Slate mine reopening · AditNow Community

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rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Collyweston slate mine reopening for the first time in more than 40 years.

A mine is getting ready to produce slate after a 40-year wait.

Collyweston slate, named after the Northamptonshire village in which it is produced, has been used on illustrious buildings for more than 600 years.

The mine is being reopened because supplies are running low.

King's College, Cambridge, will be the first to benefit when it replaces its crumbling roof tiles.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-38599850

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rikj
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Info on the working method etc

http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/Environ/planning/planapps/Documents/PDF%20Documents/Minerals%20and%20Waste%20Apps/15.00030.MINFUL-MineWorkingAndMethodStatement.pdf

mistericeman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Local news report .....

http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2017-01-12/historic-slate-mine-to-re-open-in-northamptonshire/

ChrisJC
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Exciting stuff.

Chris.

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Like the slate. Very rustic looking. Not sure why it needs to be frozen to split though - rather than using a splitting tool? Surely that implies if you plonk it on your roof, the elements will weaken it post haste ? Unless all lines of weakness have been delineated in the process.

Robin

Mr.C
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

It's not actually a slate but rather a thinly bedded limestone.
So I guess the freezing helps the splitting before you attack it with tools.

We inhabit an island made of coal, surrounded by a sea full of fish. How can we go wrong.......

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Same as Stonfield slate, they are as Mr c says thin limestone slabs that split on the bedding plane rather than real slate that has a cleavage. They are usually broken into layers by a freeze and thaw action, nothing else yields acceptable results.

Technicality aside, any working mine these days is encouraging, I hope it works out for them.

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

Dr J
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Hasn't been entirely smooth sailing though...

http://www.hse.gov.uk/notices/notices/Notice_details.asp?SF=CN&SV=307364064

Really pretty glaring oversight...given the adit entrance was dug, and mining works begun *months* before this was flagged. Explains why nothing more heard for fair while...

J

Over-ground, underground, wombling free...