Horse Crag (Tilberthwaite Deep) Level

squirrel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Eric Holland's book says this level goes for over 3,240 feet to reach the veins of Tilberthwaite Mine. It is blocked by clay material at around 600 feet. He writes "enthusiastic digging might find a way through" - has anyone considered a dig or squeezed through the clay fall?

Boggy
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#2

i squeezed through into the cavity formed by the fall it was an awfull slippy crawl but the cavity is quite big,i think it would take quite a lot of enthusiastic. digging plus the passage is likley to be flooded to the roof behind it you would have to be carefull not to wash the man who lives in the hut away when you break through 😉

if its a hole explore it...

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#3

Yep, been to the fall - and there is a normally a lot a water seeping through the fallen material. The slate mine only closed a few years ago, is that the owner who lives in the little cabin?

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

Heb
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#4

CATMHS attempted the dig many years ago with no success.

Monty Stubble
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Newbie

17 years ago

#5

I have been (almost) to the other side of the collapse on the Horse Crag and I can tell you that the water is backed up for over 1000 feet.

To get down to the back of the Horse Level in the 90's was ****** dangerous.

The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.
Henry David Thoreau

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#6

A lot of water!
You'd have to have some kind of remote control shovel to dig a way through
:lol:

Isn't it also possible to get to that level via abseiling from one of the Benson's Vein levels higher up?

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#7

"LAP" wrote:

Isn't it also possible to get to that level via abseiling from one of the Benson's Vein levels higher up?

It is... but as Monty says, a very dodgy trip (not that I have ever done it, I hasten to add)

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

Monty Stubble
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#8

Its really crap, and quite tricky. There was a number of stages but they were all a bit 'movable'. I suspect some have actually collapsed. At the bottom was a very interesting ore bogie, larger than the usual ones in the area and a lot of water.

The original plans showed a slate closehead a little way from the bottom of the shaft and we entered it by swimming - just beyond that the Horse Level sumped up, as I say at least 1000 feet from where the blockage is.

I'm up for another trip down there if anyone's interested?

The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.
Henry David Thoreau

Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#9

"Monty Stubble" wrote:

I'm up for another trip down there if anyone's interested?

You Betcha !

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

Heb
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#10

Me too!

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#11

me 2, or at least the bits without SRT (I'll get round to it) if everyone's ok with that

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

squirrel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

#12

Count me in too - I'm only round the corner - who has enough rope though?!

Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#13

"squirrel" wrote:
Count me in too - I'm only round the corner - who has enough rope though?!

I have enough rope.

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#14

Ok Chums, I had a look in here this afternoon. The route is open to the shaft top, but I had to do a little clearance work. The bad news is that the anchors are, as I suspected wholly unusable. So It will need to be re-bolted....

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#15

Just uploaded a CAT survey, look under "Tilberthwaite Mine", always willing to help. Getting late, Romeo Foxtrot over and out.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Monty Stubble
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#16

"Colonel Mustard" wrote:
Ok Chums, I had a look in here this afternoon. The route is open to the shaft top, but I had to do a little clearance work. The bad news is that the anchors are, as I suspected wholly unusable. So It will need to be re-bolted....

Is there a bit up to your nipples in water?

The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.
Henry David Thoreau

Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#17

"Monty Stubble" wrote:

Is there a bit up to your nipples in water?

Aye... but it did not make much difference - I was soaked with the rain by the time I got to the portal ! And what a place to get to with tackle.... good grief.

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#18

Went last night to start re-bolting. Did the first drop down along side the pipe. From the bottom of the rope to the top of the big shaft is really bad though. Marked as 'collapsed floor' on Monty Stubble's section http://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Tilbertwaite-Copper-Mine/woodendsrise.pdf
'CollapsING might be the best current description. Very horrible indeed. It requires a safety line to be installed along this section to the shaft top and that is the next job. Even when that is done, I think it will be still a f*****g awful place ....

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

Monty Stubble
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Newbie

17 years ago

#19

It was in the 80's when that section was drawn. Bucket hole refers to a large bucket which had to be removed so that we could get through. Sadly it disentegrated when we moved it. Rather like the rest of the place.

Busy this weekend but might possibly manage the next if you're up for it.

The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.
Henry David Thoreau

Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#20

"Monty Stubble" wrote:
It was in the 80's when that section was drawn. Bucket hole refers to a large bucket which had to be removed so that we could get through. Sadly it disentegrated when we moved it. Rather like the rest of the place.

Busy this weekend but might possibly manage the next if you're up for it.

Yep, OK things are on hold until next weekend then (sat or sun ?) . I've got plenty of gear and rope for a horizontal line to the shaft top and will bring drill. As for the shaft itself, I have got 2*50mtr coils on site at the moment, will that be sufficient or do you think it will need more ?

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...