Smallcleugh Mine - Bogg Shaft (21/08/04)

It has been a long time since we have been to this area of Smallcleugh. It is a long trip and took just over 6 hours for 5 people. Bogg Shaft is in the deepest part of Smallcleugh near to where the Longcleugh Vein intersects the Middlecleugh Second Sun Vein.

At the collapse on the intersection of Cowhill Cross Vein you crawl through to carry on along the Middlecleugh Second Sun Vein, until a junction is reached with Longcleugh Vein. Taking this junction you start to go down an incline until a large rise is reached. Climbing up this to bypass a collapse, you go into the workings above. Another climb and you reach Bogg Shaft. There was an amazing amount of water coming down the shaft due to the amount of rain we have had recently and also one of the pipes has collapsed. Passing this very carefully we reached the other side of the workings - lunch was had!

After lunch, we carried on further along the workings and climbed further up another shaft, which we at first we thought was the Middlecleugh Level, but doing a bit of further research it turned out to be the Caplecleugh High Level. There are some more shafts here that go up and these may possibly reach the Middlecleugh Level. From the workings after Bogg Shaft it is possible to drop down an ore shoot to carry on along the Browngill Vein, but this is the end of the Smallcleugh and the only way forward here is to drop down into Capelcleugh Level - wet suits please.

Click on the thumbnails for a full picture and description.

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