We have been meaning to visit Hudgill Burn mine for some time and
a recent article in the CAT journal about the surveying of the limestone
caverns spurred me to contact CAT and get access for our visit.
Ten
o'clock saw us all arrive at the caravan site; we parked up near the toilet
block and made our way to the mine entrance. Finally, after years of talking
about it, we were at last going in for a visit. It was the first time for us
all, apart from Pete who had been in around 2001.
A short walk brought
us out above the caravan site and into a field where we could see the mine shop
in the distance. Heading for this, we came to the mine entrance, which was
flooded and we had to drop into knee to thigh deep water to get to the gate.
The first section was in partly restored arch way and then this gave way to a
chamber with a steel door. Looking around the chamber, we could see behind us
the original oil drum dig attempt in the roof. Unlocking and opening the door
presented us with a little workshop area that CAT must have used during their
digging, and shortly past this the North Waggon Way greeted us on the right.
Ignoring this we decided to head straight in for the Limestone Caverns. We
headed south along the Hudgill Burn Waggon Way Level for some 700m, passing a
number of crosscuts. The level bore left, taking a south east direction until
around 300m later, when we reached Thomas Shield's rise into the Great
Limestone and the Caverns.
One by one, we climbed up the laddered rise,
which had been dug out by CAT and entered a passage way that looked very
natural. Cave passage. Looking around we spotted the first signs of Victorian
graffiti, and then more of it, and then even more. There was a survey line on
the floor and we followed this weaving in and out of fissures. Eventually we
entered a large cavern that was originally described by Thomas Sopwith in his
book, 'An Account of the Mining District of Alston Moor'. It was pretty amazing
to be in here at last, thanks to the efforts of CAT. It was an odd feeling to
have got to a cave via a mine here on Alston Moor, but thinking about it, it is
common enough in the Peak District. We had a good look around and with just
pottering about in the fissures you could easily loop back into the cavern via
a number of routes. Many photographs were taken and after a while it was
decided that we best make our way back to the mine workings, or otherwise we
would just end up staying in the caves and not see anything else. Climbing back
down Thomas Shield's rise we headed back to the Three Way Junction and took the
crosscut to the start of the East Waggon Way Level.
Along the crosscut
we came to the junction with the East Waggon Way Level and the continuation of
the crosscut that connects with the Sun Vein. This was the site of a major dig,
and we soon saw stacked animal feed bags containing spoil and the inevitable
CAT trade mark of steel and timber supports. Passing through the digs on the
crosscut we came to the end of the level, terminating in the original fall that
has yet to be cleared. I have since found out that the digging was stopped due
to high levels of radon gas in the mine, and without ventilation is was not
possible to continue.
Returning to the Three Way Junction we took the
southwest branch and entered the West Level. On the right we came across some
workings and a way up into stopes, a quick look around and we then continued
along the level. A number of rises were seen on the level and we eventually
came to a crosscut to the North Vein some 30m long, which ended with a
forehead. Back on the main level, we carried on noticing a section of the roof
with a sea bed impression. Reaching an area that looked like a digging site, a
ladder was seen and past this there was a small fall with water backed up
behind it. Entering the water we carried on for a little while, noticing a
fossilised tree truck sticking out of the wall, a Stigmaria root of giant
Lycopd Lepidodendron. Near this towards the floor was an interesting calcite
formation. We did not go further as from plans we knew the level ended some
100m a head. We returned to the first workings and had lunch.
Back on
the main drive in, we looked at the crosscut to the main workings. Mark and I
stopped short of the first fall, whilst the others carried on. Instead of
waiting around we headed out with the intention of looking at the North Waggon
Way Level near the main door. As soon as we entered the level, thick sticky mud
started to pull at our wellies and soon we reached a large fall. Turning back
we headed out and waited for the others. Half an hour later they finally came
out and reported that the crosscut to the main workings had a number of falls
that were passable. However, the crosscut fell short of connecting with the
main veins due to a fall right at the end. A few more meters and it would have
been bingo. The crosscut was driven in the shale and through beds of clay and
mud which looked like big slabs of soft chocolate.
This was our last
mine exploration trip for 2013, and a great potter day in a new mine that we
have not been down before. Many thanks to Shelia Barker from CATMHS for letting
us have the key to the mine, and arranging access. Please note if you wish to
visit this mine, it is on private property and locked, access can be arranged
via CATMHS. |
