Coate Moor mine worked from 1868 until 1875 then was abandoned. In recent years the workings became accessible 'informally' so an approach was made to the landowner by Cleveland Mining Heritage Society for proper access. He agreed to this and to the Society taking visitors underground subject to certain conditions. After a significant amount of work and effort gated access was provided by CMHS who can now take visitors underground to experience these historic workings subject to certain conditions to mitigate risk.

Inevitably this is not good enough for some people and so far 4 padlocks have been broken off and unauthorised access made by visitors who seem to have some experience of underground exploration judging by the extensive chalk marks left on the walls. Whilst no artifacts appear to have been removed they have trampled over several surfaces not touched since 1876 (carefully preserved by CMHS) causing destruction of boot, hoof and other prints from that time.

If anyone should be reading this and consider that cutting off locks to enter other people's property is okay then please think again. The landowner's answer to such vandalism could be the filling-in of entrances to underground workings in spite of CMHS or any other mining group, then no one gets underground.

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Hi Simon, sorrto hear about the troubles at your show mine.
Unfortunately out in the big world people think that your group must be hiding precious stones and gold in the mine.
So they have to break off your locks so they can go and look themselves.
In my opinion there are ten ways of preventing this from happening. The first is to use a Derbyshire key, the second is to weld a shroud around your lock so that it is hammer proof.
Naturally this is all upsetting but these people do not care and I can only hope that you manage to vandal proof the mine entrance. Good luck

From having seen a number of containers broken into over the years, I have to agree. Shroud over the padlock, and the most sturdy padlock possible.
'Discus', 'closed shackle' or 'shutter' types are virtually impregnable if protected with a shroud.

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Both the above methods are vulnerable, no hammers needed. Well designed shrouds can help, but are also a royal ballache to legitimate keyholders, so think very carefully about your design if you choose to do this.

An awful lot of "disc" padlocks, in particular, are trivial to remove and replace afterwards without trace.

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The nightmare today is rechargeable grinders, twice now they have got in my club using them, we now have a noise maker, truly awful sound, makes you nausious.

Thanks for all your advice fellas.

NewStuff - sorry to disappoint you but we don't have the underground bar you seek!:(

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If the entry area is somewhat remote and not overlooked by any farms/houses etc i suspect security will be an ongoing problem.:(

Edit: Perhaps a door with an internal lock might be more successful?

You should maybe take a look at the mines around Alderley Edge. I believe one of those mines even has an old barclays bank vault door stopping entry! You cannot access the padlocks with anything other than a key, to even consider thinking about cutting the lock...

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You should maybe take a look at the mines around Alderley Edge. I believe one of those mines even has an old barclays bank vault door stopping entry! You cannot access the padlocks with anything other than a key, to even consider thinking about cutting the lock...

And no-one has filled the keyhole with superglue?

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You should maybe take a look at the mines around Alderley Edge. I believe one of those mines even has an old barclays bank vault door stopping entry! You cannot access the padlocks with anything other than a key, to even consider thinking about cutting the lock...

And no-one has filled the keyhole with superglue?

That was quite common at Browns Folly at the steel door with two mortice locks.