Charlestown Limestone mine Scotland

Mine exploration, photographs and mining history for mine explorers, industrial archaeologists, researchers and historians

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fonzie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Was wandering if anyone had been to these recently? How far they go and How is the air quality, had a quick look inside earlier and was pretty impressed, doesnt look like many people have been down there, lots of old miners water flasks around and very clean!!! any info would be great as returning on Tuesday

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RichardB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

I've been down a few times but as far as I knew only a tiny bit was accessible, with the rest being flooded and/or backfilled.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30854514@N08/sets/72157624115125304/

I'd be very interested if you've found more though.

fonzie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

We entered near the west road down a very slippery slope! There where 2 entrances in front of us then it branched off to the left, from there it opened up with 4 potential routes, i took one though stopped just beside a small wooden gate that looks like it would have had something to do with the tracks, there was some flooding but on examination didnt look to difficult to swim ( wetsuit+lifejacket+safetyline) through, water was very clear and looks to be around 50 feet plus at a few points, we didnt come across the cortina ( maybe hotwired and stolen?) on google maps there looks to be another mine with the quarry north to that? Youre photos look great , returning to the mine tomorrow,

Scott 😎

Being nice is a sound investment

RichardB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

If you went down where I'm thinking there are about six adits along the hillside, although you can only really enter the ones at each end.

The quarry to the north did have entrances but that's the one that's been filled in since the Google image was taken, it looks like the East Quarry across the road now.

The Cortina was north of the north-most adit. You could potentially work your way from there all the way to the other end of the quarry, though water, collapses and air quality might scupper you. I don't know how far west the workings extend but it was clearly a large scale operation so they could go quite far- though again maybe not explorable.

I'm glad you like my pictures, I've been meaning to go back and get some better ones. I'll be interested to hear how you get on tomorrow.

fonzie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Hi Richard i havent returned to Charlestown yet due to other commitments but will be returning within the next week for more photos, did you find any blue miners flask/water bottles when you where there? Was wandering if you knew how old they where? I'll keep you updated upon my next visit and hope to post some interesting photos up soon,

Scott

Being nice is a sound investment

minewalker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

I was last in there good 3 years ago with the Caving club, we didn't try to push through any water and therefore couldn't go very far.I do remember a very rotten timber prop holding up an even dodgier section of roof about the size of a car that was best avoided.Not a bad wee mine, when we were there last there was a bit of a smell from sewage from somewhere.

We do quite a lot of local mines as the area is a bit short of real caves. your welcome to look on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf# !/groups/103384559696679/
http://www.gsg.org.uk/ ::)

fonzie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Hey all, i returned yeaterday morning along with wetsuit and mask and went for a swim, looks like the dry section is only a small part of what we are seeing, going to return with my aqualung that provides 20 minutes of air and have a better look, a few pools look around 30 feet plus, next time im going to purposely look on the drier side whilst planning my swim , thanks minewalker i'll have a look at youre page now, i had a break from caves and mines fir a few years and focused on abandoned building but getting more involved again

Being nice is a sound investment