any day would suit me on current plans and my travelling is only about 20 miles

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Been doing a bit of calendar wrestling ::) another weekday off before the end of Feb is now completely impossible.

Looks like Sunday 30th of Jan is about the only day I could make it, sorry to be quite so specific 😞 no problem if this date is not possible :flowers:

It's very much shooting season round the mines at the moment so if you're thinking of going to see them you may be best to wait until it's over on February 2nd to avoid disappointment.

If this is still the case then looks like would have to be after 02/02. I'm sure remoteneeded will be able to advise.

...looks like would have to be after 02/02. I'm sure remoteneeded will be able to advise.

You are correct and a quick check last weekend showed that the shooting markers are still in place in front of two of the mines.

I think we should also probably arange this via PMs, so contact me if you're interested in a trip and I'll let you know the date I'm thinking of and where I propose we go.

Hi guys, I found this thread via Google and I'm new here...

I've recently had a poke about in the Finedon pits, and although I found the concrete remains of the rock crushes (it's hard to miss!), I had trouble locating the mine adit.

There are two bricked up "things" a few yards up the gulley from the rock crusher, that might be it. Can anyone help indentify them, or has a photo of the actual adit I can compare to?

Photos that I took today:

Closest to crusher:



Second view. You can see where some of the brickwork has been knocked down:



Into the resulting gap:



It's another brick wall inside. There's a cavity up in the far corner:



Looking into the cavity. It seems to be a space between the rock and the roof of this thing:



Second "thing":



It was gated at some point:



Someone has had a go at the brickwork here as well:



There's a steady draft of cold air coming through this little hole, so I had high hopes when I shone a torch through.

Sadly all I could see was more brickwork:



Thinking about it now, comparing it to the other "thing", perhaps the hole is too high and I'm looking above a tunnel roof line?

A look down a cavity to the side:



So, have I found the adit, or just a storage bunker? ;)

Anthony[img][/img][img]

Sorry, I have no idea why the image links won't work...

So, have I found the adit, or just a storage bunker? ;)

Hello Anthony and welcome to AN.

You've found the two ventilation adits. The main adit is south of that location but you're not going to see it as it's well and truly burried.

Thanks for your reply :)

So the adit is at the very end of the gulley? I was looking at the near-vertical wall there and thinking "this would be the logical place for it".

That's a shame because I was under the impression it was bricked up and still visible!

I guess there's very little left of this mine, then. I read that all ventilation shafts along with the Steps entrance were filled in with rock and rubble 😞

Looks like more 'idiots' who haven't done their homework have been down there again ::)

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Is that directed at me?

I think I should warn anyone, wishing to enter Irthlingborough Mine from the Finedon end, that the air will be very 'thin'. Probably no oxygen at-all & if they get as far as the original main tunnel driven in 1938 which runs parallel, the roof near the first Finedon adit is very suspect. Infact it may well have already collapsed. :ohmygod:

Mr Pack,

I don't suppose you know of a diagram showing the layout of this end of the mine? I'm struggling a little to understand why there's a first adit (implying a second?), and the relationship t any ventilation tunnels.

I know the mine tunnel split into three between I'boro and Finedon, but I also thought it merged back into a single tunnel before passing under the first road on its way into Finedon. I had thought it was just a big, single entrance into the earth in each town ;)

This is more a matter of local history than anything to me.

I think I should warn anyone, wishing to enter Irthlingborough Mine from the Finedon end, that the air will be very 'thin'. Probably no oxygen at-all & if they get as far as the original main tunnel driven in 1938 which runs parallel, the roof near the first Finedon adit is very suspect. Infact it may well have already collapsed. :ohmygod:

I would reckon that to be a general comment on ironstone workings unless there is an established through draught.

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