Mine conservation, particularly regarding Snake Mine

[JB]

Had a trip down Snake Mine yesterday with the cavers who have recently equipped the mine at their own expense. After this was raised on here they took the initiative and contacted English Heritage when made clear to them that permission is needed before you go drilling holes down a scheduled monument. English Heritage have taken the matter seriously. They value the good relationship that they have with cavers/mine explorers but will potentially take action if cavers modify these places without permission.

Some info about consent needed before doing work in scheduled monuments here: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/advice/our-planning-role/consent/smc/

Details of scheduled monuments on the English Heritage website at: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/protection/process/national-heritage-list-for-england/

Map based search at: http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/mapsearch.aspx

Equipping parts of known caves/mines with anchors because you feel like it isn't on either for various reasons. Contact the DCA Equipment Officer - Bob Dearman - equipment@thedca.org.uk if you know of somewhere that needs equipping and if you're available to help out so much the better. We have an anchor program that is working very well with plenty of installers and a good supply of anchors and materials. The DCA/BCA anchor program would have been a better long-term solution here.

As regards chiselling initials into rock I'm pretty certain that the initials were scribed into mud and they've been removed. You won't notice a thing now.

The cavers involved have done some good work for the right reasons but weren't aware of some of the issues surrounding modifying protected caves/mines or installing anchors. The discussion has been had and this can be put to bed now.

I hadn't been in before but thought it was a really good trip!

Jules.

 

[zomjon]

Jules, I can't agree with some of your statements here. The inscription was in the rock as Adam would verify and I buried them in mud. Cavers like Ric (Owd Git - who at his own expense capped the engine shaft) and myself have regularly been descending this mine for quite a few years and have built up a good relationship with Rosie, the owner. Did the new bolters even bother to gain Rosie's permission? The place is a fragile and very valuable environment that deserves full respect!

 

[JB]

I was there to have a look at the anchors for the DCA Equipment Officer so that DCA know the extent of the work that was done.

I only mentioned the initials because it cropped up on the trip. The cavers who did it told me that the initials were scratched into mud with a rock. When I got to the spot that they identified there was just a muddy flat surface which had obviously been smoothed over recently. No sign of any initials. I didn't realise that you had already covered anything with mud afterwards. So, you might well be right about this but I'm not sure there's any merit in pursuing it.

Anyone who's done the Giants-Oxlow connection will understand why Eldon members can't get too uptight about scratching stuff onto walls anyway.

Jules, I can't agree with some of your statements here.

You say statements implying more than one? I didn't mention anything about permission from the landowner. I don't know if they asked the landowner if they could specifically install these anchors. Again, I don't see any point pursuing it.

In case anyone thinks these cavers have got away with it - they haven't. It really has been dealt with in the right way by EH.

Jules.

 

[owd git]

whilst I too didn't really like a bit of scratching. the rigging is to be apreciated for its delivering  options of attacking t' 250ft' shaft.
Did you explore more than the short through trip Jules?
futher in/ on cave pearles 4 stemple types. iron chain ladders,the birthplace of calcite half round guttering and a 'kin well rickerty dialing table are worth seeing and leavin in-situ' for all to see. 
The Bat population need great respect too, please all of you!  Ta.
We have noticed far more  wooden stempes at shaft / pitch  bottoms rather than in situ' please take care, and look down before decent. thanks all.
most of all enjoy and respect a fragile beautifull mine.
O.G.

 

[JB]

Great job with the engine shaft cap Ric - looks well!

Thanks for raising this on here Mr Zomjon.

Yep - from the bottom of the engine shaft we went for a wander along to see the cave pearls, tipping cart, dialling table etc and saw the iron chain ladder too.

Good point about stemples. As you say, it's a fragile place and increased traffic ain't gonna do it any favours - cavers need to go steady