Eldon Hole Thoughts

[SamT]

Merged the topics - and as for the poll - none of the above...

I really don't think there is any need to 'empty' it completely, that approach is completely over egging the mix.

Rubble shoots, cranes, dumper trucks ya de da de da. and it would take man years of effort.

EPC started a nice little shaft in the floor thats still going, why not sort that out to some sort of conclusion (i,e. until it hits a solid floor) for all we know - that could be Lloyds/Kings shaft.

 

[DAN]

I think the way forward is to build a scaffold with ladders at the far end so people can climb up out the way of anything falling. I would use a Mini skip on the Jib, you might even be able to use a clamb grab. Conveyor belt would have to be drapped down the sides of the hole to prevent damage occuring to the shaft. A Dieselor LPG mini digger could be lowered down the shaft for loading. But failing that man power would do. The permision would be the problem DCA would need to sort it? Moose are you not interested?? I have been thinking about this for a while it can be done mainly with machines.

 

[Brains]

Mechanisation would make for much greater efficency, but perhaps not to the aescetic levels of a more traditional dig such as that already in existence. Also, any finds in the debris could be missed or damaged at depth even if recovered from the spoil on the surface

 

[DAN]

Sam I think having dug in there, digging deep shafts in Eldon will allways be very Dangerous because of the size of the Rubble which is mainly small. If Eldon where dug properly it would be see a result at some time, where as it is very unlikely you will ever get anywhere digging shafts. It has to be emtyed.

 

[DAN]

After getting as far down as archeolagy i think other people would get involved but that would be a long way down 30 or 40 feet at least. I think the TV would be interested we may even be able to get funding?

 

[Brains]

I can just see Baldrick and some hairy beer swilling types gurning for TV with tales of scorched chickens. Bring them on I say!

Incidentally Mrs Trellis, why do you say only open from the Bronze age? Why not earlier (or later?)

 

[DAN]

There will be all sorts of stuff down there Bones, people......

 

[Speleotron]

This sounds great I'd love to help with this. There would probably  be a lot of enthusiasm in the first few weeks but would people still be keen after a year? Also, if we use a top-down approach to emptying it, once wev'e emptied the main shaft how do we get the rocks out of the chamber into the shaft? Kibble dragging would take forever surely?

 

[Brains]

The Grand Days Out seemed to have kept a good level of enthusiasm by spacing out the effort rather every weekend.
Wheelbarrows (mechanical or otherwise) could bring the debris to shaft bottom once the floor has been lowered sufficiently.
Where theres a will theres a... relative?

 

[Goydenman]

Being able to break the project down into goals wouild be useful. e.g. Just the restoration of being able to walk through from the shaft to the chamber (as was pre-victorian period) would be an achievement in itself. But then provides a base from which to work on the chamber to get the ultimate goal of finding the way on.

 

[SamT]

I think the way forward is to build a scaffold with ladders at the far end so people can climb up out the way of anything falling. I would use a Mini skip on the Jib, you might even be able to use a clamb grab. Conveyor belt would have to be drapped down the sides of the hole to prevent damage occuring to the shaft. A Dieselor LPG mini digger could be lowered down the shaft for loading. But failing that man power would do. The permision would be the problem DCA would need to sort it? Moose are you not interested?? I have been thinking about this for a while it can be done mainly with machines.

Permission is almost certainly a show stopper there, I cant see the Peak Park/E.N. giving consent for the above, its tantamount to quarrying....and, as I said before, somewhat over doing it I reckon.
I think a huge about could be achieved in the chamber itself by simply re-arranging stuff down there and building retaining walls etc out of gabians. 

I'd better butt out as I cant see myself having the time to get involved with the project in any meaningful way anyhows.

 

[Speleotron]

If they dont give permission then whats the alternative? Could there be a smaller scale emptying job? It would be nice to restore Eldon to its former glory rather than having to crawl through some very dogy scaff tunnels to get to the streamway. Maybe if we stressed the possible Roman finds etc it would help obtain permission?

 

[Servo]

If they dont give permission then whats the alternative? Could there be a smaller scale emptying job? It would be nice to restore Eldon to its former glory rather than having to crawl through some very dogy scaff tunnels to get to the streamway. Maybe if we stressed the possible Roman finds etc it would help obtain permission?

In my experience things like this will hinder permission. You will end up having to jump through all sorts of hoops, arrange funding and archaeologists etc.

 

[Speleotron]

If permission fails then maybe use a similar winch to the Titan one, have people retreat to the main chamber while its hauling, use a quat+trailer to haul the spoil away, maybe to Eldon quarry, would any of the powers that be even notice?

 

[alastairgott]

MR SPELEOTRON firstly on an unrelated note can i have my roll mat back at some point today HEHE.
and secondly SAMT said that  permission would be a showstopper because of the thought of the LPG digger.

(is your phone not working?)

 

[Speleotron]

Sure are you coming to the TSG? I dont have a phone at the moment I took the last one through Yordas. What I meant was that if permission is denied for the large scale operation (diggers, cranes etc) then could we still empty the cave, but on a smaller scale? Like using the Titan winch, fillling by hand at the bottom then quadbike to remove spoil?

 

[alastairgott]

Speleotron you have a PM (that's in the "my messages" section at the top!)

 

[DAN]

The digger is a could be, but if enough people get involved its just a matter of time! Moose did it with Titan this could be Titans big brother, there are two many people who are easily defeated. If the farmer says yes, the powers that be will most likely impose restrictions that will have to followed. They will proberbly be as interested as us. Permision from the farmer is all down to how it is worded! But playing on the finds that might be down there would help.

 

[Goydenman]

Would the farmer be persuaded by using initial stone to build a beter wall around the hole leaving gate for access to remove further stone - just a thought

 

[Brains]

Would also help loose some of the spoil if a good thick one was built. Might have to cement the top down though, apparently three (or more) walls have already been thrown in!