Pitlamp
Well-known member
There are various artificial tunnels mined in the brockram rock beneath the town centre in Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, just north of the main Dales caving area. No-one really seems to know much about their history, although there are anecdotal tales about them being constructed to move beer barrels from breweries to pubs below ground, to avoid customs and excise duty!
Can anyone shed any light on these tunnels? In particular I'd like to find out about their age, main purposes and mining methods (as there seems to be no evidence of old shotholes). Are there any contemporary written references? If anyone can help in any way please can you send a PM and I will pas on all information to a lady who is doing historical research about these tunnels.
Thanks.
Can anyone shed any light on these tunnels? In particular I'd like to find out about their age, main purposes and mining methods (as there seems to be no evidence of old shotholes). Are there any contemporary written references? If anyone can help in any way please can you send a PM and I will pas on all information to a lady who is doing historical research about these tunnels.
Thanks.