What's your favourite book?· Page 4

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dwarrowdelf
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#61

Yes, indeed, as Graham Isherwood points out in his study 'Cwmorthin Slate Quarry'
I remember a discussion about a dreadful accident in Oakeley involving one of the bridges - thread about bridge support-
the details again being provided by Graham Isherwood.
However for some reason, possibly pillar robbing etc, it was Cwmorthin which appears to have acquired the bad reputation and consequently the sinister nickname.

But all this probably belongs on one of the other threads!

'I wonder how many breakfasts, and other meals we have missed inside that nasty clockless, timeless hole?'

'The Hobbit'
J R R Tolkien.

owd git
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#62

A satisfied customers' cheque book? :thumbsup: :thumbup:
O. G.

dwarrowdelf
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#63

Actually, Graham Isherwood's 'Cwmorthin Slate Quarry' is another of my favourite books ! 🙂

'I wonder how many breakfasts, and other meals we have missed inside that nasty clockless, timeless hole?'

'The Hobbit'
J R R Tolkien.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

14 years ago

#64

" dwarrowdelf" wrote:
Yes, indeed, as Graham Isherwood points out in his study 'Cwmorthin Slate Quarry'
I remember a discussion about a dreadful accident in Oakeley involving one of the bridges - thread about bridge support-
the details again being provided by Graham Isherwood.
However for some reason, possibly pillar robbing etc, it was Cwmorthin which appears to have acquired the bad reputation and consequently the sinister nickname.

But all this probably belongs on one of the other threads!

It's an odd one I agree, and as you say it was the working practices that seemed to have earnt it the nickname rather than the actual deathtoll.

And reading the list of recorded deaths (after they started having to record them...) a few were from doing things that were forbidden, like riding a wagon up the incline. ALthough there were a few bridge collapses and rock fall injuries as well.

It is an excellent book - I was lucky enough to get a first edition of it a few weeks back.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

NortonRay
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#65

Fiction I know, but Adam Brunskill by Thomas Armstrong is surely a classic for lead mining enthusiasts.

Captures the atmosphere and background of the subject perfectly and a cracking good story to boot.

stuey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#66

Mining wise "Copper mining in Cornwall and Devon" DB Barton is one of my favourites. Very well written indeed.

dwarrowdelf
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#67

On the subject of books:- I have just received a copy of 'Candles to Caplamps - the story of Gloddfa Ganol' (mining Welsh Slate), By J G isherwood, which is signed by the author: - a nice surprise as this was not stated in the book description given by the seller. It has alot of info, old photographs and diagrams packed into a small space. A quick look on the internet suggests that it is quite rare - Very Pleased! 🙂

'I wonder how many breakfasts, and other meals we have missed inside that nasty clockless, timeless hole?'

'The Hobbit'
J R R Tolkien.

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#68

Enough already - 😞 - for those who don't hanker after the original printed version of Candles to Caplamps - there's a scanned version of it on the Oakeley Quarry page here. Modesty prevents me pasting in the link as well. :angel:

Another good book (though a bit dry in places) is the original transcript of the 1895 Merionethshire Slate Mines Enquiry, while the transcripts of the Oakeley vs Welsh Slate Co (and vice versa)Arbitration hearings verge on both high drama and farce in places, while the list of witnesses is more a who's who of quarrying and engineering - but I digress.

Cheers everyone.

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#69

Two books I found very interesting and informative.

The North Wales Quarrymen 1874-1922 by R. Merfyn Jones

The Battle for Butte: Mining and Politics on the Northern Frontier, 1864-1906. by Michael P. Malone

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

Strangely Brown
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#70

"Teigl" wrote:

Allan Garner's superb "Wierdstone of Brisingamen" has a great chapter about the West Mine at Alderley Edge...he must have gone down there at some point to write about it so well.

Loved these books and my brother visited the area to write about it for his GCSE exams, there was a trip a couple of years back to the copper mines that we grabbed with both hands ;D
I'm sure you're right about Mr Garner visiting West Mine, it would be way too easy to get lost there. I'll try and find out for you.

Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.