John Lawson
9 years ago
As you do, from time to time I look through my mining plans and articles, and I was looking at an area map of South Arkengarthdale, around 1800.
I noticed that adjacent to the entrance of Danby level, an inclined plane was shown.
I cannot remember ever seeing anything at this mine entrance which could ever resemble an incline plane.
Am I wrong? It is obviously possible that the material they used to make the plane was full of Baryte debris, and this was all retrieved and put through the jigging plant which was present on the lower tips in the 1960s.
RJV
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9 years ago
Know the chert incline amongst the Hungry Hushes obviously but don't know of one along towards Danby. Not that that means much...

Are you able to upload the relevant part of the plan?
sparlad
9 years ago
There was an incline that ran down from Danby level to the westernmost of the two large dressing floors below. Still quite obvious on satellite images.
John Lawson
9 years ago
It would fit the what is shown on the plan.
It also raises the point, that if the owners had gone to these lengths to get the ore, presumably down, to their dressing floors below, then one heck of a lot of ore must have come out of Danby.
Which in turn must mean that there is more to this mine than what is currently accessible. I cannot envisage, a lot of ore coming out the sump in the horse whim, so either it came from the blocked left branch, or from stopes upstairs.
I understand CAT were bolting a rise in there in the Autumn, is anyone prepared to let us know about it?
christwigg
9 years ago
From the last CATMHS newsletter, they came up a couple of bolts short.

So I guess a return trip will be next year.
ChrisJC
9 years ago
'Twas I who put the bolts in. Yes, we are a couple short of a proper look-see in that area. However, I also think there are plenty of places to go for further inbye.

The records indicate workings 9fathoms above the level, and it is those that I wouldn't mind getting into.

Also the level on Lucks All Vein is impassible pretty near the main level, but once upon a time was much much longer.

And the terminii of the main level are a long way short of their original ends.

The dig at the end of Wetshaws indicates somebody thought that treasures unknown to man lay beyond it.

Chris.
John Lawson
9 years ago
Thanks guys for re-stating what was reported in the CAT August newsletter, I was referring to the results of the October meeting at the mine.
Which the stated objective was to 'continue bolting up a stope'.
Presumably, Chris, to finish off what you had started?
ChrisJC
9 years ago
Indeed. We failed to finish it, so we will have to go back!

Chris.
John Lawson
9 years ago
Hi Chris, I forgot to turn the page over initially, and missed these comments, thanks for pointing it out.
It is clear in my mind that the operating company of the Danby mine, envisaged this mine to be the " Smallcleugh" of these south Arkengarthdale mines.
Just as Smallcleugh mine really is a drawing level for all the Veins, in the upper strata of the Nent valley, I reckon the mine owners thought, lots of ore could be brought out of Danby level and quickly processed on the dressing floors below.
Hence their investment in the construction of the inclined plane.I do not know of any other 'daylight' ones in the N.P.O.
I just hope more exploration, turns up the underground workings to vindicate my ideas.

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