Danger? at Church Mine North · AditNow Community

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rustydog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

14 years ago

Attention all who are going into Church Mine North. The Landowner is having a solar panel array installed close by the mine workings. This involves a lot of piling work. They have been at it for 2 weeks now and it may have caused some instability of the workings. So a cautious exploration might be wise for the time being. Some of us intend to have a look sometime this week and will post back after the visit. Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone from further afield was planning a visit and was unaware of the work going on.

http://www.altitudesafety.co.uk/contacts/
Give them a ring. They are very competitve and friendly.

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redgils
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

Thanks for that info, i went down to try and find the mine today and the whole area was buzzing with people. Being new to exploring i didnt hang about as im not sure whether its a good idea being seen. is it on private land, i have a few maps etc so i know the whereabouts of a few, i have been crops acre, willow close and woodfield so far but im stuggling finding the church south entrance.

redgils
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

just been doing a bit of research and it seems like south church has been filled in.

ditzy
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

church n+s connect u/g but the s end has been backfilled and landscaped

http://ditzycaving.blogspot.com
my underground blog

Dr J
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

"redgils" wrote:
Thanks for that info, i went down to try and find the mine today and the whole area was buzzing with people. Being new to exploring i didnt hang about as im not sure whether its a good idea being seen.

It most definitely isn't a good idea!This is a fairly sensitive location, the local estate isn't keen-particularly given all the live shooting that goes in the area for much of the year. For that reason I'd also suggest you might wanna make your pics of Crops Acre/Willow Close non open access, particularly given they show entrances...otherwise encourages all sorts of un-prepared people, undesirables etc.

As Ditzy says, southern entrance is entirely filled in, coupled with the presence of a fault running through the breadth of the mine, most of the workings are wholly submerged-shame. Be warned Church in particular suffers from bad air, gas detector is highly recommended if you're going any distance

J

Over-ground, underground, wombling free...

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

"J" wrote:
For that reason I'd also suggest you might wanna make your pics of Crops Acre/Willow Close non open access, particularly given they show entrances...otherwise encourages all sorts of un-prepared people, undesirables etc.

As this is clearly a senstive location i've made sure non of the album is visible to 'Guest'

Phooka
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

Hi rusty, how were the pilling works? Have they done any damage? I think the rock is pretty stable around there and they be drilling if they're putting in concrete piles so that should,t disturb much at all unless they burst through and keep pouring in concrete LOL :lol:

rustydog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

14 years ago

Phooka, I haven't had chance to go in yet. I was hoping to go friday but something came up. Will go for a look within the next week for sure. The piles are being hammered in and although they are to the side of the mine, not directly overhead they may cause underground vibration. Fortunately they are using the low vibration piling method so all should be ok, but you never know. There are one or two places where the roof is less than perfect so it's just a matter of being a little extra cautious.

http://www.altitudesafety.co.uk/contacts/
Give them a ring. They are very competitve and friendly.

rustydog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

14 years ago

I have just returned from Church Mine and can happily report that there appears to be no disturbance at all. Spent a couple of hours underground and explored some new ground. Found several carbide lamps and also was happy to see loads of horse shoe prints in a couple of tunnels. I wasn't sure if ponies were used in this mine or if it was battery powered but the prints prove ponies were used at some point. Typically left camera in rucksack inside entrance but will take pics next visit. All in all a good trip. 😉......and.....and....I forgot to mention......also found a GeoCache.....how the hell anyone would find it down there I don't know?.

http://www.altitudesafety.co.uk/contacts/
Give them a ring. They are very competitve and friendly.

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#10

"rustydog" wrote:
I forgot to mention......also found a GeoCache.....how the hell anyone would find it down there I don't know?.

Clues to its location will be posted on GeoCaching sites which in turn will lead to lots of visitors as they hasten to tick it off the 'to do' list :curse:

Edit: I suppose all trespassers have the same 'rights', whatever their reason. 🙂

Hal_Chase
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#11

"rustydog" wrote:
I wasn't sure if ponies were used in this mine or if it was battery powered but the prints prove ponies were used at some point.

Horses and later on small diesel loco's (Ruston & Hornsby) 😉

All I want for Christmas is an Eimco...

rustydog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

14 years ago

#12

"Hal_Chase" wrote:
Horses and later on small diesel loco's (Ruston & Hornsby) ;)

Do you know how they managed the diesel fumes?

http://www.altitudesafety.co.uk/contacts/
Give them a ring. They are very competitve and friendly.

Hal_Chase
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#13

"rustydog" wrote:
Do you know how they managed the diesel fumes?

There was 8 entrances plus the air shaft back then, highly likely they could have had powered fans too (they did elsewhere in the area). Air has never been good in there even when it was working.

All I want for Christmas is an Eimco...

rustydog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

14 years ago

#14

I only know of 3 possibly 4 plus the vent shaft. I have'nt been able to find a lot of info for this mine.

http://www.altitudesafety.co.uk/contacts/
Give them a ring. They are very competitve and friendly.

redgils
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#15

can someone define what a geocache is for me please, new to all this really. Cheers 🙂

rustydog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

14 years ago

#16

Try googling GeoCache, that will explain. It's basically a treasure hunt game.

http://www.altitudesafety.co.uk/contacts/
Give them a ring. They are very competitve and friendly.

redgils
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#17

hmmmmmmmmmm happy hunting :thumbup:

rustydog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

14 years ago

#18

It's not a pastime I take any interest in. I was just surprised to find one by accident down there!

http://www.altitudesafety.co.uk/contacts/
Give them a ring. They are very competitve and friendly.

remoteneeded
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

#19

There's also a geocache in Woodfield, and until recently used to be one by the Willow Close adit. I did point out to the cache owner that they're sending people blindly onto private land, which is against the rules in geocahching but they didn't care. I also pointed out that half the year people are likely to get shot so they've now made the Woodfield cache seasonal.

Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against underground geocaches, but sending unprepared people into dangerous situations will sooner rather than later lead to trouble. The last thing I want to see is any trouble for either geocaching or mine exploring, both of which are activities I enjoy a lot.