Was wondering if anyone has finally managed to get down behind the dam on floor B. It either blocks a chamber on floor B, or a level into a chamber. I was wondering if it was likely to be the same chamber as the floor A dam which presumably would be The first chamber east of the back vein incline but to the south of the drop fault. 

I know that the other side of the floor A dam has been accessed and photographed a few years back, but no one appears to have seen the back of the floor B Dam. If it is indeed in the same chamber, I guess progress further down this chamber is prevented by fall/ tipped material and the back of the dam buried - Only a guess as a don't remember detailed plans of these south of fault chambers

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I had a go at getting there last year to try and inspect the thickness of the wall and how good a dam it still was.
Behind the big wall on Lake Level we headed down the loose tip of Robin's offcuts and managed to gain the A floor horizon. At this level there is a load of nasty big fall but the back of the A floor dam was accessible. It was possible to head inbye on the A floor level too for a bit but it was a bit of a horror show and was blocked by fall.

Descending down from the 'A1E' area, the fall got bad but a route on the right wall seemed open. As we dropped down this it closed up. It did look like it had been a way in the past, as the rocks had that sense of being trodden before us, but it was very much a shut way when we saw it.

Who knows if any prodding might re-open a way but there is a lot of very big stuff above there so I'm not man enough to do it!

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Thanks for the info, PeteK. Intriguing to know that there's still unexplored ground so very close to the well trodden bits. Yes, I’ve looked into the chamber where the sawn ends where thrown down, but it didn't look very inviting. Wonder what the water level was before the dam B was drained out a couple of years ago? I gather it must have been somewhere below the floor A horizon, as the photos show the back of the floor A dam to be dry. I remember these photos well, and they most certainly preceded the draining of the B dam by some years. From what I understand, the water may have been all sogged down inbetween all the fallen material somewhere below A, unless there is an open area down there at some point for the water to pond in, maybe even in another connected section of (south of fault) chambering. I understand a fair bit of water came out when dam B was drained for for reasons of safety.

I heard the water gushed down the BVI when the valve was opened!

Must look at some plans of this area again.

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ah yes, just found the plan. Indeed the water had a greater area to pond in on the B floor horizon alone, than just chamber 1E. Immediately behind the dam itself, the plan shows the level to split in 2 even before it reaches any chambering. (These levels head across the fault) I imagine both these short branches would have carried water

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Yes, there is quite a bit of that B floor behind the dam. I have wondered how much would be open to explore if a way down could be found. We can't be the only people to have gone that way for a look. I wonder if a bit of closer attention might reveal a way down.
Maybe we need to ask someone to remove the dam but it is now a historical part of the mine I suppose.

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The 2 short levels behind the dam will probably be in perfect condition, maybe some of the b level out east as well. Entering chambers will predictably be the problem.

(No, the B dam should be left intact - it's a great feature )

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Now I feel the need to have a good look over the old surveys and see if there might be a roof shaft route down from A floor. Too many projects and too little time.

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