Before I upload some photos and get the wrong mines, I have a few queries from my recent Matlock area walk. I will probably post a few at a time.
To start of with, and this may have been asked previously; what is the open adit above Carhill Wifes Sough? For the time being I have marked it as Carnal (Carnel) Vein and I'm guessing it is the workings described as the higher level which flows to the Carnhill Wife Sough. I forgot my hard hat, so didn't explore more than a few metres.

[photo]Personal-Album-176-Image-93422[/photo]


The next is close by and appears to have been part of a cave? survey. It is a small opening (part blocked?) which appears to be on Blue John Vein (itself a pencil line on a Barmaster Map).

[photo]Personal-Album-176-Image-93423[/photo]

Map of locations for both
🔗Personal-Album-176-Image-93424[linkphoto]Personal-Album-176-Image-93424[/linkphoto][/link]


Cheers in advance.

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The larger one has a name though it escapes me right now, I need to look through some old PDMHS newsletters to see if I can find it. The smaller one is blocked IIRC, not sure whether it has a name or not, there's also an un-named pipe working nearby which is small but interesting.

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I deal with these in passing in my forthcoming book on the Matlock area. The larger entrance by the path gives access to about 200 feet of workings into Blue John Vein, being very crumbly blue fluorspar of no ornamental use. It was driven by Frank Barton (of Banks & Barton fame) in the early 1950s but I do not know what they called it.

About 50 yards further north along the footpath is a cutting with a small opening in a collapse at the end. This goes into a short level with timbering along a calcite scrin that was apparently driven in the 1930s for spar. It was associated with a working that was called Gatestoop Mine.

To be honest, there are so many veins in that small area that it is difficult to be categorical about which is which.

Have you managed to sort out publishing your book?
It is an interesting area with lots of curious looking features, some may be mining related and others may be related to springs etc.
The small opening photo matches the 50yds north.

Being in the woods it is also difficult to exactly pinpoint where on a map you are stood; thus the reasons for the photos and a map with some descriptions.

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I am trying to finish off the book as quickly as I can.

There are many other mining features in the woodland round Harp Edge but there are also open shafts so great caution is needed there. I shall try to visit it again in a couple of weeks time before the undergrowth gets growing again.

The ground when I went out was a 'bit' muddy, wet and slippery, especially on the steep slopes. Hopefully should dry out after a few weeks and before the leaves etc start coming back.

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Next query is a shaft, it is situated along the path between the Great Masson Rear Exit and Ember Farm. It lies around the junction of Nestalls/Bacon Rake and Bacon Pipe.

[photo]Personal-Album-176-Image-93469[/photo]

[photo]Personal-Album-176-Image-93470[/photo]

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Doesn't that one drop into Rutland Cavern, hence the more permanent than usual capping? I'm sure Roger will know.... 🙂

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It leads into the south end of the side passage off the Masson Cavern show cave, as described in the article published in Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society, vol.8,no.2,pp.103-108. Autumn 1981. A SURVEY OF THE MASSON CAVE-CUM - MINE COMPLEX, MATLOCK (including Great Masson Cavern, Carding's Nestus, High Loft, Crichman and Gentlewomen's Mines) by Roger Flindall, John Swain and Andrew Hayes.

A large side passage westwards off the show cave route brings one directly to shaft (still open on the surface) which was used recently when working this title (under the incorrect name of Black Ox Mine) for fluorspar. The fluorspar workings include a spacious passage ranging southwards for 60 m through two chambers after which a crawl in old lead workings continues to the base of a 21 m deep shaft (now capped) just inside the Heights of Abraham grounds.