Cave Workings · AditNow Community

LAP
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Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

In early times, slate was extracted in Cumbria in cuttings, where is outcropped. As extraction continued, the cutting went underground to form a "Cave Working".
there is a great one at rydal Water, which i'm sure some of you might be aware of.
Anyone know of any similar ones in Wales??

😉

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
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Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
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merddinemrys
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Newbie

18 years ago

#2

I've not seen anything like that in North Wales apart from where chambers have broken through to the surface which is a very different thing. I think workings like that in Wales would have developed into open pit workings. Maybe the dip of the slate in Cumbria is quite different to what we have here?

LAP
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Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

#3

I think maybe your right?
In Ffestiniog it is of cource a steeply inclined cleavage, but in Cumbria it tends to be more or less vertical, though this can vary.
At Honister the agle is about 30 degrees, at Burington about 70 degrees.
Since cumbrian slate tends to be much harder, bacaue of it's volcanic origin, it is sometimes difficult to tell what is bedding and cleavage & other.
Lets also note that these workings tended to be quite early, and driving levels into the hillside was almost un-heard of.

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

Captain Scarlet
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Newbie

18 years ago

#4

This phrase "Cave Working". Where does this come from ? I have never heard it before. "Closehead" is the local term for an underground slate mine.. :confused:

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

#5

I think closehead refers to any underground quarry, though usually this means totally underground. 'Slate from Coniston is a useful book! If you look at Moss Head, you can see that the slate was looked for in a trial, to then be exploited in a closehead. A cave working is when the slate is followed into the hillside from the surface. Rydal cave is a good eg, as is Smithy Bank cave on C old man. There are also some good ones around Moss Rigg in Tilberthwaite. 😉

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai