I am pleased to announce an open road in Park No 3 level east which allows access to what could arguably be described as the best decorated passage of any mine in the UK.
This allows exploration in a westerly direction right up to the heavy fall on the Gorlan Lode that divides the no 3 level into 2 accessible sections.
A recent fall on no 3 level near to Kneebones Cutting means that the exploration route has top be via the no 2 level and down the recently refurbished eastern ladder winze. SRT gear is required for the final 20 foot descent to an ore hopper that opens to the no 3 level.
The decorated section was previously only accessible by some plastic chemical drums which I doubt anyone had felt inclines to use, if heavy boulders perched just above had fallen, they would have crushed the drums and anyone inside.
Due to the heavy boulders if would have required a rock drill to put a proper walking height roadway through, so my helper Paul Smyth of WMS and I decided on a compromise whereby we would secure the boulders above and leave a hands and knees crawl space. This was done by putting in a ‘tree’ consisting of a length of rail supported by sleepers removed from the level. A length of cast iron water pipe was then inserted so as to bear against the far boulder. Wedging this secure and using other timber above has enabled a reasonably safe entry point to the level beyond.
A hopper close by has rotting lateral supports although the uprights are reasonably sound. Some timber was put in her to prevent the whole thing from tilting forward and coming down.
Unfortunately, we wee unable to do anything to lower the level of ocherous water beyond, it is slightly above waist deep just beyond the crawl. Also, the conditions there make photography extremely difficult as the is nowhere in the immediate vicinity to put anything down.
I attempted some pictures but they hardly do justice to the place as my camera decided that it was a good time to go south, I lost the use of the command dial and was unable to set aperture and shutter speed on manual mode. I did the best I could with the 3200 lumens of my MagnumStar on full power.
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My avatar is a poor likeness.