Caplecleugh North Vein · AditNow Community

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Steetleysurfer
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8 years ago

Anybody else been up the ladders by the vent fan?
I felt an incredible draught up there.
Does anyone know why?
Does it possibly link to the high level somewhere?
That's the nearest level I could make out on my mineeplorer plan, so seemed the likeliest answer?

For anyone who hasn't, there's another vent fan up there too.

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moorlandmineral
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Newbie

8 years ago

"Steetleysurfer" wrote:
Anybody else been up the ladders by the vent fan?
I felt an incredible draught up there.
Does anyone know why?
Does it possibly link to the high level somewhere?
That's the nearest level I could make out on my mineeplorer plan, so seemed the likeliest answer?

For anyone who hasn't, there's another vent fan up there too.

Was up there in em... 1989... That's a long time ago:lol:
Need to see what my dad has on the area, he has a good few of Percy Blight's sections on the area...

C. J. Curry
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Newbie

8 years ago

Pringledude and I were up there a couple of years ago and had a pretty thorough explore but didn't find a way on anywhere. Seem to recall it being very damp that day and climbing part of the ladder in a waterfall. Agreed the High level looks likely from the plan. Possibly just water flow pulling air through though?

Chris

Mr Mike
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Newbie

8 years ago

LAst time I was there was in 2008, the air was very fresh there as you say also the on the horse level as soon as enter the XC to the North Vein the temp is much colder.

It is a nice place to visit, see:

http://www.mineexplorer.org.uk/capelcleugh/cc_northvein&archersstopes_121208/cc_northvein&archersstopes_121208.htm

Now there is a way on up there - but its verticle, this is where the drafts could be coming from. The High Level running above those workings to the north a bit, but not discountable on whether they connect. There is also a surface shaft just a bit to the south of those rises - but have never looked at it on the surface.

Interestly enough, when I wrote that trip report I had someone contact me about the air draft in the workings. I've lost the eamil, but they stated that when they had visited the area, there was some scratched text on one of the pipes indicating that someone had come in from the top rather than the bottom - but that could have been an assumption...

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

Steetleysurfer
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Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Mr Mike, in your opinion, what is more likely, a link to the high level somewhere or a link to the surface shaft you mentioned?
You wouldn't happen to have a grid reference to said surface shaft would you?

These replies have only spiked my interest more. Thanks all!

Mr Mike
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Newbie

8 years ago

Could be one or the other - you can get to the HL in that area via the Archers Rise way, but no idea what state it is in now. Has anyone done that partiular connoisseurs trip recently?

Roy Fellows did explore the sumps from the HL in that area, see his reports on it in Caplecleugh docs. I have read them, but could not fathom which one if any at all would have corresponded with that area.

Shafts - 99% ity will be one of these two:

https://binged.it/2fKEyuB

BUT, from memory I am sure theses flooded / filled.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

royfellows
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Newbie

8 years ago

I was up there this year.
The ladders are sound bar the the very top short section. Also be advised that the traverse over the hopper at the top is now unsafe, cross very carefully on the inner rail, it could do with a line fitting. I may do some work up there next year.

I refer to the the flats as "James Hills Flats" after the name of the level below. For those not familiar there are flats on 2 levels with the working being cut by a shaft probably from surface and probably very old.

The top level is the most extensive with workings in both directions and more vent fans at the hopper traverse.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Mr Mike
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8 years ago

Thanks Roy. Just to add to confusion... looking at some old plans of the area that I have obtained after I did my plan, there are actually 3 veins there. CC Horse L is techincally on the Caplecleugh Sun Vein, and the James Hill flats are on that vein. Where as the CH High L is on the Caplecleugh North Vein, and the sub level CH High L accesses is on the Caplecleugh Vein. Confused?

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

Steetleysurfer
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Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Mr Mike, if you're sure those surface shafts are flooded/filled, then the most likely candidate must be the high level somewhere.
I did the Archers Rise route this time last year. It was OK then.
Myself and my companion had talked about revisiting the high level this year anyway.
I certainly think this would be worth investigating further.
Roy Fellows, are you able to shed any more light on it?

royfellows
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8 years ago

#10

Some of the workings are flats, some conventional, if that's the right term, stope workings, with evidence of splits into branches.

The shaft I mention does cut the high level but its not obvious as at that horizon the downward continuation is boarded over and buried in rubble. Heb is of the opinion that its Sir Lancelot Allgood's Caplecleugh Engine Shaft, and would of course predate LLC. This area may not now be accessible.

If all surface shafts flooded you must have missed one or looking in the wrong place.

Beware ropes up to the high level. I have not been there for ages but have been advised that they in poor condition.

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Mr Mike
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8 years ago

#11

I should be working, but this is more fun...

I do have a ref for a Caplecleugh Engine Shaft on a unnanmed isolated level but that seems to be around 35m to the northeast of the Fan Rises. The nearest shaft to the FR's is the Old Whimsey Rise (Engine Shaft) that seems to connect to the CH High L.

I've dug out an old overlay I did for CC and SC on top of a scanned OS map of the area. I super imposed the plan onto the Priorsdale Boundary, Frog Shaft, Bog Shaft and scaled it - its fits pretty good and results are:

🔗109371[linkphoto]109371[/linkphoto][/link]

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

royfellows
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8 years ago

#12

John Lawson was kind enough to give me copies of surface plans from the records office that he did years ago, but I obviously cannot digitalise Johns work without his permission.

He may get to read this.

I have from him South east nenthead 52A which shows the shaft but am struggling to place this on a modern OS map. As near as I can see if you draw a line through "Growse Butts" it will hit a line of shafts, this looks like it to me.

I believe that Heb mentioned that he had located it at surface.

Where are they all
;D

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royfellows
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8 years ago

#13

BM 47, RA Fairbairn, pages 75 and 76 gives mention but not a map ref for the Engine Shaft.

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Mr Mike
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8 years ago

#14

I've got a copy of plan 52, North Vein is on it but not clear about the shafts or at least not on my copy.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

royfellows
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8 years ago

#15

"Mr Mike" wrote:
I've got a copy of plan 52, North Vein is on it but not clear about the shafts or at least not on my copy.

I was looking at 52A, says "Engine Shaft"
If I could find 2 points to triangulate from I could fix it on the modern OS map, but cant see anything.

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Morlock
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8 years ago

#16

Any boundaries or elevation shown on said plan?

Steetleysurfer
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Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

#17

So the consensus is there is an open surface shaft leading to "Fan" flats?

C. J. Curry
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8 years ago

#18

Possibly this one Roy?

🔗109372[linkphoto]109372[/linkphoto][/link]

Chris

Mr Mike
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8 years ago

#19

I know thats what Roy I think is implying, but that makes the shaft near the junction to Bog Shaft from CC High L, which happens to be the Sump Foot Whimsey.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

royfellows
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8 years ago

#20

See what you think. There are 2 "Engine Shafts" on the plan, I missed the other. Not well lately. The other is on MC first sun vein though.

🔗109373[linkphoto]109373[/linkphoto][/link]

My avatar is a poor likeness.