Old Ham Pit NGR SO 5802 0850 A 700 feet The pit, long since filled in, was on the high ground of Clearwell Meend, between the Coleford-Bream and Coleford-Clearwell roads. The mine was worked from 1846 to 1900 and produced 62,000 tons of ore. In the years 1909 to 1916 some 3,000 tons were won from a drift on the east side of the Clearwell road. The deep workings are continuous with New Dunn and Old Sling Pit whilst the outcrop workings are a maze of passages that connect with Old Bow et al. See Survey page 22
Reference: Pope pp 531 - 533 Sibley p 40-41
Access for: Old Ham, New Dunn, Lambsquay, Old Bow, Wigpool, Drybrook Iron Mines, should be sought from Ray or Jonathan Wright c/o Clearwell Caves, nr Coleford, Glos GL16 8JR Tel 01594 832535
nb at present, due to illegal tipping of toxic waste polluting the water and creating oxygen deficiency in the air, the first four mines are closed [July 1992]
Churn is a quaint FoD phase for chamber. Now not many people know that.
Cutting coal in my spare time.