This is a fairly small mine compared to others in Wiltshire, but still makes for a fantastic explore. I really enjoyed this one!
The mine was originally medieval, and was the source of the limestone used to build Salisbury Cathedral. Mining ceased in 1935, and in 1936 the site was obtained by the Air Ministry and became known as RAF Chilmark. The site was used by the RAF as a major ammunitions storage facility, with a railway link constructed to connect the site with the main line to the south. Ammunitions continued to be stored here after the war, and were removed as recently as 1994. The site officially closed in 1995, and was decommissioned in 1996.
Almost the entire underground area within the mine was utilized by the military, and much evidence of this remains – an office, a lift, tidy concrete floors, brick walls and other consolidations, and signs on the walls pointing to exits and first aid points. The narrow gauge railway tracks are all still in place and in very good condition. Even the points remain useable!
A big thank you to Bertie Bollockbrains, who kindly offered to show us around: it would have been difficult to find the entrance without him.
The mine was originally medieval, and was the source of the limestone used to build Salisbury Cathedral. Mining ceased in 1935, and in 1936 the site was obtained by the Air Ministry and became known as RAF Chilmark. The site was used by the RAF as a major ammunitions storage facility, with a railway link constructed to connect the site with the main line to the south. Ammunitions continued to be stored here after the war, and were removed as recently as 1994. The site officially closed in 1995, and was decommissioned in 1996.
Almost the entire underground area within the mine was utilized by the military, and much evidence of this remains – an office, a lift, tidy concrete floors, brick walls and other consolidations, and signs on the walls pointing to exits and first aid points. The narrow gauge railway tracks are all still in place and in very good condition. Even the points remain useable!
A big thank you to Bertie Bollockbrains, who kindly offered to show us around: it would have been difficult to find the entrance without him.
