Caves in the Trough of Bowland

[Lankyman]

A few years ago I was returning back over the Trough of Bowland and decided to stop and take a look at the limestone outcrop on the west side of the road at about SD 627 518. Note: this is not the Trough quarry with the recorded climbing on the opposite side of the road. It's a bit of a scrabbly approach but I could see what looked to be some cave entrances up towards the top. On closer inspection I got the impression that some natural development had been broken into by the quarrying. They are pretty obvious and so I wasn't surprised to find some signs of excavation - there are some old 'spit' type bolts that may have been to help with this? More surprisingly I haven't seen anything online. Does anyone have any knowledge? Apologies if I've blown someone's secret project! I had another look last year and it was just as enigmatic.

 

[Pitlamp]

Worth sending a PM to: bog4053

 

[Andy Walsh]

A few years ago I was returning back over the Trough of Bowland and decided to stop and take a look at the limestone outcrop on the west side of the road at about SD 627 518. Note: this is not the Trough quarry with the recorded climbing on the opposite side of the road. It's a bit of a scrabbly approach but I could see what looked to be some cave entrances up towards the top. On closer inspection I got the impression that some natural development had been broken into by the quarrying. They are pretty obvious and so I wasn't surprised to find some signs of excavation - there are some old 'spit' type bolts that may have been to help with this? More surprisingly I haven't seen anything online. Does anyone have any knowledge? Apologies if I've blown someone's secret project! I had another look last year and it was just as enigmatic.

It is an old ''lead ''mine myself and Eric Holland went in 50 years ago .On the left side (South) end is the top of a spoil heap ,at the top an entrance led to a pitch (down to the valley floor 20m ?down .However a careful traverse over this led to a middle level back to the valley and the other way to a 10m pitch to a drainage level with a stream to the bottom of the valley-we did not go upstream.
Eric Holland was keen to mine the Barium ore(was used in hospitals for Barium meals for X-rays ) For various reasons I did not take up the offer.
Also old coal ?mines -- much higher up above the Trough exist marked as "shafts disused''on the large scale map

 

[Lankyman]

It is an old ''lead ''mine myself and Eric Holland went in 50 years ago .On the left side (South) end is the top of a spoil heap ,at the top an entrance led to a pitch (down to the valley floor 20m ?down .However a careful traverse over this led to a middle level back to the valley and the other way to a 10m pitch to a drainage level with a stream to the bottom of the valley-we did not go upstream.
Eric Holland was keen to mine the Barium ore(was used in hospitals for Barium meals for X-rays ) For various reasons I did not take up the offer.
Also old coal ?mines -- much higher up above the Trough exist marked as "shafts disused''on the large scale map

That's very interesting, Andy. Is it all mined then? To my eyes some of what I recall seeing looks natural although if it was an ore cavity that's been excavated that might look the same. There is a lime kiln beside the road which I assumed was being fed from the quarrying. Are those bolts yours? There might be a small rising nearby beside the Losterdale Brook but that might just be wishful thinking on my part.

 

[Dave-A]

Bowland Mountain Rescue use the quarry face for team practice I think, could the bolts be theirs?

There’s also Sykes Lead Mine in the opposite bank of Losterdale Brook

Sykes - Northern Mine Research Society

Two levels, one of either side of Losterdale Brook, have been driven along the Sykes anticline, which has limestone at its core and runs north eastwards to Whitendale. Faults, especially in the Lower Chert at the top of the Lower Limestone, are mineralised with: blende, galena, copper pyrites...

nmrs.org.uk

 

[Lankyman]

Bowland Mountain Rescue use the quarry face for team practice I think, could the bolts be theirs?

There’s also Sykes Lead Mine in the opposite bank of Losterdale Brook

Sykes - Northern Mine Research Society

Two levels, one of either side of Losterdale Brook, have been driven along the Sykes anticline, which has limestone at its core and runs north eastwards to Whitendale. Faults, especially in the Lower Chert at the top of the Lower Limestone, are mineralised with: blende, galena, copper pyrites...

nmrs.org.uk

Thanks for that, Dave. There's a lot more there than I thought on both sides of the road and brook. Bowland MRT using the quarry would make sense. I can't recall the state of the bolts but they were old looking 8 mm spits I think which made me wonder if they were used for spoil haulage or some such. Either way you might have to be careful not to send anything down onto the road. Wouldn't look good to wipe out a peleton of cyclists ... Next time I'm over the Trough I'm going to have a more closer look. It's interesting that the survey in your link does show some natural stuff.

 

[mikem]

Most metals are found in natural rifts.