Portal of the great Ernst August Stollen Aug 1986

The Harz mining district around Clausthal, Germany has been remarkable for its silver/lead deposits from early times. The area has high rainfall and in the 16th Century adit tunnels were being driven into the steep valley sides for access and drainage. By the 1750s all the ground laid open by these had been largely worked out and a deep adit (known as George III Deep) was driven from 1777-1799. This was more than 6.5 miles in length. However, by 1851 deeper drainage was needed and a start was made on the Ernst August Stollen (Stollen= adit) which was made navigable for boating out ores. It was completed in 1867, was 14 miles long, had used 100 tons of gunpowder and an incalculable amount of hand labour in drilling. Ultimately, an even deeper water level was driven, but did not reach the surface. The portal of the Ernst August Stollen is a fine castellated affair of typical Teutonic grandeur.

This photograph is by Dickie Bird and was uploaded December 15^th 2014. © Dickie Bird please do not copy or distribute without prior express permission.

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