Hanging flat mine

Alex

Well-known member
Considering the size of the mine 200~m there has got to be more to find as in natural passages in there when the draft is like this! It wasn't even that warmer day! Merlin's for comparison or even Carlswalk where barely drafting at all.

Video of Hanging flat draft

I had a look at those chokes and after a lot of squirming did find a small shaft down but had nothing to rig it from. Did not look like anyone had been there and I only noticed the note in the guidebook that you should not enter these bits afterwards lol. Been in worse chokes though.
 

2xw

Active member
It has shafts that drop down into it from the slope above which might explain the draft. There's some natural close to the entrance on the left branch as you go in, a phreatic in the wall on the left that continues right, which I'd guess is probably related to whatever the Layby Shelter dig a few metres away goes into.
I started digging it solo but the mines haunted so I stopped
 

Rob

Well-known member
I too have noticed a good outward draught at the entrance but only on a warm day, when I too assumed it's heading down the shaft above and out via the right hand level. Did you notice inside where the draught was originating from. The fans do mean that any new draught is definitely worth investigating...
 

Alex

Well-known member
Did you notice inside where the draught was originating from. The fans do mean that any new draught is definitely worth investigating...
I think it was coming from the right-hand branch, I did not really notice it while investigating the chokes. If I had to guess you might be right Rob it's coming from shafts higher, up that little ladder. Unfortunately the passage at the top seemed blocked.
I started digging it solo but the mines haunted so I stopped
I am intrigued, I did feel a little nervous in there but then it was a dodgy mine and I was on my own. It was only dug in the 1970s though, so even if spirits like this do exist, this mine seems like a poor candidate. If I lived closer I would definitely spend some time digging it, but damn getting through that last mile on the M67 (And A road leading into Glossup) takes an hour! I can't be bothered doing that every time I want to go to the Peak.
 

pwhole

Well-known member
If I lived closer I would definitely spend some time digging it, but damn getting through that last mile on the M67 (And A road leading into Glossup) takes an hour! I can't be bothered doing that every time I want to go to the Peak.
If you hang a right at that last M67 roundabout before Mottram Hell starts, there's a more scenic route via Broadbottom that brings you back out at Glossop golf course, at the very start of the Snake - we often use it on the way home from Manchester jobs. It's probably no quicker, but far prettier, and you won't end up with steering wheel impressions on your forehead from the frustration. Or if you want to avoid the Snake entirely head further south via Hayfield on the A624.
 

2xw

Active member
I am intrigued, I did feel a little nervous in there but then it was a dodgy mine and I was on my own. It was only dug in the 1970s though, so even if spirits like this do exist, this mine seems like a poor candidate. If I lived closer I would definitely spend some time digging it, but damn getting through that last mile on the M67 (And A road leading into Glossup) takes an hour! I can't be bothered doing that every time I want to go to the Peak.

There's lots of stories on the web somewhere. Apparently there's an abandoned house above the mine that belonged to Cornelius Brushfield, some religious fanatic who didn't engage with the village. People have heard shouting from in there etc. After about two hours digging I heard people shouting at the end of the left branch, went to have a look and noone there.

Might all be bollocks, I'd be happy to return with a digging partner but on my own it's impossible to distinguish between a haunting and simply going mad 😂
 

Katie

Active member
There's lots of stories on the web somewhere. Apparently there's an abandoned house above the mine that belonged to Cornelius Brushfield, some religious fanatic who didn't engage with the village. People have heard shouting from in there etc. After about two hours digging I heard people shouting at the end of the left branch, went to have a look and noone there.

Might all be bollocks, I'd be happy to return with a digging partner but on my own it's impossible to distinguish between a haunting and simply going mad 😂
The house above hanging flat is awesome. Great stone lintels and stone mullioned windows. I go there quite a bit with the dogs and think it a great spot, but never heard of it as haunted before!
 

Chocolate fireguard

Active member
The house above hanging flat is awesome. Great stone lintels and stone mullioned windows. I go there quite a bit with the dogs and think it a great spot, but never heard of it as haunted before!
In the late 60s/early 70s we used to camp above the house, beside an old barn (now just a pile of rubble), when caving in Stonydale and doing pub crawls round the (then) 7 pubs in Eyam and Stony.
We never saw nor heard any ghosts, although there were plenty of stories about old Cornelius still doing his stuff, in the mine and on top.
An earlier post said the mine was dug in the 1970s.
I think it dates from well before that, but I am happy to be corrected.
 

pwhole

Well-known member
According to Nellie Kirkham in British Caver, Vol 25, 1954, a Samuel Needham and his brother lived at Hanging Flat House in the last part of the 19th century, and they worked the level for fluorspar, not lead. This was in Doug Nash's archive. There's no further info on any earlier working than that. The 20th century working began in 1954 and ended some time in the 1970s.
 

royfellows

Well-known member
I can remember a wooden hut that lead into the open portal, this would have been in the late 1980s.
I often go in there on my own these days as I find it apleasant underground stroll. I am quite comfortable in the there.
 

T pot 2

Active member
According to Nellie Kirkham in British Caver, Vol 25, 1954, a Samuel Needham and his brother lived at Hanging Flat House in the last part of the 19th century, and they worked the level for fluorspar, not lead. This was in Doug Nash's archive. There's no further info on any earlier working than that. The 20th century working began in 1954 and ended some time in the 1970s.
John broadbent a spar getter worked hanging flat into the early part of the eighties sending his product up to then Laporte minerals at Cavendish mill, this was after closing ladywash mine and removing the headgear at glebe mine in eyam, other spar getters at that time were jack Edison at moss rake and after laporte left hollandtwine he continued to extract spar, Trevor Broadhurst at long rake and high rake too, new venture was open casted by Roy howchin,
Stanley sidebottom extracted from New rake and moss rake.
T pot
 

2xw

Active member
I think it would be scarier to find Roy in there than some other haunting spectre :D

Anyways apparently I'm not the only one, I'm sure I read somewhere that Mr Beck heard shouting when they were filming whatever TV programme used the fake rocks
 

pwhole

Well-known member
A couple of scraps from Nellie Kirkham - from different notes:

May 26th 1959.Met Monty Grainger at Moss Rake. We wen to Stony Middleton Dale, walked along Brushfield Rake to Hanging Flat. Monty has surveyed it for Mr. Elliott. There is a great hole, a run - in down onto the mine. West of North of the ruined Hanging Flat House. They are removing a hillock just above, It is on a steep piece of ground and they are using a horse and cart, they could not get a lorry up to it.

Monty said he didn't see the ghost 'not like the one at Hanging Flat ' He had often been heard walking about and muttering, quite a number of people had seen him, but 'he doesn't answer when spoken to. He is an old man with his spade over his shoulder, he has been seen on the surface and in the mine and is supposed to be the old man who lived at Hanging Flat House. Once when two of the miners had arrived and were in Hanging Flat Mine going to their work, they thought a man behind them was their mate and said 'your late this morning' - and he vanished away.
 

Mark

Well-known member
Hanging flat house, with the family standing outside, not sure of the date


71C79643-A688-4191-B6F6-190F149104E7.jpeg
 
They are brilliant photos Mark.

I used to go on John Broadbents wagon when he was opencasting the Rake at Hanging Flat in the mid 80's. Proper character was John same as a few T-Pot mentions.
 

ism

New member
An engraving published in 1817 - doesn't the dale look so much better without the rampant tree cover !

20220524_083843_HDR-1.jpg
 
Top