Coalcleugh level 1990s (photo) · AditNow Community

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John Lawson
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

6 years ago

Hi Roy, this is the photo I remember of this adit!
You used to be able to see it from the road, but having passed by many times recently you certainly can no longer see it, I have told the farmer does not want any interest in this level, so presumably has either covered it over or .....?

Photograph:

🔗97763[linkphoto]97763[/linkphoto][/link]

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TheCret!n
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

Coalcleugh is still very much there.
The adit is bricked up currently.
I believe the Coal Authority plan to treat the water from it.
The local house (I’d assume containing the farmer you mentioned.) has recently been sold.

Leif.

“Oh what a fun experience, my ‘Ouse is full of deviants....”

jagman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

"TheCret!n" wrote:
Coalcleugh is still very much there.
The adit is bricked up currently.
I believe the Coal Authority plan to treat the water from it.
The local house (I’d assume containing the farmer you mentioned.) has recently been sold.

Leif.

Don't think that bit of land belongs to the adjacent house (Sunnyside)
It was allegedly possible to walk through from Coalcleugh to Rampgill and the other way to another mine the name of which will come back to me shortly!

TheCret!n
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

It was possible.
Rampgill, Coalcleugh and Barneycraig all connect, right at the end of Coalcleugh Horse Level.
I traced and coloured the abandonment plan a few months back.

I was under the impression the land belonged to the owners of the nearby house?
I know the Coal Authority have already placed a pipe under the track/road to the house, to take the stream and mine drainage (rather than it spilling over the road, as it did.).
I’d expect their water treatment plan will be initiated soon?

Leif.

“Oh what a fun experience, my ‘Ouse is full of deviants....”

John Lawson
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

6 years ago

This mine was known for bad air!
When it was worked, frequently, they used to create a fire in a waggon, send it into the level, then pull it back, to help the ventilation.
Eric Bowman who worked there in the early 196o’s told me the Mining company had tried going down surface shafts, but found them all to be blocked!
When I was in there some 50 or so years ago, my wife tried to light a cigarette when we reached Williams Vein(?) and could. Not! She rapidly beat a retreat and I soon followed!

TheCret!n
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

Nick Green told me that cigarette story a little while ago. Don’t blame you getting a wriggle on to get out.
Interesting facts about the wagon etc, thanks for sharing!

Leif.

“Oh what a fun experience, my ‘Ouse is full of deviants....”

UK Abandoned Mine Explores
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

Has it been covered over? It was as in the photo when I went there last year?

Uk Abandoned Mine Explores on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsW2E1LQ7EETG9NQgij2dWA?disable_polymer=true

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

Its still as it ever was - pic taken May 2019

[photo]117921[/photo]

MARK

festina lente[i]

PeteJ
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

I went in the level some time back. No bad air. Interesting fluorspar stopes above the level with very dark blue fluorite.

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#10

Interesting, Pete.

Do you know whenabouts the portal was walled-up?

Would have been nice to stroll along the level and abseil down Coalcleugh Shaft into Rampgill

MARK

festina lente[i]

PeteJ
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#11

1964.

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

staffordshirechina
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#12

The wall must have come and gone a bit though.
We went in there in 1974. It was half-walled at that time.
My safety lamp went out near the end fall.

TheCret!n
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#13

Mark -

If Coalcleugh were open, I strongly suspect it’d be more than just Rampgill accessible...

Leif.

“Oh what a fun experience, my ‘Ouse is full of deviants....”

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#14

"PeteJ" wrote:
1964.

just a shade before my time, I'm afraid! Must have been during or shortly after it was last re-worked?

MARK

festina lente[i]

PeteJ
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#15

Reworked for fluorspar in the 1950s by George Ridley of Haltwhistle. he had a steel loading hopper at the entrance. The level was cleared out and railed. Retimbered in many places. Worked stopes on the two main veins up to 80 feet above the level. Both underground shaft tops were accessible and both shafts were open. Closed by 1963 and abandoned sometime after 1964.This was before Norpex dug through in Rampgill and Swinhope was also blocked from the east. If it were reopened now, the air would flow into the east end of Rampgill. Coincidentally, I had an informal discussion with an engineer on Wednesday and suggested that the level should be at least grilled to allow air movement through the network.

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

TheCret!n
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#16

Needs to be reopened, in my opinion.

Leif.

“Oh what a fun experience, my ‘Ouse is full of deviants....”

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#17

Thanks for the most interesting memoir Pete.

some air flow could be re-established (I daresay) by drilling a few holes through the stonework of the portal.

Next time we're in the vicinity of Coalcleugh Shaft in Rampgill we should do a smoke test to see which direction (if any) the air flows.

MARK

festina lente[i]

PeteJ
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#18

Just been experimenting with crow scarers. These generate a lot of smoke! Presumably plumbers smoke kits might be a better idea?

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#19

Yes, you want the small smoke pellets or matches, or something like a joss stick? Pwhole and I had an "interesting" experience several years ago where we tried to check airflows using something that generated more smoke than expected, exiting the mine was like something out of a rescue film as we groped out through the (fortunately non-toxic) smoke....

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#20

my preferred MO is to use a small can of body spray from the pound shop. can be a bit cloying if you have to pass through a cloud of it, but its damned effective!

MARK

festina lente[i]