Sundays seem to be turning into potter trips, and yet again this
is what happened this time round. For a change we headed for Rampgill to look
at the end of the road on the Rampgill Vein. This time round things started in
reverse by making a bee line to the final fall, then it was a leisurely potter
back taking in details and of course lots of photos.
On the way in, we
yet again wondered at the work that NORPEX had put in in getting through all
the falls, I suppose everyone does this. On reaching the final fall, our steps
were retraced, looking at the finer details along the main level that are so
often rushed past.
After having lunch we ended up climbing up a short
rise, which took us into the High Flat workings on the Rampgill Vein. The left
side ended in a fall, but you could get down a hopper into some stoping, which
via a short rubble slope took you back down to the horse level. The right side
proved to be much more interesting. Immediately we came across a selection of
pipe fittings and tools, past this the level carried on with multiple hoppers
going up. Eventually we reached the end to find a large pile of air hose
couplings. On the way back we climbed up an hopper which took you higher up
into the workings. One thing that did stand out in this locality is that past
the Hardshin Vein junction the timber is in a very poor state due to dry rot.
Not only on the timbers and masonary in the horse level, but in the workings
above as well.
So much to see in this mine... |
