simonrail
  • simonrail
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie Topic Starter
9 years ago
Thanks to Petej for the new list of head frames which needs updating already!

Of the 2 towers at Boulby Mine only one is original; the other was spectacularly blown up a couple of years ago after being replaced by a traditional steel headgear. Unfortunately this has since been clothed in concrete and no longer is it possible to spend minutes at a time watching the wheels go round. But at least the mine still works.

There are two wooden headgears at nearby Skelton Green complete with underground workings; permission to visit may be obtained beforehand at Manless Green Farm. However, all is a complete replica. I built the headgears to the landowner's design then repaired the workings when the roof collapsed. Nowadays I prefer the real thing.

Yes, I'll have it - what is it?
legendrider
9 years ago
Beat me to the congratulatory punch....

Of course, the next few months will be the Last Chance To See many of the headgears on the list, as the last deep pits have now closed, and it seems that the writing is on the wall for our old friend Grove Rake No.2.

In a couple of years you'll be able to draw up a revised list on the back of a fag packet ;(

MARK
festina lente[i]
PeteJ
  • PeteJ
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
9 years ago
Thanks for the updates. I am particularly interested in fluorspar sites. I would like to add date of construction and/or date of erection
Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532
Knocker
9 years ago
Here's an update on the Cornish ones: -
Mount Wellington - demolished
New Roskear - Demolished
Robinsons: - Preserved as part of a heritage site, unfortunately the guides have been removed.
New Cooks Kitchen - Refurbished
AR
  • AR
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
9 years ago
A couple of comments relating to Derbyshire:

Glory Mine is an original, not a replica, but was moved to the mining display at Crich Tramway Museum when Crich Quarry removed the Glory Mine site.

Arbor Low - I'm not sure if the headgear is still present here, I've never noticed one when passing.
Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!
LeeW
  • LeeW
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
9 years ago
The ones at Annesley went a few years back.

I am not sure what the Smalley one is or is meant to be.

There is one a Swanwick Common (original)

Brinsley Tandem Headstocks are in Notts and not Derbys.

Last I knew the one at Overton Mine (Derbys) was still there.

And in Yorks there is also the concrete one at Westfield Pumping Pit.

There is also a headframe still in place at Barbot Hall (former NCB pumping borehole)

The one at Lochore Meadows Counrty Park is Mary Pit.

There is also a recent horse gin headframe replica at Califat Colliery (Leics)

I went in a mine once.... it was dark and scary..... full of weirdos


When do I get my soapbox, I need to rant on about some b***cks
PeteJ
  • PeteJ
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
9 years ago
Thank you. More comments welcome. I will update on monday next.
Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532
PeteJ
  • PeteJ
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
9 years ago
Any more updates? I have now also seen the list produced by Cuban Bloodhound - missed this previously.
Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532
wotdefuk
9 years ago
overton mine derbyshire
Quizsmith
9 years ago
Sorry to enter the post so late. Just minor addition - Haig Colliery, Cumbria the headgear is on No.4 shaft (skip handling at closure). No.3 shaft (headgear missing) was manrider. No. 5 shaft (no obvious shaft marker) was ventilation/emergency.
I remember being told that the unusual numbering was due to No's 1 & 2 being used at a nearby colliery (Wellington?)

Sorry to see that the list is as short as it is. If castles could be weighed in as easily as a headframe?
Buckhill
9 years ago
"Quizsmith" wrote:

Sorry to enter the post so late. Just minor addition - Haig Colliery, Cumbria the headgear is on No.4 shaft (skip handling at closure). No.3 shaft (headgear missing) was manrider. No. 5 shaft (no obvious shaft marker) was ventilation/emergency.
I remember being told that the unusual numbering was due to No's 1 & 2 being used at a nearby colliery (Wellington?)

Sorry to see that the list is as short as it is. If castles could be weighed in as easily as a headframe?



Sorry, but this is wrong. The remaining headframe is No.5 - which was the drawing shaft between 1933 and 1985, previously the temporary upcast. No. 4, demolished 1986, was the original winding shaft, 1919 to 1933 when No. 5 was the upcast, and from 1933 on was men and materials ony.

There were 3 shafts at Wellington (1 and 2 sunk 1838-45, 3 sunk 1903-5). The "unmarked" shaft was Thwaite Pit, sunk 1737 as a 10ft x 8ft elliptical and re-opened in 1933 as the upcast to allow the change of No. 5 to downcast and drawing. Until 1942 Thwaite worked in parallel with No. 3 as upcasts, the latter finishing when Thwaite was sliped to 17ft dia.
Trogleman
9 years ago
I know its out of date but I prepared this list in 2006 - worth checking to see if you have them all.

http://shropshirehistory.com/misc/2006headgears.pdf 

On the same theme, I also did lists of surviving engine houses and working mines.

http://shropshirehistory.com/misc/2006enginehouses.pdf 

http://shropshirehistory.com/misc/2006workingmines.pdf 

I would like to see an updated version of the latter two.

Disclaimer: Mine exploring can be quite dangerous, but then again it can be alright, it all depends on the weather. Please read the proper disclaimer.
© 2005 to 2023 AditNow.co.uk

Dedicated to the memory of Freda Lowe, who believed this was worth saving...