Weirdstone of Brisingamen - St Mary's Cliffe to the Earldelving

[damo8604]

I'm popping over to Derbyshire in a couple of weeks for a caving weekend.

I've always fancied visiting Alderley edge and perhaps even doing the 'breathtaking journey' that Colin and Susan made in my favourite childhood book, it is after all what first made me think about trying caving.

Anyway, does anyone know if this is do-able? If so, who would I need to approach for access?

 

[owd git]

I thought I concocted some titles. Sir. I take my hat off to you :bow: :bow: :bow:
O.G. Please enlighten us mortals.
O.G.

 

[paul]

If you're looking to visit the Alderley Edge  mines, have a look at:

http://www.derbyscc.org.uk/alderley/current_visiting.php

 

[Mrs Trellis]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weirdstone_of_Brisingamen

Alan Garner rediscovered the "oaken shovel" found in West Mine in Victorian times and given to his school by the miners. He sent it for dating at Manchester Museum and it was dated to approx 4300bp.

Most of the underground bits in the book takes place in West Mine - eg the Svartmoot (Lion's Head chamber) and the "Great Arroyo", and of course , Plank Shaft.

The "red" passage is at North End fault in Wood Mine and the children's exit is via the old Engine Vein entrance.

Some of the surface features are on the track leading to the Edge from the Wizard tea room eg Thieves Hollow, Golden Stone. Others are in the wood to the left (west) of the track. Stormy Point is to the left of the Golden Stone about 400m.

I suggest you contact the DCC for a West Mine visit. Both Nigel Dibben & Steve Mills will be able to link the book with the extant features.

http://www.derbyscc.org.uk/alderley/

 

[damo8604]

I thought I concocted some titles. Sir. I take my hat off to you :bow: :bow: :bow:
O.G. Please enlighten us mortals.
O.G.

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen is a children's book written by Alan Garner in the 60's. Think Harry Potter with a hint of Lord of the rings and a teaspoon full of the Goonies.

Anyway, it's a bloody marverlous book, the main protagonists Colin and Susan get chased by witches, warlocks and 'svarts' (golem type creatures) through the mines of Alderley edge, and I'm led to believe that the places in the book really do exist.

 

[owd git]

In the absence of a 'like' button .... Ta Damo 
Wow that seems to do T' job.
O.G.

 

[damo8604]

Thanks Mrs Trellis, I'll get in touch

 

[JasonC]

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen is a children's book written by Alan Garner in the 60's. Think Harry Potter with a hint of Lord of the rings and a teaspoon full of the Goonies.

Anyway, it's a bloody marverlous book, the main protagonists Colin and Susan get chased by witches, warlocks and 'svarts' (golem type creatures) through the mines of Alderley edge, and I'm led to believe that the places in the book really do exist.

Off topic, but Garner's latest book in the trilogy (only 50 years after the second) is Boneland - which is also bloody good even though there's little caving content.  In fact, almost everything he's written is bloody good.

 

[Mrs Trellis]

The second book, The Moon of Gomrath, refers to workings to which there is now no access afaik. Generally these are at the bottom of the hill around the De Trafford Arms and St. Hilary's (shaft in the playing field?) . There is a story that railway construction cut through some old workings.

 

[Griffin]

Hi Damo, I'm quite new on here but thought I would say hello as there are a few of us DCC on here who hold keys to the copper mines at Alderley Edge. We dig there every week. Mrs Trellis is correct, Nigel and Steve are the best people to arrange a trip with as they are the most knowledgable and know Alan Garner personally. But if they are unable to arrange a trip for you, one of us may be free. Let me know what date you have in mind and I may tag along anyway 

 

[damo8604]

Hi Ferret, I'm going up this weekend so a little too late to arrange anything now, but I have a Derbyshire trip booked in on the 15th - 17th May which I hope to be able to book Nigel or Steve for.

Just going to bang an email off now 

 

[damo8604]

Hi Ferret, just had a chat with Steve Mills who by all accounts is very knowledgeable about the edge and the mines.

He has agreed to lead a trip on 16th May at 11am meeting at the car park by the Wizard. Suggested donation is ?10/head.

Max party size is ten so if anyone else fancies it, just give me a shout.

See you in May!

 

[Griffin]

Hi Damo, thats great, Steve will give you an excellent trip I have put the date in my diary, hopefully I will be free that weekend.
Lauren 

 

[Mrs Trellis]

Steve was on BBC tv recently taking Janet Street-Porter down Engine Vein. Sadly the prog is no longer available on the iPlayer.

 

[Mrs Trellis]

Just an aside.

When you read the book and visit the mine it's clear that the description of places in West Mine doesn't include the big "cathedral" stope after the original entrance nor the "green river". The book has the children falling down a shaft in the back of a cupboard and coming out near the "Great Arroyo" and then continuing down to the sole of the mine on the lowest tramming level. The Lion's (or Dog's) Head chamber (Svartmoot) is on the left. In fact there is a shaft to the surface , now blocked, which has/had a broken electron ladder at the bottom. This is reached via a passage on the right at the top of the "flight deck" before you descend the knotted rope into Sphinx Chamber. Maybe Steve will take you there. I have a suspicion that this is the entrance that AG went down.  Maybe Steve will confirm or deny. The two current entrances weren't open in the 50's and 60's but work had commenced to close off the original entrance cutting.