Ball Eye Mine

[Gritstone]

Two of us went in yesterday to try and dig out the Sough, initially we started in the wrong place down in the sump (we had no idea where the Sough was) but we both have aspirations for reopening the level, so eventually we started moving the material from the shaft that the green tube goes down. My question is, does this lead to the Sough, and how far down do we need to go to open up the level? We did about a metre of sand and rocks, but after an age wasting time digging in the sump. We are happy to continue but need a bit of background information. Thanks.

 

[Brains]

That shaft is about 3 metres deep and quite large. Full clearance would be safest IMO. Standing at the top beside the green pipe looking down, a white fibreglass water tank is off to the left. Opposite, on the R a low arch leads to the sough. I seem to recall a pipe ran in to it? In winter the sough sumps, but dries up. Check post 17 above for before and after pics of the shaft collapse.

Recently a fence has been erected across the ancient miners path leading up from the road. After consultation with the house owner a stile should be erected?

 

[Brains]

The water tank, if you end up here, it's the other way! It can / could be reached before the collapse by climbing down through the boulders inbye of the green pipe shaft, and doubling back to the left. The sough DOES have a pipe running up it

 

[Gritstone]

Thanks, that gives me an idea of what I'm after. The water tank is almost buried but you can still slide in over the top of it. Mosy of the dig is going down that way though so I recon it will be gone by the time it's finished.

 

[LJR]

When you get to the sough you will find the water pipe goes into a dam built across the coffin level passage.
The dam is about 4 feet thick. It was built with a cement/stone wall on each side and then grout pumped in the centre.
It will take some shifting.

 

[Gritstone]

When you get to the sough you will find the water pipe goes into a dam built across the coffin level passage.
The dam is about 4 feet thick. It was built with a cement/stone wall on each side and then grout pumped in the centre.
It will take some shifting.

Is it impoant for anything or can it go bang!

 

[Brains]

It holds quite a depth of water, almost to the roof for a long way upstream. A gradual release would be preferable to prevent flooding your retreat, damaging the stacked deads that form one wall of the sough or overwhelming the piped sough tail. When the quarry was closed it was possible to enter the workings under its floor. A restricted squeeze down led to a coffin level to a hand dug shaft. This gave access to a branch of the Founterabbey sough, where it has some beautiful pick work. Downstream heads for the dam in deepening water. I have heard no reports about upstream other than that in the PDMHS article with the survey

 

[Brains]

Larryfatcats image from another thread on here. The caver is sitting on a pipe that is built in to the dam, which he has his back against

 

[Gritstone]

It holds quite a depth of water, almost to the roof for a long way upstream. A gradual release would be preferable to prevent flooding your retreat, damaging the stacked deads that form one wall of the sough or overwhelming the piped sough tail. When the quarry was closed it was possible to enter the workings under its floor. A restricted squeeze down led to a coffin level to a hand dug shaft. This gave access to a branch of the Founterabbey sough, where it has some beautiful pick work. Downstream heads for the dam in deepening water. I have heard no reports about upstream other than that in the PDMHS article with the survey

I figured a slow release was the way to go, the plan was top down, however that may be difficult given the dimensions of the thing. Not to worry, first job is regain access. Thanks for the advice though.
I had been in via the quarry workings a long time ago but can't remember how. I should have paid more attention.

 

[LJR]

P

I figured a slow release was the way to go, the plan was top down, however that may be difficult given the dimensions of the thing. Not to worry, first job is regain access. Thanks for the advice though.
I had been in via the quarry workings a long time ago but can't remember how. I should have paid more attention.

Previously, before we put the dam in, you could work your way through from Ruggs Hall, down a hand-picked shaft and along the coffin level and come out by where the tank is now.
The dam was put in to provide water for the spar washing plant that was across the road before the current set up.

 

[Brains]

I had thought it was a drinking water supply for the nearby houses. Can't imagine it was particularly healthy for that use!

The quarry entrance (the daylight bit) has filled up with silt etc from wet weather run off and is not enterable. As and when the quarry closes it may be possible to dig it out, and if still in one piece regain access to the sough from upstream as we described...

 

[AR]

I had thought it was a drinking water supply for the nearby houses. Can't imagine it was particularly healthy for that use!

You may be confusing it with Carnhill Wife Sough which drains the east side of the quarry, that used to be the water supply for the houses above Masson Mills.

 

[LJR]

The dam was put in in the early 1990’s. At that time the old washing plant opposite (Horace Taylor Minerals) was bought by Swan Minerals (owned by the infamous Andy Smith). They then cleared the old plant ant built a new one. However, they had a water supply problem. The solution was to dam the sough, pipe the water to the tank and then pump it out of the mine, down the hill and under the road via the old sough exit, to the works.You might still see bits of blue pipe outside where cavers have uprooted it. At the same time, various entrances were concreted up and the steel gate installed.
The whole project eventually failed and the water system fell out of use. The pump and other fittings got nicked and bits got ripped out.
We, TL Mining, were contracted to build the dam and install all the water system and block entrances.

 

[Gritstone]

The sun is open however stumped so I wouldn't get excited took three days to dig out the tailings and stones that were blocking the entrance.
Removing the whole fill was not possible due to a large boulder that moved as the fill bellow was removed.
That is now propped, but make sure you are happy with it before committing, it will make an epic headstone.
I've started digging a trench to move the water faster but it's not moving through the breakthrough chamber ast so will take an age to clear. If ever. I have plans to deal with the dam too, but that won't be this side of a very dry spell, and very low water.
It's ope though.

 

[Brains]

The sough flows from L to R as you come to it. The dig and water tank are off the line of flow. Downstream is rather choked!
Roll on a dry summer

 

[Gritstone]

The sough flows from L to R as you come to it. The dig and water tank are off the line of flow. Downstream is rather choked!
Roll on a dry summer

Downstreem is choked but it's shifting water really well, the blockage after the entrance is holding the water back. I'll see if I can sort that out soon but it's a fair job. The water is lovely and warm though so a pleasure to wallow in

 

[Gritstone]

Back again to check on levels to find the big boulder had moved the gap detween boulder and wall now about five inches instead of the original two, size matters so I'm told so, I took the decision to dig out a pit behind the boulder and try to coax it away from the pit, if it went wrong then at least it was no more or less blocked than before.
Three hours of roasting in a wetsuit I was wearing to go into the Sough and the mission was a success. The boulder is now much happier, and so was I.
Sough is still full of water and doesn't look like being enterable for quite some time but it's safe enough now, although some stabilisation of the tailings/ rocks the boulder is on would be preferable.
Also, if you are intending a visit over the summer, I would recommend going in via the back over what's left viable of the water tank. There is still a boulder perched over the shaft held up by the pack wall and also some loose stuff on the shaft wall.
Enjoy.