1. The History
Really fascinating place. Very little history out there and not a single vintage photograph of what it was like back in the day when it was being worked as a lead mine.
Without the excellent article entitled "The Adit Workings on the North Side of Via Gellia" by R.B.Flindall and A.J.Haynes in the Journal of Peak District Historical Mines Society, Vol 4, Part 6 December 1971, I'd have had even less to go on.
Slaley sough is a lead mine located high on the northern slopes of the Via Gellia, just to the north of Cromford in the county of Derbyshire. The name appears to be misplaced as it is neither a sough or at drainage level. It first appears in records in 1793 by the name of “Old Man’s Crosscut”, although it was most likely to have been driven earlier in the first half of the 18th century. The main drive is northwards beneath the Matlock lower lava to the Bonsall Lees Great Rake, intersecting workings under Bonsall Moor. It was driven by drilling 1” shot holes and was initially 720 ft long.
A plan of the area, dated 1854, shows the workings reaching The Great Rake, with a proposed level still to be driven. It was most likely extended between 1854 and 1859 for another 2,000ft along Parsons Rake, principally by the Bonsall Lees Mining Co. The extension cost approximately £1,325 - the equivalent of approximately £150,000 in today’s monies. Beyond that, there is little or no information as to when the mine became uneconomical to work and hence was abandoned.
Map of the workings:
Source: hand-drawn map by R.B Findall, taken from Flindall and Hayes (1971).
2. The Explore
The first issue is finding Slaley Sough. It isn't easy. Myself and @Jl.urbex had failed to find the adit the week before, but in possession of better location intel, this time around we found it. Having parked up the "Goodluck Mine" layby, myself @Jl.urbex and @FalloutShelter along with two non-forum members headed up the steep footpath on the left-hand side of the "Tufa Cottage". The ill-defined path then turns right and heads along the treeline. After a while you come to a marshy area which is the start of a small stream. Here we followed the stream downhill until we came to some obvious spoil heaps on our left. The adit entrance is close by at the base of a small cliff under a tree.
Looking into the mine, we could see that it was very, very wet. Given @Jl.urbex had no wellies, he couldn’t really go in, so it was left to the four of us to venture inside. The initial entrance was initially a bit of a squeeze and became very muddy and wet. The adit then dries out but becomes more of a stoop. After a combination of stooping and crawling, we reached the T-junction and the roof rose to much more comfortable height. Firstly, we turned right but the passage soon ended at a forefield, just after at 50ft winze in the floor. We then went back and continued down the left-hand part of the level, quickly passing the first stempled rise and showed evidence of tramming (sleepers) and soot marks on the walls. Further along, after second raise or stope, the older workings continued easterly for a short distance along The Great Rake. We continued along the main adit which turned to the right and after a short while came to a widened chamber. A bit further on from here, at a large junction the right-hand passage gives access to Thunder Shaft, a 151ft winze. Having had a look at this we then turned around and made our way. @FalloutShelter crawled over the collapse to have a look at the left-hand passage which goes on some considerable distance until the eastern forefield is reached. However, it soon became a bit samey, so he turned round and re-joined us before retracing our steps.
Was great to meet up both @Jl.urbex and @FalloutShelter - always nice to explore with like-minded people and top chaps.
3. The Pictures
The entrance:
And it’s wet:
A lovely formation caused by the water flow:
The drier stooping section:
After the T-junction is reached, along the right-hand turn is the first of two winzes:
Back round and along to the left:
Stempled rise near the junction with the entrance crosscut:
Looking up the second rise:
We turn to the right here:
On we go:
Some graff dating back to 1961:
On the left you soon reach the “budding” rock-cut chamber:
Obligatory spade picture:
Just on from here, the left turn that continues on for some considerable distance in a North-westerly direction:
Really fascinating place. Very little history out there and not a single vintage photograph of what it was like back in the day when it was being worked as a lead mine.
Without the excellent article entitled "The Adit Workings on the North Side of Via Gellia" by R.B.Flindall and A.J.Haynes in the Journal of Peak District Historical Mines Society, Vol 4, Part 6 December 1971, I'd have had even less to go on.
Slaley sough is a lead mine located high on the northern slopes of the Via Gellia, just to the north of Cromford in the county of Derbyshire. The name appears to be misplaced as it is neither a sough or at drainage level. It first appears in records in 1793 by the name of “Old Man’s Crosscut”, although it was most likely to have been driven earlier in the first half of the 18th century. The main drive is northwards beneath the Matlock lower lava to the Bonsall Lees Great Rake, intersecting workings under Bonsall Moor. It was driven by drilling 1” shot holes and was initially 720 ft long.
A plan of the area, dated 1854, shows the workings reaching The Great Rake, with a proposed level still to be driven. It was most likely extended between 1854 and 1859 for another 2,000ft along Parsons Rake, principally by the Bonsall Lees Mining Co. The extension cost approximately £1,325 - the equivalent of approximately £150,000 in today’s monies. Beyond that, there is little or no information as to when the mine became uneconomical to work and hence was abandoned.
Map of the workings:
Source: hand-drawn map by R.B Findall, taken from Flindall and Hayes (1971).
2. The Explore
The first issue is finding Slaley Sough. It isn't easy. Myself and @Jl.urbex had failed to find the adit the week before, but in possession of better location intel, this time around we found it. Having parked up the "Goodluck Mine" layby, myself @Jl.urbex and @FalloutShelter along with two non-forum members headed up the steep footpath on the left-hand side of the "Tufa Cottage". The ill-defined path then turns right and heads along the treeline. After a while you come to a marshy area which is the start of a small stream. Here we followed the stream downhill until we came to some obvious spoil heaps on our left. The adit entrance is close by at the base of a small cliff under a tree.
Looking into the mine, we could see that it was very, very wet. Given @Jl.urbex had no wellies, he couldn’t really go in, so it was left to the four of us to venture inside. The initial entrance was initially a bit of a squeeze and became very muddy and wet. The adit then dries out but becomes more of a stoop. After a combination of stooping and crawling, we reached the T-junction and the roof rose to much more comfortable height. Firstly, we turned right but the passage soon ended at a forefield, just after at 50ft winze in the floor. We then went back and continued down the left-hand part of the level, quickly passing the first stempled rise and showed evidence of tramming (sleepers) and soot marks on the walls. Further along, after second raise or stope, the older workings continued easterly for a short distance along The Great Rake. We continued along the main adit which turned to the right and after a short while came to a widened chamber. A bit further on from here, at a large junction the right-hand passage gives access to Thunder Shaft, a 151ft winze. Having had a look at this we then turned around and made our way. @FalloutShelter crawled over the collapse to have a look at the left-hand passage which goes on some considerable distance until the eastern forefield is reached. However, it soon became a bit samey, so he turned round and re-joined us before retracing our steps.
Was great to meet up both @Jl.urbex and @FalloutShelter - always nice to explore with like-minded people and top chaps.
3. The Pictures
The entrance:
And it’s wet:
A lovely formation caused by the water flow:
The drier stooping section:
After the T-junction is reached, along the right-hand turn is the first of two winzes:
Back round and along to the left:
Stempled rise near the junction with the entrance crosscut:
Looking up the second rise:
We turn to the right here:
On we go:
Some graff dating back to 1961:
On the left you soon reach the “budding” rock-cut chamber:
Obligatory spade picture:
Just on from here, the left turn that continues on for some considerable distance in a North-westerly direction:
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