NAMHO 2018, 1/6/18 - Doward

The week before the NAMHO conference this year I was struck down by a particularly obnoxious bug which left me with a chest infection, it was by no means certain I would make it however I was keen not to miss out and by the end of the week I was feeling somewhat better and so Friday it was off to the Forest of Dean (albeit somewhat later than intended).

Since I was running late I headed straight for the first meeting point for a trip to Doward Iron mines. Soon many familiar faces assembled and after a short, somewhat perilous to the Celica's undercarriage, drive down some forest tracks, we passed a very pleasant afternoon poking into these short but interesting early iron mines. Fire setting enthusiast were well catered for with plentiful signs that this had gone on on quite an extensive scale with pinkish slightly domed chamber roofs.

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All too soon however it was time to head back to the conference venue for fish and chips! :thumbsup:

NAMHO 2018 2/6/18. Brinchcombe Limestone Level

Friday evenings fish and chips were very well received, after that and a bit of an introduction I ducked out to pitch my tent at Clearwell before it got too dark. Later on a pleasant evening was passed with the Tamar Mining Group and some of Bob's homebrewed stout :thumbup:

Next morning it was up and out to Brinchcombe Limestone Level. A great little trip in the company of some more old friends. A site with little recorded history but perhaps the stone was used for flux?

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NAMHO 2018 2/6/18 Old Bow to Lambsquay


Saturday afternoons trip was a very enjoyable through route around these iron workings, loads to see here and a place I'd like to revisit at some point!

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NAMHO 2018 3/6/18 Noxon Park


Sunday mornings trip was to Noxon Park, a picturesque place but I was feeling pretty rough and coughing my lungs up, probably a result of the dusty atmosphere.

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NAMHO 2018 Bailey Level 3/6/2018

Sundays afternoon trip was to Bailey Level. We helped shift a boulder from the collapse at the end and watched a very interesting demonstration of an air leg drill and a rocker shovel.

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9/6/18 Reigate Cave Day


Another day showing groups around the Barons Cave, a relatively relaxed day compared to some.

30/6/18 Dinas Silica Mines

Summer and her boyfriend Tom joined me at the WCMS cottage for the annual BBQ, we had a trip into the Silica Mines.

2-6/7/18 Nottingham

A week spent in Nottingham on a training course for work, I intended to see if I could get a look at some of the sandstone tunnels and mines but the course took up more time than I expected.

I did however manage to go to the 'Trip to Jerusalem' a very fine pub built into sandstone tunnels under the castle. Very atmospheric and a great pint too :thumbup:

I also visited the 'Caves Experience' accessed from the lower levels of a shopping centre. It was quite well presented and well worth a visit. The tannery section was very impressive.

14/7/18 Reigate Cave Day

Another day showing people around Barons Cave. I do enjoy spending the day there although it is quite a long day including travel!

29/7/18 Pooles Cavern

A trip in the motorhome up to Hayfield resulted in a trip with Nikki into Pooles Cavern, not a mine of course but they did have cow identification books in the gift shop!

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11/8/18 Reigate Cave Day

A busier day today, lots of tours of Barons Cave!

10/9/18 Lang Cave & Deer Cave, Gunung Mulu National Park

Ok, no mines were involved but a pretty good trip nonetheless, this was the raffle prize I won at the '50 years of Cave Exploration' talks back in December. Young Summer came too and we both had a splendid time! 8-)

11/9/18 Wind Cave, Lady Cave & Clearwater Cave

More Mulu showcaves, what a fantastic place!

12/9/18 Last day in Mulu

OK, we didn't actually get underground on the last day but may as well complete the set.... It was an absolutely fantastic prize and we were so lucky to win it ;D

30/9/18 Grain Fort and Tunnels

A WCMS trip to Grain Fort, a Napoleonic fort in the Thames estuary later used as a WWII gun emplacement. Reached by a causeway across the mud.

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Followed by an explore of some of the nearby Napoleonic battery tunnels, some re-used in WWII

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5-7/10/18 WCMS Welsh Cottage Track Building

A weekend spent at the Welsh cottage assisting with the track build, I had a good go at driving the vibrating roller which was a bit of a change from normal activities. I didn't make it underground but did have a pleasant walk up Fan Gyhirich on the Sunday.

26-28/10/18 Ivor Brown Memorial Event

This was put on by the Shropshire Cave and Mine Group and coincided with their annual dinner. It seemed a very fitting tribute with a day of very interesting presentations followed by a rather nice meal. The weekend also seemed to involve a lot of walking and cycling down country lanes in the dark - at least for me. :lol:

16-18/11/18 PDMHS AGM and a trip into Wapping Mine

A trip to Matlock Bath for the PDMHS AGM, I managed a trip into Wapping on the Friday despite technical difficulties with my bike. The AGM talks were very interesting, one on the Cromford Canal and High Peak railway and another on the Coal Mines west of Buxton. Highlight as usual was the sausage casserole though :thumbsup:

25/11/18 WCMS AGM

Time for the annual pilgrimage to Surrey for the WCMS AGM. Tradition dictates a contribution is made to a small buffet so on the way I picked up a pack of mini sausage rolls. However rather unwisely I actually consumed them all myself on the drive down. This left me feeling slightly ill-at-ease for the remainder of the afternoon. The meeting proceeded with the usual roller coaster of emotions during which I attempted to ease my digestive discomfort with several mugs of tea.

It was great to catch up with friends after business was concluded however I soon departed on the long dark drive home pausing only at the Co-op to stock up with milk and cat food.

Sadly no photographic or video record was made of these events, sorry chaps!

19/1/19 Ritual Protection Marks

A trip to the South East to help with a project to find and record ritual protection marks in a stone quarry.

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A short video of the trip;