Coniston Copper Mine · AditNow Community

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rufus
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

hi, i wonder if anyone can help, a friend of mine, who is no longer able to help, once went into the mines around red dell area, on a trip down into a mine that was only accessable by abbing in and jumaring out, at the bottom was a large deposit of galena, apparently it was being worked then had a collapse then abandoned, doe 😉 s any one know where this would be?
cheers

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Jeff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

I think you will find that this is a shaft driven at the eastern limit of the Bonsor Vein in Red Dell. It is located "above the path" opposite the Bonsor East Wheel pit/shaft. This is the area close to the Old Engine Shaft/Wheel pit. I never got round to doing this decent but I believe it is about 270/300ft to the bottom and you do have to ascend the same way. It is in relative terms only a small occurrence of the lead/zinc assemblages Galena/Sphalerite.

Hope this helps.
Jeff

rufus
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Hi Jeff
Thanks for your response, is this the Fleming level entrance?
Cheers
Rufus

Jeff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Hi Rufus.

No, Flemings Level is further up in Red Dell past the New Engine Shaft and at the side of the Thriddle Incline.

If you walk up the copper mines track past "miners bridge" and as soon as the copper mines valley opens up take the path up to the right, then turn left after passing the terrace of houses (Irish Row). Stay on the old miners track until you come to a wheel pit on your left (Bonsor East)...the Old Engine Shaft stone tower and larger wheel pit is a few hundred yards ahead.

When you reach the Bonsor East wheel pit, to the right of the track, a short distance up, is a small amount of mine spoil. The entrance is not a level but more an air hole. The decent of this isolated section of Deep Level is still on the Bonsor vein and I believe passes through quite large stopes.

Do remember it is around 300ft deep.

Jeff

rufus
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Cheers Jeff
Ive got my bearings now , I know where you mean now, I am putting a small team together with some
Members of coniston mrt to explore, I will let you know how we get on.
Cheers
Rufus

rufus
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Hi Jeff
Had a look up last weekp and found the shaft as exactly where you described it
Cheers

Jeff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Thanks for that Rufus.

Sharing information and knowledge is what it's all about as far as I'm concerned and this site is a great forum for that.

A few years ago I lived in Coniston and worked at the Ruskin Museum. They have the excellent CD-Rom of the Copper Mines by my old friend Dave Bridge on display and sale. There are about half a dozen photos of this Bonsor East decent/level. You click on - Explore the Mines - Red Dell...then after clicking about 3 photos.

Let me know how you get on? Looks a great trip.

Cheers.
Jeff