Rampgill Entrance Fall · AditNow Community

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gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

As the fall just inbye from Rampgill entrance is getting pretty iffy I have done my best to stop it from collapsing any further.
[photo]Rampgill-Lead-Mine-User-Album-Image-87543[/photo]
Please take care climbing round the woodwork as the arching is VERY loose. I'm afraid is is a bit awkward at the moment, though not a s bad as if it collapsed completely...

I would like to get this section rebuilt properly, and on that line, is there anyone out there with experience of dry-stone arching who would give me a helping hand? Much better to have a decent job done than the 'sort-of' one that I am capable of at the moment!

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

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christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

Looks like a good job to me.

Who put in the new bar to stop people wandering straight in Brewery Shaft by the way, was that you too ?

Its a good job, although nit pickers may say small children can still walk straight under to their doom ::)

PeteJ
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

The Brewery shaft fence was installed by agreement. Don't ask about the installer.

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

"christwigg" wrote:
Looks like a good job to me.

Just hold comment until you've tried to climb past when knackered... :devil:

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

A slight adjustment to the temporary timbering to stop bits falling out as roof had got very loose. 😮

Please take care with the walling either side of the fix as they are VERY delicate.

Passage through a bit easier now...

🔗Rampgill-Lead-Mine-User-Album-Image-91954[linkphoto]Rampgill-Lead-Mine-User-Album-Image-91954[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Rampgill-Lead-Mine-User-Album-Image-91952[linkphoto]Rampgill-Lead-Mine-User-Album-Image-91952[/linkphoto][/link]

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

That is much better. Good work. We had to push props back in a few times with the last fix as they always were coming loose.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

The previous ones were only an emergency fix to sto the whole lot coming down and were decidedly less than ideal!
The state of the arching there before the latest fix was very poor, with a very serious risk of the whole lot coming down. I bet no-one gave any thought to whether they would be able to get back out...

Interestingly the nearly collapsed section seems to be below a shaft which, at about 25m from the entrance, is very close, especially as the first 18m or so of the adit looks like it was a cut and fill job.

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

There'd been a rope in the upper section of Proud's for years though someone chopped it fairly recently. If that was left in place, anybody with kit could get out without any trouble in the event anything did fall down.

Haven't been since either set of timber was put in; is it just the arching that is coming down or does the integrity of the actual ground look suspect as well?

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Yes, I had heard the rope was gone. Bit of arse that. It is possible to climb up into Carr's Level from Hanginshaw Branch without rope and get out that way, providing your thin enough to squeeze under the gates that separate the show mine. But the climb is a bit tricky.

The bulge looks to be caused by tree roots, but Nick would be able to say more on that.

Would it be worth while to get regular visitors to club together and install a permanent 11mm rope for Prouds, with SIGNS saying not to remove it ! ? Or is that wishful thinking?

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#10

This old thread from 2011 suggests the rigging was removed by the outdoor activity groups.

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/community/viewtopic.aspx?p=78024

Although i'm sure someone told me more recently that the rope was cut mid-way down the pitch with no knot in it and I can't imagine they did that.

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#11

Ropes were still in, in Feb 2012. Not been since.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#12

It was chopped at the know last time we were there, probably best part of a year ago.

Is there any pipe lying around the yard Nick? Might it be an idea to lay it along the floor in the event anything does come down to at least keep it drained?

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#13

The bulge is partly from roots, although there aren't that many. I suspect it is a combination of roots, frost and a steady flow of dross from the shaft.

Regarding Prouds rope, I was told that it was found to have been cut about 5m down (with no stop knot) and for obvious reasons, the rest of the down the hole rope was removed at that point. It has been rigged off and on for a while now.

The only issue with putting a fixed rope in is the danger of the same lowlife scum who cut the previous one doing the same again. :curse:
Otherwise I think it would be a good thing.

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

PeteJ
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#14

flink]Rampgill-Lead-Mine-User-Album-Image-91998[linkphoto]Rampgill-Lead-Mine-User-Album-Image-91998[/linkphoto][/link]

The view looking to the entrance.

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#15

Oh, I forgot to mention, the inconvenient timbering has gone, unfortunately there is a bit of an infestation of photographers to negotiate!

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

John Lawson
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#16

Well done, Nick, Peter and doubtless others who helped, unfortunatelly at the minute my circumstances will not allow me to be of much assistance in carrying out any hard work.
However, assuming I am rebuilt then I will look forward to seeing the fruits of your labours in the new year.
The other way out of Rampgill, is of course, down the shaft on Scaleburn, and out via Brownley Hill. I do not suppose anyone thought of leaving, an S.R.T. here.

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#17

Forgot about BH exit, but unless you happen to have a wetsuit that would be a bit risky - definitely some of the coldest water in Nent ! 😢

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

PeteJ
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#18

Just two of us done it....

some more time needed to finish off...Nick is threatening Friday afternoon.....and then there's Inspector Carlisle and his snagging..

Funny you should mention B'hill exit...we had been thinking about getting rid of the water.

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

Hammy
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#19

I donated a rope to Prouds Sump on 24th April this year, replacing one which had been cut. Don't know if its still there.

It is always wise to treat ropes left in place with suspicion, making sure they are long enough and undamaged, and having the means to changeover from down to up should the need arise.

The deviation sling and karabiner on the second pitch are mine, and also the rope protecting the ladder climb down to Hangingshaw, left in a couple of years ago.

I tend to be very careful about mine through trips, and I'm reluctant to cut off my retreat by pulling the ropes down.

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#20

"RJV" wrote:
Is there any pipe lying around the yard Nick? Might it be an idea to lay it along the floor in the event anything does come down to at least keep it drained?

Nothing in the yard now but we do have some pipe but that bit is looking reasonably healthy now so should be OK. Plus the pipe is earmarked for other operations that are so secret we haven't even been allowed to think about them.

The fall was caused by roots/ice/ angry worms/etc. knocking out the side wall, otherwise the ground seems reasonably sound. Better than quite a lot of places we happily wander past without a first let alone a second thought!

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...