Hi again
Here is a brief description of the exploration of Raddlepits Mine in the early 70's (this mine was known then as Moss Rake Mine) Persons involved in the exploration were from the Pegasus Caving Club & BEC
The descent into the shaft was achieved using electron ladder & lifeline to the bottom of the shaft (360') where the cartgate is located. This cartgate ran for approx 150' to a crosscut level in the base of the floor that went north for approx 500' (the cartgate is now unaccesable because of collapse) We then used the climbing shasft at the 120' level (where the platform is today) to further the explorations. From this level you have spiral staircase going up with tipping truck at the top,
this level used to lead via climbing shafts to a voice connection at the surface. From the 120' platform going down a series of other climbing shafts lead to other large levels going east and west. The level that was the most interesting was the one that had to be accessed for the cartgate in the sole of the mine (the collapse now makes this impossible but with a little work it could be reopened) directly after the collapse ther are two water worn seemingly natural shafts going up, the first is the one that requires climbing, at the top of this you access anonother set of climbing shafts that take you into a series of levels that yuo cannot get into from the main shaft. The best level is another cartgate the has gritstone arches that lead via ore chutes into a large phreatic back filled level. This level is some 12' x 8' high headiding east & west, it was possible to crawl over the backfill in both directions for some considerable distance. I hope that this brief description is enough to answer a few questions.
Here are another few things that happen way back then
Tony Jarret found x2 pewter t'owd man water bottles, clay pipes and a selection of tools at the far end of the bottom cart gate.
The collapse it the bottom cartgate was caused by myself, I had to be rescued from there !
If you look in Jarrets logbooks this is all there to be read (1974 I think)
In the 80's A Medhurst & Buster took an interest in the mine, The Kibble that was on rails at the 120' level was retrieved and taken to Pindale outdoor centre where it still stands today.
Others have looked at this mine over the years but have not managed to find the phreatic passage at the back of the gritstone arches. The keystones of which if I remember correctly have the initials JH chisled into them.
That brings to mind another undescended mine that has a gritstone arch at approx 20' from surface that has the same initials( James Hall) I wonder, but thats another story.
T pot