Devonshire Mine

[blakey]

Bad news I am afraid people.

I was in Devonshire with a group on Friday, then again on Sunday, within that period of time someone has been in there with pink and green spray paint and covered the place in arrows and smiley faces.

Anyone know what progress there is with the door being sorted so it will lock?

On another note, anyone about this week to head in for a clean up? Although, I kind of feel this fruitless until the door is sorted to act as a deterrent.

 

[Pete K]

Got a bit of time over the next few weeks so may be able to help. Drop an email to PICA to see if we can't accelerate the fix. Happy to lend my 'done a bit of walling and cementing' skills.

 

[martinm]

Bad news I am afraid people.

I was in Devonshire with a group on Friday, then again on Sunday, within that period of time someone has been in there with pink and green spray paint and covered the place in arrows and smiley faces.

Anyone know what progress there is with the door being sorted so it will lock?

On another note, anyone about this week to head in for a clean up? Although, I kind of feel this fruitless until the door is sorted to act as a deterrent.

Contact one of the DCA C&A team, see:- http://thedca.org.uk/home/contacts/canda-contacts

Not me though, I'm on a conservation course this Wednesday & Thursday.

 

[Stu]

On another note, anyone about this week to head in for a clean up? Although, I kind of feel this fruitless until the door is sorted to act as a deterrent.

Yes, Thursday.

 

[AR]

I took a look at the door a couple of weeks back and I think I can do something quick to get it to shut properly - I'll go down tomorrow night and see if I can sort it. However, the frame still needs properly pinning into its surround otherwise there's a real risk it could be pried out, so what's needed is the frame and surround drilling for long bolts or studding.

 

[owd git]

:

 

[AR]

I'll be on site about 7.30 this evening....

 

[Pete K]

I'm sorry I can't join you Adam as I'm off with a back problem today. I've asked PICA secretary to put me in contact with the person who was intending to organise this but also said that we could probably pull together the Knotlow crew again for the work. I'm keen to get this sorted now as I thought it was done already and I'd hate to have to spend ages scrubbing graffiti off the walls. This must be something that the DCA and PICA can finance again.

 

[AR]

Thanks Pete, what I'm going to do tonight is only to resolve the door not closing but I'll take a wire brush too and start removing the crap. Fixing the frame is the next priority, I'm still looking at the possibility of building up a stepped packwall to replace the ladder but if that goes ahead it'll probably be next year.

 

[blakey]

More bad news people

Just been back in with a group, took a brush and started removing bits en-route.

However....

Someone has been camping in their and abandoned a festival tent, cans, fag ends, crisps, general rubbish. This rubbish is at the bottom of the steps down from the main chamber. I removed some with what space I had in my tackle bag but it needs probably two big black bags.

As long as work doesnt get silly I can potentially come along Thu night.

Also I believe we were being followed by the culprit whilst underground, at various points within the mine was the strong smell of drugs however he/she never showed their face despite me looking.

 

[AR]

I'll bring a black bag with me tonight.....

 

[Stu]

Still free Thursday if needed.

 

[AR]

The good news is that I've removed the rubbish and scrubbed most of the arrows/graffiti off before my wire brush gave up the ghost, but if anyone else feels inclined to go in with a wire brush and mop up the last few please do!

The bad news is that the gate still won't close, I tried filing the bolt keeper down to give the door a bit more clearance to shut but to no avail. The frame is badly distorted and looking at it with my blacksmith's head on, it needs heat to straighten it so it fits in position and can be bolted in properly. Unfortunately, I don't possess or have access to an oxy-acetylene or propane rig to do this, anyone in the Peak know where one might be borrowed for a day?

 

[nickwilliams]

Hucklow Digging Supplies has everything you need.

Nick.

 

[AR]

Thanks for the offer Nick, thinking on, it might be less hassle to take the gate to the gas torch rather than the other way round. I'll run that by DCA and see what they think.

 

[AR]

One thing I forgot to mention is that I found the cap off the green spray paint used by the perpetrators, it came from a motor factors with branches in Ripley, Heanor, and Derby so unfortunately the muppets responsible are fairly local.

 

[owd git]

A mate was in wed' eve. he  said 'an organised' trip (15) were on the pitches SRT training. and shit / two tents scattered. to top it off a wise person wedged the door shut with all mentioned inside. if his sons arm hadn't been so slim the rock used to wedge  the door would have trapped all of them ( asuming they didn't think to use the upper entrance/ exit).
Is access not restricted? espessially groups?
a local might just sort the issue. 

 

[EwanCameron]

DCA and others have been working on getting to door sorted ASAP

Will update when I know more

But I think all would agree that it now needs to be done ASAP

Ewan
DCA Access officer

 

[Jenny P]

Arrangements are being made to fix the gate as soon as possible but it will be a fairly major job as it needs straightening before it can be made to close.  It is also intended to remove the ladder just inside the gate and replace this with stone-built steps, more in keeping with the place.

Once the gate is back in place and able to be closed, it will have the standard "Derbyshire Key" fitting so that instructed groups and local cavers can use it without problems but it will be secured against casual entry.  Hopefully this will also keep out the nerks and spray-painters who have been causing all the trouble and ensure that the local people are not bothered.

As yet I don't know when the job will be done - a.s.a.p. we hope - but we'll keep you posted.

Jenny Potts,
DCA Hon. Sec.