Castleton mineral collection

[Lankyman]

I recently found this reminder of my youth when Mum and Dad used to take us to the Peak to visit the various show caves. It must date back to the early seventies. Does anyone recognise it or know which particular cave/shop I would have got it from?

 

[pwhole]

My guess is Treak Cliff, but only as I've always felt that they give a shit about the business they're in (even when I went on school trips), rather than just raking in the cash.

 

[LadyMud]

I had one of those! Mine came from the little museum and gift shop which used to be next door to Poole's Cavern in Buxton.
(Not sure if it said Castleton, though)

 

[Mrs Trellis]

One of the three show caves (not Peak) and/or one of the gift shops also owned by the show cave owners. Unlike Phil (whom God preserve) I'd guess Speedwell.

 

[Lankyman]

I had one of those! Mine came from the little museum and gift shop which used to be next door to Poole's Cavern in Buxton.
(Not sure if it said Castleton, though)

We went to all the Castleton caves but for some reason I don't think we ever went to Poole's. Which is odd considering we went a lot further to visit some relativley obscure underground sites like Great Masson/Rutland and Crich tram museum (not my idea!). Perhaps there was an entrepreneur placing their product in the obvious places?

 

[traff]

I had one of those, mine definitely came from Treak Cliff.

 

[Boy Engineer]

I certainly had that set, white cardboard box with a clear plastic top. Think mine came from Powers’ Sports Depot in Green Lane, Derby, around 1970. Got it about the same time as my Whitehouse geological hammer (still with me). The chap who ran the shop, one Harry Briggs, organised walks in the Peak. On one of them he covered the geology of Wirksworth and the Via Gellia. Remember seeing the entrance of Goodluck Mine in the very early 70s; little did I know of the enduring friendships that would follow a few years later from that site.

 

[T pot 2]

Waker woodhall from 'Tidza' used to put these together and sell them to the outlets mentioned.

 

[Goydenman]

We sold them for a while at Peak Cavern when I was a guide. Remember American from Boston asking in amazing accent 'can I have a box of rocks'

 

[Lankyman]

My guess is Treak Cliff, but only as I've always felt that they give a shit about the business they're in (even when I went on school trips), rather than just raking in the cash.

The guide at Treak could see I was a budding cave nut and snuck off into the workings to get me a fist-sized chunk of Blue John. I kept it in an old margarine tub but sadly haven't seen it for many years.

 

[Edz]

This is mine from Peak Cavern, sometimes in the late 70's

 

[Lankyman]

This is mine from Peak Cavern, sometimes in the late 70's

I was wondering if someone else would post a picture of their version. Yours is definitely in far better nick.