Report - Rockwood Pigments Matlock - Jan 2019

[bmichelle]

This site has been done a lot I know but had a look around last month, it was a nice mooch, my entry however wasn’t the most graceful. The cave was pretty cool but after going in about 20/30 metres the ground was just completely loose rock so decided not to go any further. Some of the graffiti really ruined it but still nice!
I didn’t have my camera at the time so I apologise that the iPhone photos aren’t the best.

Stolen History:

Rockwood Pigments Factory is located under High Tor cliffs in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. The factory is now empty and faces an uncertain future. It is known as the High Tor Works.
Originally called Viaton, it was originally established for mining iron ore but after this was worked out in 1850 the waterwheel was used to grind white lead. At the end of the century, the Via Gellia Colour Company took over, installing a turbine to drive four pairs of Peak stones which for the next twenty years ground iron oxide. Then bone char, the waste product from sugar refining, was ground until the late 1960s. Later the site was used for blending pre-ground chemically-produced colour products for use in paving slabs and other cement products. Finally, the site became part of the Rockwood group.

 

[MotionlessMike]

Which way in did you choose? Being impaled or falling into the river?

 

[bmichelle]

Which way in did you choose? Being impaled or falling into the river?

Climbed the gate, with only being 5’ tall it was a struggle, got impaled a few times

 

[Yorrick]

Another good set of snaps, especially for a hand-held phone. Keep it up.

If you want to know how to get the most from your phone, this might help https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/high-royds-asylum-leeds.116587/#post-1230403

 

[HughieD]

Great pics from your phone! It ain't what you got, it's the way you use it.

 

[Exploring with Andy]

Pics do the job
Looks like the cave is a mine, is there a bit of an underground complex there? I don't blame you for not going far, it's really easy to get lost in places like that!

 

[bmichelle]

Pics do the job
Looks like the cave is a mine, is there a bit of an underground complex there? I don't blame you for not going far, it's really easy to get lost in places like that!

Yeah I think it was a mine, don’t know too much to be honest because we didn’t go too far in, you have to bend down under this rock that’s being supported with wood (pic). After that point there’s only about 10 metres before the floor is just completely unsteady rocks. The entrance to it is on the same level as the factory and I didn’t notice much of a descent down, I don’t know how deep it goes after where we stopped though.

 

[Exploring with Andy]

Yeah I think it was a mine, don’t know too much to be honest because we didn’t go too far in, you have to bend down under this rock that’s being supported with wood (pic). After that point there’s only about 10 metres before the floor is just completely unsteady rocks. The entrance to it is on the same level as the factory and I didn’t notice much of a descent down, I don’t know how deep it goes after where we stopped though.

Interesting, thanks for the info

 

[tarkovsky]

Good work with the pics! The mine you went in doesn’t go much further beyond the bit with the wooden supports before it’s flooded. There’s actually another mine on site too but much less obvious entrance - there’s some pics and info here: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threa...tor-works-mines-matlock-december-2017.111209/

 

[bmichelle]

Good work with the pics! The mine you went in doesn’t go much further beyond the bit with the wooden supports before it’s flooded. There’s actually another mine on site too but much less obvious entrance - there’s some pics and info here: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threa...tor-works-mines-matlock-december-2017.111209/

Ah we didn’t see that it was flooded, we went through the wooden supports but looking at some other pics we must have stopped literally a few metres before it’s flooded. I did know about the red mine, but we didn’t really look for the entrance because we didn’t have time. I’d like to go back and have a look at some point when we do have more time.
Thanks man!