I picked up a book called Yesterdays' Golcondas in a charity shop, it seems to have been published in about 1982. A lot of the pics date from the mid to late 70s.

there are some particulat shots of Brownley, including an ore bogie which appears to have been constructed in the 18th century and still been mobile at that time

anyone know anything about this?

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It was in the Wellgill flats but someone took it out years ago for a private collection.

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including an ore bogie which appears to have been constructed in the 18th century and still been mobile at that time

I think you probably mean 19th century.

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First the name should be Brownley Hill.

The two wagons at Brownley Hill were recovered for a museum at Nentsberry Haggs. When that museum closed, they were transferred to the museum at Nenthead Mines. They currently are situated in the Barracks Building at Nenthead smelt mill.

I will put a picture of the wagons on the Brownley Hill Level page.

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Brownley/Browmley, yes that's a typo.

18th/19th century, only a guess. Don't really know that much detail about that kind of thing

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The two wagons at Brownley Hill were recovered for a museum at Nentsberry Haggs.

This is not one of them by any chance is it ?
http://www.aditnow.co.uk/community/viewtopic.aspx?t=486 

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Mr Derrickman
Look after the book, you probably got a bargain. I have heard of them changing hands for £25 or more.

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I still refer to this book from time to time, over 25 years since I bought it. To me, that's a sign of a very good book.

There is a similar book - published by Bradford-Barton, I think. British Metal Mines (?) about the same age. More focussed on surface remains, and has a classic photo of Blackmoor Flood Swallet also known as Stainsby's Shaft at Charterhouse, Somerset. The caption if I recall correctly refers to the winch and derrick arrangement erected by cavers as a rare survival of small scale mining activity, or words to that effect. I know better now!

I looked at it only the other week, having been taken down Mouldridge Mine for the first time. There is a pic of the 'dressing machinery chamber' before the Crich people removed most of the equipment for their static exhibit.

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I don't actually recall where I got it, it is on my bookshelf along with 'Northern Caves' and 'Caves of Derbyshire' from the late 70s, various books about Peak District lead mining ( all with paper dustcovers and monchrome jacket photos ), a copy of Dines I bought while I was at CSM, my copy of Hooper & Winiberg with annotations from Ron his-very-own-self, the two Trounson collections of photos of Cornish mining, a book I got last year called 'Painting a Mine with Light' or something like that ( about Wheal Jane ), various technical papers, 'Pipeline Rules of Thumb' ( a wonderful source of how-to stuff, some of it quite out-of-date and truly cringe-making ), the usual Bannister and Raymond / Uren and Price / Offshore Surveying Handbook stuff, and a lot more

next shelf is Tuning for Speed, various handbooks and restoration guides for motorcycles ( including Radco's wonderful read, although I confess i've never done anything it describes... ), a how-to on fitting a v8 into a Toyota LandCruiser ( never DID do that .. )

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I still refer to this book from time to time, over 25 years since I bought it. To me, that's a sign of a very good book.

There is a similar book - published by Bradford-Barton, I think. British Metal Mines (?) about the same age. More focussed on surface remains, and has a classic photo of Blackmoor Flood Swallet also known as Stainsby's Shaft at Charterhouse, Somerset. The caption if I recall correctly refers to the winch and derrick arrangement erected by cavers as a rare survival of small scale mining activity, or words to that effect. I know better now!

or £7.50 in Derbyshire

http://www.antiqbook.com/books/bookinfo.phtml?nr=1184432860 

at Zouch Books

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There is a similar book - published by Bradford-Barton, I think. British Metal Mines (?) about the same age.

It's Britain's Old Metal Mines: a pictorial survey also by R.H.Bird - going for £15 to £25 at booksellers.

Mike

Both books are classics and I have sent more copies of these to other countries and people getting into the hobby in the UK than I can remember. I bought a shed load of these from caving supplies many years ago and a load of the Barton ones when they went under in the mid 80s. I still have 3 of each, 2 mint, 1 working copy. I had about 10-12 copies of each which I have gradually sold or given away to friends who became enthusiasts. I used to charge a fiver for each... I won't be selling anymore though.
I remember a huge pile of the "Britains old metal mines" at DBBartons wharehouse... 50p a copy... I was on holiday with my GF in Torquay and where out and about when we ended up at DBBs wharehouse (Totnes?). It was near end of the Hols and I blew all the spending money I could afford ending up with me sending over 30 books North as there were many railway titles I wanted too.... 😉

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I love both books (as do alot of other people I know) and certainly never heard them described as Amateurish!
The pictures therein made me all the more determined to explore more of the UK above and below gound as with the GRs being quoted and the short but meaningful descriptions it kinda left me intrigued and wanting to know more... so they did a great job and will always be on my bookshelf.. they were (and are) a great 'Photographic introduction to the metal mines of Britain'... hows that for an alternative title! :thumbsup:

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Absolutely, ICLOK - I agree. At least the "silly" title made me go and find out what it meant!

Another great book from that time which I still have is "Steam Engines and Waterwheels" by Frank Woodall.

Absolutely Pete.... I have that and its another regular re-read! :thumbup:

EDIT... I must admit I'd never heard of Golconda until RB's book crossed my path!! I think looking back I probably only got really interested because of these 3 books and my favourite cornish volumes by Ordish... "Pictorial Survey of Cornish Mine Engine Houses" and its follow up vol.... happy days... 🙂

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Yep, happy days indeed guys. When all shafts were'nt obscured by concrete railway sleepers; you didn't need an insurance policy to poke about in dark, dank holes (!); -if you fell down a winze, tough!, you would not dream of taking the land owner to the cleaners - when places like Cwmystwyth (and many more spots) were not ringed about by fences and dire warning notices, or before adit and slate quarry entrances began to resemble the perimeter of San Quentin excercise yard. Like I said, that's progress!! (And thanks for the undeserved compliment)

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Both of Dickie's books and Frank Woodall's should be on the essential reading list.
Adrian Booth's "Britain's Small Mines (North)" and the southern one should be on there too.

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Had to laugh... having sung "Steam engines and waterwheels" praises yesterday its got some great pictures and descriptions relating to 2 current topics on engines etc currently being discussed... once again proving its a great book!

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