Denehole (?) under the M2 · AditNow Community

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Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

Just spotted breaking news on the BBC:

A 10-mile section of the M2 motorway in north Kent has been closed in both directions after a 50ft-deep hole appeared in the central reservation. The Highways Agency said the hole measured 16ft (5m) by 6ft (2m) and was 50ft (15m) deep.

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simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

11 years ago

Odd how it's so centrally positioned between the carriageways!

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

fjällvandring
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

I used to live in Kent and would frequently hear of Deneholes, but as of yet I've never been down one. A bit like Bell Pit coal workings, I suppose most of 'em are filled in 😞

jeg elsker Norge, landets dialekter, folk, landskap og naturen!

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

There are plenty that are not filled. Does it grate with anyone else when everyone seems to be calling these "sinkholes"? Are these not just crownholes or mineshafts depending on whether its a collapsed working gallery or a destabilised shaft capping?

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Coal in North Kent?

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

Chalk.

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

"Peter Burgess" wrote:
Chalk.

That`s what i was thinking,don`t they have subterranean river`s through the chalk in Kent,cannot think of the proper name for them,as this was a big worry when the plans went in for Fracking/Gasification last year.

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

Yes there are a few, but my money is on this being a denehole or chalk mine.

skimble
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

The BBC is now reporting the hole to be 15ft deep, not 15m.

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#10

I just watched some aerial footage and it looks like it was once on a hedge line - which is where a lot of deneholes are often found.

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#11

It looks likes one of the Doddington deneholes - probably one not known of until now.

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/mines/Doddington-Denehole-Chalk-Mine/

exspelio
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#12

"SimonRL" wrote:
Odd how it's so centrally positioned between the carriageways!

Thats what struck me too, as well as the neat lining up between the four concrete bases of the barrier posts.
Surely they must have noticed some strata anomolies when building this bit?.
Serious research should be done to prevent a re-occurrence.

Always remember, nature is in charge, get it wrong and it is you who suffers!.

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#13

As the subsidence will most likely have been caused by ground saturation, then the central reservation is the most obvious place for one of these to be discovered - where the water has the chance to soak in. There may well be others under the tarmac, protected from the elements, and one hopes less likely to fall in.