danthecavingman
Member
Ok, so we set off into Hillocks Mine through the oil drum entrance.....
Down the pitches passing not what could be described as extensive workings. At the bottom we find a blasted cartgate level with the "Old Man's" coffin level in the roof. The cartgate leads to a major winding shaft - The Whalf Engine shaft. Now.....The cartgate was blasted from the engine shaft side, you would only sink such a big shaft and drive a level if you were removing a lot of ore...so......where are the "missing" big workings that must exist somewhere at the base of the oil drum route pitches? Presumably whoever drove the shaft and cartgate knew that there was extensive ore having climbed down the same way we have just done but where? Is it through the flooded / sumped passage that is the only obvious way on? I know some work was done here but did it get anywhere?
The other interesting lead I found in Hillocks but have not been back to is a small coffin level. If you get to the bottom of Hillocks via the oil drum entrance, turn right at Whalf Engine Shaft and go past the bottom of the "new" climbing shaft route (can't remember the name). Keep on going through a looseish bit and eventually you will find a small coffin level heading right. It ends after about 50 feet at a boulder choke. My point is this - coffin levels were not driven on a whim! The amount of work they involved meant that they were only driven as cross cuts to ease access to major sources of ore or provide drainage. The coffin level here ends at a boulder choke but must have gone further and presumably into some extensive workings. Anyone know anything about this? Anyone fancy a look? With pop and bang technology this must be a viable project these days.......
The old records suggest Hillocks was more extensive, could these be ways on?
Dan
Down the pitches passing not what could be described as extensive workings. At the bottom we find a blasted cartgate level with the "Old Man's" coffin level in the roof. The cartgate leads to a major winding shaft - The Whalf Engine shaft. Now.....The cartgate was blasted from the engine shaft side, you would only sink such a big shaft and drive a level if you were removing a lot of ore...so......where are the "missing" big workings that must exist somewhere at the base of the oil drum route pitches? Presumably whoever drove the shaft and cartgate knew that there was extensive ore having climbed down the same way we have just done but where? Is it through the flooded / sumped passage that is the only obvious way on? I know some work was done here but did it get anywhere?
The other interesting lead I found in Hillocks but have not been back to is a small coffin level. If you get to the bottom of Hillocks via the oil drum entrance, turn right at Whalf Engine Shaft and go past the bottom of the "new" climbing shaft route (can't remember the name). Keep on going through a looseish bit and eventually you will find a small coffin level heading right. It ends after about 50 feet at a boulder choke. My point is this - coffin levels were not driven on a whim! The amount of work they involved meant that they were only driven as cross cuts to ease access to major sources of ore or provide drainage. The coffin level here ends at a boulder choke but must have gone further and presumably into some extensive workings. Anyone know anything about this? Anyone fancy a look? With pop and bang technology this must be a viable project these days.......
The old records suggest Hillocks was more extensive, could these be ways on?
Dan