventually we came to the iron door (more like a
portcullis in a castle with its stone archway) which is the only way into the
Northern Region proper.
After some 150m we came to a shaft with day
light streaming down it, here we took the left fork and started a circular
route which would eventually lead us back to the same spot. In this part of the
mine the most stiking feature is that there are artifacts everywhere, saws, saw
benches, sharpening files, buckets, tins, boots and tongs to name a few. After
reaching some end workings we came across some large stone blocks that had
never been extracted - you are aware of the scale of things but, until you see
some of the stone blocks it does not really hit home. Here we had lunch and
then after that we headed for the Hut. At the Hut which is made out of
corrugated iron we headed into the most northern part of the mine to see our
first cranes which where very impressive, however they where in poor condition
with the beams broken, maybe due to the amount of water in this part of the
mine.
After retracing our steps back to the hut we headed south to
rejoin the Cliffworks passage. Here we should have kept heading south to do a
tour of the passages and artifacts south of the Cliffworks passage, but due to
to time constraints we ended up heading back to the day light shaft along the
Cliffworks passage. In the guide it describes that there are a number of
'Hideous Falls' along here and when we did see them, it was definitely the
case, some for the blocks where in the 8m region. Before reaching the Iron Door
again we did take a look at the truck and some of the other cranes in the
passages east and north of the surface reservoir near Leafy Lane - this was
well worth the detour as the cranes where very impressive and in excellent
condition. Finally with time pressing on, we retraced the entrance route via
the Iron Door and exited.
Navigating in the mine the second time round
was much easier as we had already been exposed to the shock of the scale of
things and making sure we had a compass with us this time helped matters - no
getting lost like last time. A return visit is in order to carry out the full
circular tour - however the Southern Region could well be
beckoning. |
