I know we've been here before (http://www.aditnow.co.uk/community/viewtopic.aspx?p=441 ) but it changed into a topic about blondins.

So, here's Squirrel's pic of Silverband's aerial ropeway - does anyone have any more information on this?

🔗Silverband-Baryte-mine-User-Album-Image-005[linkphoto]Silverband-Baryte-mine-User-Album-Image-005[/linkphoto][/link]

Just for comparison, here's owdsnuffy's pic of Cwm Bychan:

🔗cwm-bychan-Copper-Mine-2-User-Album-Image-004[linkphoto]cwm-bychan-Copper-Mine-2-User-Album-Image-004[/linkphoto][/link]

...and one by JohnnearCfon of the same thing:

🔗Personal-Album-8-Image-007[linkphoto]Personal-Album-8-Image-007[/linkphoto][/link]

These are, of course, not dissimilar to this sort of thing:

🔗Personal-Album-2-Image-037[linkphoto]Personal-Album-2-Image-037[/linkphoto][/link]

Does anyone else know of any similar aerial ropeways used in the UK and how early the 'technology' was used?

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They also exisit in at least four Cumbrian Slate workings, the biggest of which is at Honister. These were gravity powered, and were used as an alternative to inclines. Though Honister and Yewcraggs use both.

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Peter Holmes lists 6 Aerial Ropeways in 'The Mine Explorer Vol4'
for Cumbrian Slate

1 Spion Kop - Stubthwaite Moss Rd
2 Saddlestone Top Qry - Saddlestone Main Bank
3 Brandy Crag - Saddlestone Main Bank
4 Moss Head Qry - Saddlestone Main Bank
5 High Blue Qry - Bonsor Mill
6 Honister Bottom Leve - Honister Hause

He lists :
4 Coal
3 Iron
1 Granite
5 Barytes
2 Lead / Zinc
1 Diatomite
2 Gypsum
1 Bricks

for a total of 25 Aerial Ropeways.
He also lists in his article 6 ropeways that were proposed but never built.

If anyone wants a copy of 'Vol 4' PM me

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If anyone wants a copy of 'Vol 4' PM me

Me please!

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The Silverband ropeway was built in 1939 when B Laporte & Co. were operating the mine. It transported ore from the mine at approx. 2250ft OD on Great Dun Fell, to a mill at Milburn Grange (approx 670ft OD) about 3 miles away. Another ropeway then took the proessed ore to the railway at Long Marton about 2 miles away. This period of working ended in 1963.
Most of the upper towers are still on site, it's a pretty impressive construction and must have been a joy to operate at this time of year with Cross Fell's notorious winds!
Some of the 'old men' even mentioned riding the buckets to get to work!

Peter Holmes lists 6 Aerial Ropeways in 'The Mine Explorer Vol4'
for Cumbrian Slate

1 Spion Kop - Stubthwaite Moss Rd
2 Saddlestone Top Qry - Saddlestone Main Bank
3 Brandy Crag - Saddlestone Main Bank
4 Moss Head Qry - Saddlestone Main Bank
5 High Blue Qry - Bonsor Mill
6 Honister Bottom Leve - Honister Hause

He lists :
4 Coal
3 Iron
1 Granite
5 Barytes
2 Lead / Zinc
1 Diatomite
2 Gypsum
1 Bricks

for a total of 25 Aerial Ropeways.
He also lists in his article 6 ropeways that were proposed but never built.

If anyone wants a copy of 'Vol 4' PM me

Cheers, yep that seems right. The best slate (Cumbrian) e.g though is the one at Honister, which still has its nicely preserved winding gear. Am I right in thinking that Clogau or Gwynfynydd had small scale ones for tipping?

regards

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Sorry about the picture quality, or lack of it-
but this is the contraption that used to be at Rookhope, linking the Weardale Lead Co plant with the railway I believe.
The original photo was taken by John Alvin Hill who oversaw its construction.

🔗Personal-Album-78-Image-010[linkphoto]Personal-Album-78-Image-010[/linkphoto][/link]

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Cheers, yep that seems right. The best slate (Cumbrian) e.g though is the one at Honister, which still has its nicely preserved winding gear. Am I right in thinking that Clogau or Gwynfynydd had small scale ones for tipping?

regards

No, the best slate is North Wales slate!

Clogau gold mine had an aerial ropeway from the "old" workings near the top of the mountain down to the works at Figra.

The best slate (Cumbrian) e.g though is the one at Honister,

No, the best slate is North Wales slate!

:lol: I think LAP is saying 'The best Cumbrian Slate Example Is ....'

😉

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Cheers, yep that seems right. The best slate (Cumbrian) e.g though is the one at Honister, which still has its nicely preserved winding gear. Am I right in thinking that Clogau or Gwynfynydd had small scale ones for tipping?

regards

No, the best slate is North Wales slate!

Clogau gold mine had an aerial ropeway from the "old" workings near the top of the mountain down to the works at Figra.

diolch
what I meant was the best example of a ropeway in a cumbrian slate working. :lol:

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Anyone 'into' aerial ropeways, or rope haulage should get a hold of 'The Wire Rope and its Applacations' by W.E. Hipkins -1896. Loads of nice coloured drawings of ropeways, haulage methods, and lots of tecnical tables for breaking strains, strains on ropes on inclines etc.

A great book you just can't put down!

Funny thid should come up.
I saw a complete ariel ropeway somehere last summer and have been trying to remember where it was. Somewhere in Lancashire or Yorkshire is the best I can remember, I want to go back and take some photo's while its still there, if only I could remember 😞
Not sure if it was still in use but its complete with ropes and buckets and stretches a long way.
Once over they were extremely common, even one in Nenthead at one time, spome of the Pylon bases still exist.Not sure if the SilverBand pylons will remain once the site is fully cleared but I hope so. Anybody know what the fate of the Navvy up there will be? Sadly worth as much scrap as the price any buyer would give for it and it would be easier cut up than removed from ite in one piece

4 miles east of Junction 34, M6 - Claughton brickworks. I think one of the ropeways is closed now. Get there soon!

4 miles east of Junction 34, M6 - Claughton brickworks. I think one of the ropeways is closed now. Get there soon!

You are a star Heb, thankyou
God knows what I was doing there in the first place ::)

I have a list of north Wales aerial ropeways on my website http://www.hendrecoed.org.uk/ropeways  If anyone knows of others that should be on the list I'd be very please to have the details.

Dave

I'd read somewhere that parts of the Silverband ropeway machinery went to Cairngorm to become incorporated into an early chairlift. This was dismantled several years ago though.

Other interesting ropeway remains can be found at Force Crag mine (pulleys in the grass etc).

I'd read somewhere that parts of the Silverband ropeway machinery went to Cairngorm to become incorporated into an early chairlift. This was dismantled several years ago though.

Other interesting ropeway remains can be found at Force Crag mine (pulleys in the grass etc).

LaPorte at Force Crag also had a internal rope scraper system of sorts down the Laporte Incline.
My understanding of it (which may be very flawed) is that water and cable drawn scrapers moved material down the incline and then through ore passes to lower levels.

Here's the makings of a listing. Given time, this can be expanded with descriptions etc.:

North Wales:

Benallt (later joined to Rhiw), Gwynedd (Caernarfonshire), Manganese, SH222281 (Davel, you have this listed as SH536535: is this the same placeor are there two Benallts, both with ropeways?!)

Bwlch-gwyn, Clwyd (Wrexham), Lead(/silver?), SJ262534/SJ266534 (described as a "foul old working"!)

Cae Coch, Gwynedd (Gwydir Forest), Pyrites (suplhur), SH777653 (no.2 Adit), Ropeway built 1917, worked to 1919

(Old) Clogau, Gwynedd (Merionethshire), Gold, SH675201

Cwm Bychan, Gwynedd (Caernarfonshire), Copper, SH603473

(Old) Diphwys, Gwynedd (Merionethshire), Manganese, SH669238 (doesn't appear to be in the AN database??)

Egryn, Gwynedd (Merionethshire?), Manganese, SH605205, Ropeway built 1917 (this is listed as slate in the AN database?!)

Figra, Gwynedd (Merionethshire?), Gold/Copper, SH663192 (I have also seen this as Firga and Vigra)

Frongoch, Lead/Zinc, SN723745, Aerial ropeway built 1914 to convey waste to a crushing plant at Gwaithgoch (was this actually built?!)

Garreg Fawr, Gwynedd (Caernarfonshire), Iron, SH542575/SH544579? (not in AN database)(ropeway transported ore to Llanberis?)

(Lower?) Hook, Pembrokeshire, Coal, SM 970111(?), (not in AN database)

*** No details below here - to be done shortly! ***

Llyn Glaslyn (Copper)
Mochdre (Shale?)
Moel Ispri (Gold)
Nantymwyn - some remains of a ropeway?
Rhinog (Manganese)
Rhiw (Manganese)
Rhos (Slate)
Trecastle (Lead)
Ystrad (Iron)


South Wales:
Dinas (Quartzite)

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Benallt (later joined to Rhiw), Gwynedd (Caernarfonshire), Manganese, SH222281 (Davel, you have this listed as SH536535: is this the same place or are there two Benallts, both with ropeways?!)

There were two Benallts, the manganese mine at SH223283 near Rhiw (which had a tramway to Porth Alwm) and the lead mine at SH536535 in Dyffryn Nantlle (which had a ropeway across the valley to the mill).

The Rhiw manganese mine at SH221281 had an aerial ropeway to Porth Neigwl.

There are some old photos of the bottom end of the Egryn ropeway on my Merioneth Manganese website http://www.hendrecoed.org.uk/Merioneth-Manganese/mines/egryn 

Dave

There are also the remains of a ropeway in Dinorwic. It's at one of the highest levels of the quarry, above the tarmac road that leads to the surge tower. The end wheel and band brake are intact but no sign of any intermediate towers or a bottom terminus. I think the bottom of the ropeway may have been in a now partly landscaped area.