Alum ironmongery

MarkS

Moderator
Does anyone know the origin of the big metal thing at the bottom of Alum? Is there anything more to it than simply some junk that was thrown several decades ago? I'm just curious really.

There's a photo of it here for those that don't know what I'm talking about.
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
In CPC circles there is a tale about the Austin brothers using it to place over their heads in an attempt to "dive" the main downstream sump. But that may have an anecdotal aspect to it.  ;)  Then again, having known them, I'd not put it past them to try!

Or is it a kibble that was used to lower and raise early cavers with a winch (possibly horse powered?)?
 

ALEXW

Member
Many years ago (1970?)my physics teacher at school was Frank Addis, he and I were members of the North Manchester Caving Club. We did Alum on ladders and I was told at the time that the tub was used to give tourists trips over the top of the shaft. Apparently on one trip somebody fell out and it was decided that it was probably not a good idea to continue doing it. I believed it at the time and hadn?t really thought about it since. With hindsight I probably deserve the most gullible caver of the year award, but it did make a good story.
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, eh?

ah147 might be nearest the mark . . . .
 

ALEXW

Member
Near the top of the shaft where the stream goes through the wall there is, what appears to be, half of a lorry chassis. Could that and the tank both be parts of some sort of water bowser?
 

mch

Member
Yes, it's definitely a cold water cistern, but it looks a bit big for a domestic tank.
 

Madness

New member
A lot of remote hill properties got there water from a nearby stream usually piped to some sort of tank to make the supply more consistent and reliable. I suspect it's the tank from such a supply. You still see this method of water supply to remote properties when out walking in the hills
 

caving_fox

Active member
ALEXW said:
Many years ago (1970?)my physics teacher at school was Frank Addis, he and I were members of the North Manchester Caving Club. We did Alum on ladders and I was told at the time that the tub was used to give tourists trips over the top of the shaft. Apparently on one trip somebody fell out and it was decided that it was probably not a good idea to continue doing it. I believed it at the time and hadn?t really thought about it since. With hindsight I probably deserve the most gullible caver of the year award, but it did make a good story.

That's always been my favourite explanation for it.
 

Graigwen

Active member
shotlighter said:
Looks suspiciously like an old domestic cold water tank to me.


It looks exactly like my old cold water tank installed in 1938 when the house was built. Same method of construction and same, surprisingly large, size.

As it was old and very rusty I decided to replace it in the 1980s. As it was larger than the loft trapdoor I had to cut it into four pieces which took three angle grinder blades and revealed an implausible thickness of uncorroded steel beneath the rust, it would probably have lasted another fifty years.

.
 
Top