• Black Sheep Diggers presentation - March 29th 7pm

    In the Crown Hotel Middlesmoor the Black Sheep Diggers are going to provide an evening presentation to locals and other cavers.

    We will be highlighting with slides and explanations the explorations we have been doing over the years and that of cave divers plus research of the fascinating world of nearby lead mines.

    Click here for more details

Operation Mole Mines Research and Exploration Group Contact Details?

Space Doubt Caver

Space Doubt Caver

Active member
Hey Peeps,

Does anyone have any contact information for: Operation Mole Mines Research and Exploration Group Contact Details?
They are supposed to control access to a certain location, but all information says they no longer exist and have no contact details, but if they no longer exist how can they control access?

How would you go about finding out who now controls the access?
I had contacted Derbyshire County Council who said that organisation has not had any updated records since year-2000 and there is no recent contact information.
So where do i go for information on it? even the DCA also say on their site the access is controlled by the OM Research and Exploration Group.

So does anyone know if the name of the organisation changed or know anyone that was involved with them?

Thank You
 
Last edited:
9 years ago Nellie Kirkham's papers were also transferred to the Derbyshire records office: "In the last 3 months PDMHS has taken in the mining history archives (courtesy of Jenny Potts and Mary Wilde at the British Caving Library) belonging to Doug Nash of Op. Mole and Eyam."

NAMHO - news

Website of the National Association of Mining History Organisations
www.namho.org www.namho.org
"Over the last few weeks the Society has acquired the mining history collection that belonged to Doug Nash. It includes the field notes of Nellie Kirkham and some 350 bound volumes of Doug’s and Op. Mole’s records. It is intended that original material will be transferred to the Record Office and the rest will be incorporated into our library at the Museum."
DRO listing for Doug Ashton Nash (he worked for Laporte industries). 'By the 1960s, Operation Mole was known as OM Research and Exploration Group, a not-for-profit organisation which accepted donations (see Nash's letter of 2 Dec 1961 in D8097/4/7) and was described as "specialists in geological field research" on the group's letterhead':

Another article thanking Doug Nash (and Nellie Kirkham):

Alport Mines & Soughs | Pegasus Caving Club

Exploration reports on the Mines & Soughs of Alport. Hillcarr Sough, Guy Mine, Conqueror Mine, Danger Mine, Wheel Rake, Wheelhouse Shaft, Broadmeadow Mine, Broomhead Shaft, Prospect Mine, Leewall Vein Shaft, Old Cross Shaft Millfield Farm, Railway Close Mine, Kikrmeadow Mine, Mawstone Mine...
www.pegasuscavingclub.org www.pegasuscavingclub.org
 
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Fairly sure I had a trip a few years back (around 2010 perhaps) to a site where the access was controlled by Op Mole. It was a 'no publicity' site so I don't have a trip report to refer back to.
 
Space Doubt Caver said:
The more i read about these 2 guys Doug Nash & John Beck, the more i want to know about them,
Click to expand...
I was lucky enough to sit with them in the Miners arms on a few occasions... They always wanted to know about new finds, news etc... John particularily wanted to hear of natural in Coombsdale, which he was convinced would be found one day. Something was found, but sadly filled in before it could be fully investigated :-(
Lovely chaps and always full of stories of explores!
 
bograt said:
I am aware of the passing of a few O.M. members, but the name Nick Burcher springs to mind, anyone ??.
Click to expand...
Im not sure if Nick is/was an OM member but he certainly knocked around with them back in the day, and of course having worked for Laportes he would have known Doug well.
 
bograt said:
I am aware of the passing of a few O.M. members, but the name Nick Burcher springs to mind, anyone ??.
Click to expand...
Nick Butcher is still around, saw him at a funeral a month ago. However, he was never OM, he has been PDMHS since the 60's with a bit of TSG later.

There are some OM around but I don't have contact details. John Wilmot is one. He was on AN but I don't think he has got here yet?
 
Space Doubt Caver said:
The more i read about these 2 guys Doug Nash & John Beck, the more i want to know about them,
Click to expand...

I knew both of them very well. Both deserve a biography. Absolute legends in the Peak District and thoroughly good blokes. If you ever get chance to look through John Beck's PhD thesis (on the caves and landscapes of the White Peak) you'll be amazed. The Peak Cavern system bibliography they put together is fabulous. A visit to the house in Eyam where they both lived was always an experience to relish.

I've not read everything in this topic but if "Mark" hasn't responded it may be worth chucking him a PM. He may have an idea or two which may help you contact those OM members who are still around.
 
Space Doubt Caver said:
Hey Peeps,

Does anyone have any contact information for: Operation Mole Mines Research and Exploration Group Contact Details?
They are supposed to control access to a certain location, but all information says they no longer exist and have no contact details, but if they no longer exist how can they control access?

How would you go about finding out who now controls the access?
I had contacted Derbyshire County Council who said that organisation has not had any updated records since year-2000 and there is no recent contact information.
So where do i go for information on it? even the DCA also say on their site the access is controlled by the OM Research and Exploration Group.

So does anyone know if the name of the organisation changed or know anyone that was involved with them?

Thank You
Click to expand...
As O.G. mentioned, there are remaining members who have access control over a certain mine near Matlock, will P.m some names
 
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