NAMHO conference summary

Friday evening

Mark Horton, the animated Professor from Bristol Uni well-known to Time Team fans, gave an energetic overview of the place of Bristol in the story of industrial Britain. He seriously ran out of time, which was a great shame, not because of the by then cold fish and chips which I hadn't ordered anyway, but because I would have loved to hear what else he had to say on the subject. The room was packed with delegates standing at the back. The popularity of Professor Horton needs to be set against the fact that there were no field trips on Friday evening.

Saturday morning

With all of the intellectually challenged delegates safely out of the way exploring muddy holes, the remainder of us had a nice air-conditioned hall to ourselves. Much of Saturday was devoted to really local subjects which I much appreciated as I knew very little of the area's mining history.

Dr. Nick Chidlaw set the scene with a good overview of the geology of the Bristol coalfield which set later presentations into an understandable context.

Dave Hardwick followed this up with a summary of the mining that has happened in the area over the centuries - coal, celestine, stone, iron and lead.

Steve Grudgings' talk described the story of the last deep mine in South Gloucestershire - Frog Lane Colliery which closed in 1950. This was illustrated with some really excellent contemporary photos both above and below ground.

Neil Macmillen then demonstrated his research into the fullers' earth extraction industry in the Bath area. This was of particular interest to me since I was brought up next to the much larger opencast operations for fullers' earth in Surrey, and although I had always been aware that the clay was dug in the Bath area, I knew little about it. The nature of the processing plants shown brought back some memories of places I explored when young in the woods and fields at home. Seeing photos of fullers' earth mines was great, as there were no significant working underground operations in Surrey, not in my time anyway.

Saturday afternoon

Steve Grudgings again. Steve described how the Coalpit Heath mineworkings were drained, with details of the Newcomen engines and adits that were driven. There are significant remains in the form of old engine houses and foundations. Because much of the coal field was abandoned a long time ago, before the age of "land restoration", mine remains were left to quietly moulder and decay, and often there are more things to be found today that you would find in a more recently abandoned coal mining area.

Trevor Thompson is an expert in the planning, engineering and construction of the Severn Tunnel, and went into much detail on the problems encountered while the tunnel was dug, and how they were overcome. The dramatic effect of the opening of the tunnel was that overnight cheap coal from Wales was available in locations formerly served by the local mines which inevitably went into decline and closed.

Penny Fernando has been part of a team investigating early coal mining sites in the Forest of Dean. She described three sites where, with the use of LIDAR surveys, early mine-workings surface remains have been surveyed. The presentation showed how the patterns of craters can be matched against the seam outcrops, and also demonstrated that a different mining technique other than "bell pits" was used in the centre of the Bromley Hill area, which much resembled a pattern of shafts I have seen in 19th century limestone workings in East Sussex.

Peter Claughton rounded off the day with a talk that emphasised the importance of NAMHO's Research Framework for the Archaeology of the Extractive Industries. He emphasised how important it is that valuable research done by volunteers, or by others, which has been quietly placed on a shelf and hidden from wider view is brought to light. Planning and conservation work by the likes of English Heritage can only be done taking into account what is known to them through Historic Environment Records, and if our work is not part of that then we should not be surprised if out favourite mine sites disappear under a new supermarket.

Saturday evening

All the field trippies returned to join the conference die-hards for a really good dinner. The food was plentiful, tasty, and extremely well presented. Nobody was left wanting, and beer was laid on to help wash it down. A hat was passed round for a tip for the catering staff, but we then discovered that as local authority employees they were not allowed to accept gratuities. A decision was reached and well over £100 will be on its way to Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Sunday morning

Derek Hawkins knows a lot about Bath stone. A well-illustrated presentation showed us the methods of working which developed over the centuries, and the modern extraction tools that are still used. Derek worked for a while in a working quarry, and latterly has worked in the MoD sites at Corsham. He had a good number of really good photos of the defence sites while they were still fully equipped.

Dave Hardwick then explained a little-known extractive industry - for celestine in the Yate area. Strontium sulphate deposits were considered of such value that the expansion of Yate was only possible as each field targetted for development was cleared of this rare mineral. Celestine is no longer dug in the area.

Alan Gray took us on a virtual surface tour of the Redcliffe area before showing us what lies beneath in the old sand caves. A fascinating site which I have been to in the past but must return to some time.

Dr Lynn Willies demonstrated the fascinating recording work that took place in the Combe Down quarries at Bath before they were filled up with concrete. What a shame that it takes the necessary destruction of a historic site to get such an excellent piece of recording done.

Dave Hardwick again! Mine historians will know about the work of J.C. Burrow in Cornwall, recording underground scenes there in the 1890s. They may not be so aware of a similar set of photos taken in the Bristol Coalfield which have been tracked down and collated. About 50 plates have been found, of equal quality to the Cornish photos, and Dave also related the story of how the photos were taken, and the work done to track them down again.

Sunday afternoon

Steve Tofts is a member of CHERT a group that is investigating the history of lead-mining and processing at Charterhouse in the Mendip Hills. Steve presented a case for the dams in Velvet Bottom to be Roman in origin, although as he freely admitted, this is a controversial line of thought and yet to be proven. What is clear from the talk is that lead-working on the Mendip Hills is a very poorly researched subject, with a few notable exceptions.

Alan Gray took the stage for a second time. This talk was about ochre-mining on and around the Mendip Hills. I was surprised to learn the extent of the industry and how recently it stopped. Alan is publishing a book on the subject in the near future.

Geoff Fitton has been involved in the study of copper mining in the Quantock Hills. Geoff told us the history of the copper mines at Dodington, and what remains to be seen today.

The Clifton Railway was a four-tracked funicular railway that ran mostly in a tunnel close to the Clifton Bridge. Maggie Shapland presented the history of the railway along with details of work done there in recent years to preserve what remains.

This was a well-organised event and much appreciated by those who attended.

The other point to add about NAMHO conferences is that the networking opportunities are excellent, it really is the place to catch up with old faces and find out what's going on around the community.

Chris.

A fantastic weekend - the underground field trips were excellent -

A fantastic weekend - the underground field trips were excellent -

I second that, a great time all round - well done the organisers :flowers:

did they show you the 3D scanning fly-through from Combe Down then?

i didn't realise the one-time scale of the Somerset coalfields

---

The only downside is that we sensitive types had to associate with the louts from the Wealden.

I am surprised you recognised any of us through that face forest. 🙂

did they show you the 3D scanning fly-through from Combe Down then?

i didn't realise the one-time scale of the Somerset coalfields

Oh, sorry, I guess I am the only one who can answer that, being one of the select few that have the intellectual capacity to enjoy two days of lectures and presentations. Yes, it was shown. I think I saw it at Hidden Earth last year as well.

I was much more impressed with the later work, the detail on the image was vastly improved over the early work that the fly-through was generated from ... but that's my field, I suppose

---

Peter,

an excellent report of the armchair explorers part of the conference. I guess when you reach a certain age you have done it all and the bones ache too much to be visiting holes, in the Forest, Cotswolds and Bath

For my part I tried business , lectures and adventures there was a general disinterest in the book stand with very quite few delegates not even browsing in the past many clubs and individuals have placed displays this year there were none and I wonder how viable stalls and club stands would be future conferences. I ask as being one of the organisers for the Shropshire event next year

Mike

Interesting.

I found this year I was considerably "busier" than I was at the other two I've been to - maybe because there was more driving to be done. I intended to have a look round your stand but by the time I got round to it, it was too late on Sunday evening.

This shouldn't be regarded as a criticism of the event as what this really means is that I was kept fully entertained the whole time :thumbup:

The skittle alley was a nice feature too. 😎

The issue with the bookstands is timing. I always have this problem, and that's that I take a quick browse during registration, with the express intention of returning later in the conference with a view to purchase. This time was no different.
But with the general hectic nature of the event, and the fact that the Saturday evening do was at a different venue to the bookstands, I completely failed to return!
I plan to try again next year......

Chris.

This year’s NAMHO conference was held in Coalpit Heath just outside Bristol. I got my booking in nice and early and secured a place on all the trips I requested. Unfortunately my Friday trip was cancelled but Andy stepped in with an offer of a trip into Swan mine and so on Friday I made my way to Kingsdown and found the Swan Pub. I was an hour or so early and so had some lunch in the pub and cleared the parking arrangements with the landlord. Andy & Jase arrived just in time to get a drink before the pub closed closely followed by Geoff Stearn. After a quick change we poked about in the undergrowth on the other side of the road and Andy soon found the entrance. In we went and the weekends underground exploring had begun. The mine was fairly easy going walking but there was much of interest including quarrymans tools and graffiti, a pretty intact old crane and one that had been rather crushed by a fallen section of roof.

Once out of the mine we set off for the conference venue, the Miners Institute. Time was getting on a bit so after registering and picking up my papers it was off to the nearby campsite to get my tent pitched. The campsite was at a local scout centre. Parking was rather limited and it took some doing to get everyone’s vehicles tucked away. The tent was hurriedly pitched and then it was quick march with Geoff back to the Miners Institute where the introductory talk had already started. There was only standing room at the back behind a head height blue display board so whilst the talk sounded interesting enough I can’t really comment on the visuals. I had booked the conference fish & chip supper so once the talk was over being near the back I was at the front of the scramble for food not realising how hungry I was it being a long time since the sausage sandwich in the Swan. Then it was time for a beer and a chat with the other delegates. As the evening progressed a skittle alley in the institute was brought into action. A bit like ten pin bowling but with a much smaller wooden ball, a sort of knockout scoring system and a more manual method of re-setting the pins. Andy, Mike and myself were drawn into a game and it was a rather fun way to end the evening although one of the Kurg chaps took all the winnings. Then due to the gradual drifting off of people to the campsite I found myself walking back alone on what was an almost completely dark night having not thought to bring a torch. I almost walked straight into Emma, Rob and Matt who had stopped to look at some stars. Back at the campsite it was a quick brew and off to bed.

Worthy of mention next morning was the gigantic crap that a roosting bird (pterodactyl) had taken over Geoff’s tent in the night (we were all pitched under trees). This really was a sterling effort from our avian friends although it was hard to tell if it was a group effort or the work of a dedicated individual. Geoff took it in his stride though and proceeded to cook several pounds of sausages and distribute them round the campsite. Very nice they were too, although Peter ate most of them!

Andy and Jase had booked the same trips as myself on the Saturday – both coal mine trips. I was rather looking forward to these as coal mines are not really something you get to explore very often. Andy kindly offered to drive and so we headed off for Monument mine in the Forest of Dean, our first trip of the day a working mine. It was quite a way from the campsite and took an hour or so to reach. When we arrived Matt, Emma and Rob were also there and as we got changed Nigel also rolled up having been to a different mine first by mistake. We introduced ourselves to the two owners of the mine and were taken in through an entrance made from an old boiler or tank. Then it was down a timbered level stopping to look at various older side passages. The lower part of the mine leads down to a drainage level out to the lake in the valley below, this is the second way out and had been recently inspected by the HSE involving immersing the inspector neck deep in water. We took a right turn instead passing an old transformer and a passing bay with a wagon parked in it. Then we came to the working section of mine. The coal seam had been worked upwards from this point filling behind with waste as work progressed forward leaving an ascending passage containing the “pan” a metal chute for dropping the cut coal to the railway below. This is where the phrase “down the pan” comes from – any tools dropped down from the top requiring alot of effort to recover. There is no alternative access to the working face other than to climb up the chute. This is really rather tricky as the metal is very slippery and steep with limited headroom and only a small place on one side to get extra grip. At the bottom of the chute is a mechanical “coal cutter” this is awaiting refurbishment and re-instatement of its power supply. Once at the top there is another descending passage across the face where the coal is being worked. This seam is now more or less worked out with too little thickness of coal remaining to create enough space for the waste material to be stacked. Reversing direction the only way out was by sliding playpark style back down the chute. There was some concern at what speeds would be reached – there being no real “run out” at the bottom however these proved groundless fears as although treacherously slippery on the way up it appeared rather sticky on the way down... although some people did manage at least a bit of sliding action. Then it was a simple matter of re-tracing our steps back to daylight.

As there was plenty of time before our next trip Andy had noted an old railway tunnel on the map, after a brief stop to look at Thomas the Tank Engine we parked up near a portal and walked down to have a look. Fortunately the steel door that had been fitted to the bricked up entrance was wide open and we were able to walk straight in. We made our way through the tunnel noting the various air shafts on the way. Near the far end we came across a curious supporting structure made of iron frames and wooden sleepers. Obviously this would be no good if trains were using the tunnel as it completely blocked the tunnel so must have been added as support later. There had been quite a fire in here and we learned later this was caused by someone setting fire to a motorbike in the tunnel. There was a fantastic echo which Andy demonstrated by dropping a sleeper making a loud boom down the tunnel. I was suffering a bit with hayfever and needed to blow my nose – unfortunately I was behind the others and my nostrils seemed a perfect match to the acoustics of the tunnel and made a rather loud noise which startled them somewhat.

Then it was time to visit a nearby pub where a group of other delegates were lunching. Mole was there with a list of trips and delegates and we found that Andy and Jase weren’t on the list for the afternoon trip to Morses level but were down for an iron mine they thought they were due to visit the next day. It transpired later that they we were all also down for another trip that morning where they had been waiting for us – some mix-ups are inevitable on an event this size. Anyhow we decided to stick with the plan and make our way to Morse’s Level just down the road.

Arriving at Morses level it was clear that this was the right decision as in fact although the chap had six people on his list we were the only ones to turn up (and I was the only one actually on the list!). This mine is worked but only for coal for the personal use of the owners. They wheeled the compressor out of its shed in the hope of firing it up to show us a bit of winding up of wagons, unfortunately despite running it that morning it could not be persuaded to start and so was wheeled back in. Off into the mine we went passing several side passages which were flooded after a short distance, these are worked but only in high Summer when the water level drops – they are not worth pumping as the miners only work a couple of evenings a week. Soon we came to the face being worked at the moment, they had a more crude version of the “pan” a plain sheet of steel and it was a shorter distance up to the face however a real treat was in store! Instead of using compressed air tools like Monument this mine was worked with hand tools – namely a small pick. We were given a demonstration and asked for a go ourselves. This was readily agreed to and I was soon hacking away at the coalface! There was a very soft lower bed which could easily be scraped away and was useful coal, then a bed of clay which dropped out once sufficient of the soft coal below had been removed. This was removed quickly before it was squashed into the coal and stacked behind to fill the previous working space. Then the real prize could be brought down – a much harder coal that you had to chip a bit harder at. This came down in big satisfying chunks. Doubtless it could lose its appeal a bit as a full time job but the short go I had it seemed very rewarding and a little bit addictive! I can definitely see the appeal. Andy and Jase also had a go and seemed equally pleased. Then it was back into the main passage and deeper into the mine. The workings were quite extensive and paralleled a sort of drainage culvert which had been recently cleared. At one point there was a much older truck of strange design then a bit of a collapse beyond which the air was suspect. A candle was easily lit and so in we went until stopped short by a further collapse, it is thought that if dug through another half mile of workings are beyond. Back we went and out by the second entrance to fresh air. Then a bit of a surface walk, signs of wild boar were pointed out as was another entrance and shaft (disused) along with the site of some old headgear long gone. Then off down to the river to see the end of the drainage culvert. Here the river had been turned into a nice stone flag lined channel to prevent water entering the workings. We walked along this back towards the cars marvelling at the fine stonework in the short tunnels under the road and railway. At one point we were warned that the water may be “slightly over welly depth” and so Andy jumped up to join our guides for the dry alternative whilst Jase and I continued on. It turned out to be rather more like waist depth and we were pretty soaked when we got back.

Jase had dry trousers but I hadn’t so had to travel back to the campsite in my pants to avoid getting Andy’s car seats wet. Unfortunately Andy wanted to visit a nearby campsite to buy camping gas in their shop and so I had to put my wet trousers back on. The shop didn’t have the right canister and so we set off for another, I adopted a technique of dropping my trousers round my ankles as I got in the car and pulling them up when I got out. Andy also decided he wanted tea and buns and so we set off on a tour of the shops and cafes of the Forest of Dean with me dropping my trousers at each one (I think the number of stops was deliberate!) Eventually we were back at the campsite and I could get changed. Then it was back off to a nearby hall for the conference dinner. There was some fine ale to be drunk and a very nice meal of Salmon, Lamb then Trifle, fantastic. James was unable to come but we had his meal ticket and so ate his too. Peter then walked us up to Ram Hill to show us the surface remains in the dark and speculate on the purpose of some of the features. The evening was finished off back in the campsite with tea and a chat with the Tamar Mines group.

Sunday I was booked on the same trips as Robert and Cathryn and so they jumped in my car for the day. Cathryn’s excellent navigation soon got us to the first site (despite a road closure en-route) Whittington Quarry. We met in a nearby layby and then drove in convoy to a nearby farm where parking facilities had been kindly provided. There was a bit of a walk up to the quarry then in through a gated entrance into easy walking passage. Half of the mine is like this, the other half a bit more crawly. We were visiting the more civilised strolling passages. In places hoof prints and miners boot prints were visible as were tool marks on the stone. We were quite a large party and so tended to spread out a bit so I missed some of the guides explanations but it was a very pleasant trip for a Sunday morning. On the way out some of our party needed to rush off to ensure they got their lunch, we however were directed towards an easy squeeze over a collapse into “track passage” this is almost as the miners left it with sharp clear wheel ruts and many intact hoof and boot prints from the last miners. This would have been a main route in but the collapse is unstable and the modern alternative has preserved this section.

Sunday afternoons trip was not too far away but required some careful navigation from Cathryn to guide us past the road closure. The site was located and once again Nigel too was on the trip. This was Lower Balls Green Quarry. This turned out to be a small but very interesting and picturesque site. Large high passages with neatly stacked backfill. A couple of collapses to climb over one of which had squashed an unfortunate wagon. Another intact wagon - and at the end a real treat of a working area with cut blocks left stacked from the last shift, some beginning to be calcited over and absorbed back into the walls.

Sunday evening a few of us remaining on the campsite including Don, Chris and some other KURG members jumped in a couple of cars and had a carvery meal in a nearby pub. OK but not a patch on the conference meal.

Next morning I packed the tent away, had a bit of a walk up the Dramway then headed home.

Thank you for all the reports, folks, it's much appreciated by those of us who didn't attend! :thumbsup:

---

Where abouts is Morse`s level from Monument?
Back towards Hopewell or nearer the now closed Cannop drift.

Where abouts is Morse`s level from Monument?
Back towards Hopewell or nearer the now closed Cannop drift.

Sorry, I wasn't driving so consequently wasn't paying too much attention. Can tell you it wasn't far from the pub though.

If you're quick all the underground trip details are still online;

http://www.namhoconference.org.uk/graphics/forms/underground.pdf 

Sorry, I wasn't driving so consequently wasn't paying too much attention.

Well, it is difficult driving with one's trousers round one's ankles, isn't it? :lol:

Not if you practice.