I don't think I am giving any secrets away here, but before Christmas a gentleman contacted me for a shot of Magpie Sough tail which I had taken in the 70s to illustrate a report he was preparing on "green energy" in the Peak District and amongst other suggestions was to use the considerable outfall from Magpie Sough to power a generator/turbine. This would involve damming up the sough via some form of coffer dam, to provide sufficient 'head'. I dare say those in the PDMHS will be aware of the idea but I would guess that there would be vigorous opposition from the local fishermen and, of course, Chatsworth Estates would have to give their blessing. I understand, also, that English Nature, who manage the nature reserve in Lathkilldale would like to see the sough dammed in order to allow the supply to the Lathkill to be resorted to it's former glory before the soughers had their evil way!

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It's my understanding that the report investigates using the flow of some of the major soughs (Magpie, Hillcarr, etc.) for micro-generation but concluded that with present technology the output wouldn't justify the setup costs at Magpie.
Personally, I'd suggest diverting the sough flow into the old millpond and getting the old bobbin mill wheels driving generators! :lol:

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The last trip I made up Magpie Sough was about November, 1962, just before the very dicey sough tail collapsed and blocked the sough. Paul Deakin accompanied by my ex No.2 and myself went and surveyed from the "Boil-up" (the source of the water in the sough) right up to the main shaft. Nick Butcher and Trevor Ford later used our basic survey in their article on Magpie Sough (will give the name and date of the article at a later date as I can't remember it offhand and haven't got time at present to go in looking for it on PDMHS website - too busy with Butterley!). The "boil-up" remained constant but wasn't an enormous spring, and I agree with AR's comments, especially about getting the old Coate's (they of cotton reel fame) bobbin mill wheels driving generators. After the sough tail collapsed during the winter of 1962/63 there was a great build up of water, and the pressure must have been enormous as I remember at a later date walking along the river bank and seeing masses of springs of water flowing out of all kinds of crevices on the wooded hillside that had never been there before. I don't remember anything being said at the time about more water flowing in the Lathkill either! So presumably the blockage didn't affect the Lathkill.

To my mind, also having been up Hillcarr sough to the blockage, there seemed a lot more water flowing out of the sough tail there, than at Magpie sough tail. I understand from a friend that there are major falls in Hillcarr sough these days which is making a difference to the water table in the Alport area, with springs flowing where they didn't before.

Don't forget Meerbrook sough has been used as a major water supply for years. First by the Heanor and Ilkeston Water Company, then the Trent Water Company and now Severn/Trent Water.

If the soughs had never been driven, it makes one wonder what the situation would be now!

The article is "The Geology of Magpie Sough and Mine" -- N.J.D. Butcher and it's in Volume 6, no. 2

I suggested diverting the sough tail flow into the pond is that one of the reasons Chatsworth aren't keen on regular access is that going up the sough stirs up sediment which gets out into the river and upsets the anglers, so if the silt was going into the millpond there wouldn't be a problem.... :lol:

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I remember water coming from all those places in the hillside too - and looking down the sough tail shaft after the "plug" had been blown out by the build up of pressure - impressive!
With regard to drainage of Lathkill Dale, the fishery was developed there after Magpie Sough was opened - which would indicate that it caused no problems. The re-opening of the sough corresponded with an exceptionally dry Summer. There has been regular drying out of the river bed since then but other reasons need to be looked for (and English Nature made aware). The river bed is (almost?) entirely man made and the hydrology of the Lathkill Dale has changed too - Critchlow Cave never used to flood but it does now! It is interesting to look at the dates mining ceased in Lathkill Dale and at what else started before, during and after that time.
Lathkill Dale Sough was blocked in order to keep the river above ground - worth comparing dates again.

The London Lead Company worked Lathkilldale quite extensively in the 1770s and I'm guessing there's a lot of stoped-out ground where the vein goes under the valley floor. With the sough already bricked up upstream of Bateman's House shaft I can't see what else you could do to stop the river getting into the old workings short of reopening every shaft and working along the way and sealing it, then digging the river bed up and putting an impermeable liner under it! :lol:

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I've added some pictures of last years trip. Sadly we couldn't quite get to the shaft, this being the limit of our exploration.

[photo]Magpie-Sough-Iron-Mine-User-Album-Image-46276[/photo]

The muddying of the river was evident when we came out but as soon as we were all out it cleared very quickly.

ttxela - I remember that place! In mine exploration there are some places that you feel you need to see and when you have you have no real wish to return (and that one is horribly loose)!
Re. Lathkill Dale - there is no way of knowing if the river ever ran continuously above ground. The river bed near the site of the largest waterwheel has a brick/stone bottom, built like the floor of a culvert. Other parts must have a puddled clay bottom (an impermeable lining!). There stone lined banks and the supports for fishermen's bridges (which can be seen in an 1860's photograph, as can hillsides devoid of trees and the aqueduct peirs at full height). A photograph of a fishing party (near Bateman's House?) post dates the opening of Magpie Sough.The River Dove would also run part underground (like the Manifold) if it were not for the weirs and puddling put in by fishermen.
It all adds to the fun of trying to work out has happened and what is happening now!

ttxela - I remember that place! In mine exploration there are some places that you feel you need to see and when you have you have no real wish to return (and that one is horribly loose)!

It does look slightly hairy, the roof stayed up whilst I was there though which was all I really required of it :lol: Had to go right up to the sign of course. A terrible shame we couldn't get to the bottom of the shaft 😞 I'd love another trip, I wonder if I'll get the chance?