I've wondered where this was of for a few years but as a consequence of legendrider's recent additions I may have worked out where, I'm not too sure but the entrance looks a bit like Mr Mikes's 2007 and LeeW's 2015 photos of the drainage level without the addition of Dad showing a worryingly masochistic side to his nature. I hope AditNow's version of netnanny doesn't treat this as mining porn! :o

Photograph:

🔗117933[linkphoto]117933[/linkphoto][/link]

Anybody feel bold enough to a) look at the photo, b) comment on the possible location, date probably mid 1980's.

Jim

I hope AditNow's version of netnanny doesn't treat this as mining porn! :o

Photograph:

🔗117933[linkphoto]117933[/linkphoto][/link]

Anybody feel bold enough to a) look at the photo, b) comment on the possible location.....

.....or

c) recreate the photo for the 21st century?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

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.....or

c) recreate the photo for the 21st century?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

But all done in the best possible taste (tm Kenny E)

100% same place. Drystone walls must be as unique as fingerprints.

100% same place. Drystone walls must be as unique as fingerprints.

Many thanks Rick thought so but always better to get a confirmation. I'll add a sanitized version to the album presently.

Is the arching concrete? as it doesn't look like natural stone.

Jim

Hi Jim,
This certainly is the level on the Scraithole side of the West Allen, slightly to the left of Toby level.
Had not realised that this took the overflow from Barneycraig level.
Well figured out!
John

John beat me to the punch there, but I'd been pondering the Barneycraig outflow for a while. Just inbye, there is a low-level arched culvert on the 'river' side of the horse level between the portal and the sink hole, which takes all the BC water make. A little bit of the flow escapes (somehow) and drains into the river close by, but most goes down the culvert, underground past the mineshop. The water can then be glimpsed flowing under a wide stone arch/bridge before disappearing into the low concrete culvert which bends gradually through 90 degrees to emerge in the riverside retaining wall as per photo. The concrete culvert has a whiff of Vielle Montagne about it. We can stage a reconstruction next time we're in the area, especially seeing as how the weather is warming up a bit!

MARK

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....The concrete culvert has a whiff of Vielle Montagne about it. We can stage a reconstruction next time we're in the area, especially seeing as how the weather is warming up a bit!

MARK

I wondered about a VM explanation for the concrete lining as they were busy about there, perhaps PeteJ would know more. Of some concern re. your possible re-enactment, elder brother has the same idea (he plans for the 26th June), though perhaps he and you are lacking girth to really pull it off :angel:

Jim

perhaps he and you are lacking girth to really pull it off :angel:

Jim

aye, maybe.. I can still squeeze through the wooden BC portal barrier - had to take off my battery belt though! :thumbup:

MARK

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perhaps he and you are lacking girth to really pull it off :angel:

Jim

aye, maybe.. I can still squeeze through the wooden BC portal barrier - had to take off my battery belt though! :thumbup:

MARK

That's close to Moldywarp sinuousness :flowers:

Jim

I have twice had the pleasure of surveying these culverts, most recently for the architect who oversaw the Barneycraig shop restoration. Your picture shows the culvert exit on the east side of the river. This takes all the water from Barneycraig Level via some culverts and a modern pipe. The original culvert was damaged in a flood some years ago, just to the west of Barneycraig entrance. A linked culvert is connected to a culvert running parallel to the front of the mine shop. This includes two "rises" to the mine shop, which I suspect were drain holes for the mine shop. this culvert also has a connection running north to the site of the dressing floors.

The history of Barneycraig washing floors is largely unknown. We can make some guesses from OS Maps and the production figures. Inside the shop are bases for an air compressor and an electricity generator - presumably by the VMZ Co. There was also a mill on the site, for which I have never seen a photo.

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Hi Pete,

It sounds a very complex arrangement to shift waste water around.

I read through the CA report on the West Allen mine water contamination which is rather interesting, although I doubt I'd been keen to drink much of it.

The renovations to the mineshop look very good and a worthy use of the buildings.

Jim

Thanks the clarification, Pete.

Additionally, not far inside the culvert there is a small (about 9" square) and apparently defunct box drain joining on the RHS at mid-level, presumably to duct waste water away from former works.

Yes, I simply HAD to go have a look inside!

MARK

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He didn't need any encouragement - he was like a rat up a drain pipe!

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