A Permission visit organised by the Stroud Valley Project to raise money for future endeavours.
History:
Other than being a freestone mine I can find very little information about this online, if anyone has a good source could they let me know? One story I do know is that some NAMHO members got into the mine and caused some damage to the hopper that is still there, fortunately they came back not long after and repaired it.
The early history of these quarries is vague. Presumably quarrying of the fine oolite stone has been carried on at the outcrop since Roman times. Due to the steep hillsides, the overburden soon became to great and thus they went underground. There are a number of small scale developments. According to a 90 year old inhabitant of Nailsworth, a Mr William Mortimer who died in 1970 such places were worked in the winter months by cottagers employed in casual agricultural work during the summer.
Source: THE ROYAL FOREST OF DEAN CAVING CLUB NEWS LETTER No 34 (JULY / AUGUST 1971)
Visit:
We met up at the Weighbridge pub and then proceeded up to the mine entrance (on private land). I think I've been spoiled by Box as this mine is considerably smaller and easy to navigate. Our guide Chris was very knowledgeable and told us all about the different parts of the mine and how the miners used to do their jobs. We were taken around both main arteries of the mine but the two sections near the entrance were avoided as they as a bit less stable than the rest of the mine. The tour lasted just over two hours and we came away very satisfied.
Visited by: Ourtcloud, Tallrich and fifteen other strangers.
Photos.
Thanks for looking
History:
Other than being a freestone mine I can find very little information about this online, if anyone has a good source could they let me know? One story I do know is that some NAMHO members got into the mine and caused some damage to the hopper that is still there, fortunately they came back not long after and repaired it.
The early history of these quarries is vague. Presumably quarrying of the fine oolite stone has been carried on at the outcrop since Roman times. Due to the steep hillsides, the overburden soon became to great and thus they went underground. There are a number of small scale developments. According to a 90 year old inhabitant of Nailsworth, a Mr William Mortimer who died in 1970 such places were worked in the winter months by cottagers employed in casual agricultural work during the summer.
Source: THE ROYAL FOREST OF DEAN CAVING CLUB NEWS LETTER No 34 (JULY / AUGUST 1971)
Visit:
We met up at the Weighbridge pub and then proceeded up to the mine entrance (on private land). I think I've been spoiled by Box as this mine is considerably smaller and easy to navigate. Our guide Chris was very knowledgeable and told us all about the different parts of the mine and how the miners used to do their jobs. We were taken around both main arteries of the mine but the two sections near the entrance were avoided as they as a bit less stable than the rest of the mine. The tour lasted just over two hours and we came away very satisfied.
Visited by: Ourtcloud, Tallrich and fifteen other strangers.
Photos.
Loading bay
Workings
The last large stone
Main conduit
Our Guide checking out a melty wall
Small crab winch
Calcite
Large avenue
Mushroom pillar
Walking up the pony track to the egresse
Workings
The last large stone
Main conduit
Our Guide checking out a melty wall
Small crab winch
Calcite
Large avenue
Mushroom pillar
Walking up the pony track to the egresse
Thanks for looking
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