Author Topic: Wardlow Sough Reopening - DCA Project (Read 4953 times)

DCA · « **on:** July 17, 2019, 09:48:20 am »

Reopening Wardlow Sough (Cressbrook Dale) – September 2019
The DCA is working with Natural England (Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve team) to reopen and secure the tail of Wardlow Sough in Cressbrook Dale. The sough was dug open in the 1970s but has since collapsed in as the surrounding hillock has slumped. The public footpath running above the sough tail has been diverted for some time as the small shake hole continues to settle. Permission has now been granted from English Heritage for work on this Scheduled Monument site. It is hoped that by reopening the sough and lining the tunnel, the ground will stabilise, and the footpath can be reinstated back to its original route. Once the adit is open, it will be secured with a gate and Derbyshire Key system and will be accessible by cavers much like Neptune Mine a short way down the Dale.

In simple terms, the job will require the digging open of the sough tail, the installation of a very large pipe, the burying of the pipe and then the fitting of a caver gate. Labour and energy are the most valuable resources DCA need for this job, especially as it needs doing in one stint ideally, so the sough tail is not left open. Digging must be done manually as heavy machinery are not permitted to move around on the fragile ecosystem surrounding the sough.

The DCA need volunteers to help with this job. Be part of something that cavers will appreciate for generations to come. We are anticipating that this project will potentially need 5-7 days depending on numbers involved. We are not asking you to be present throughout, even a single day can help greatly. If you would like to help you should complete the following Doodle Poll to show which days you are offering to assist. Please update the poll if you become unavailable again but do try to commit as the job needs planning around the days when there are enough people available. We hope to start on the 7th of September, but there will be the odd day of preliminary work done during August. If you struggle to use the Doodle Poll please contact the DCA Projects Officer direct, but the poll is the simplest way of recording who is available and when.
Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/wu4vgizqvxr78mr7

You will ideally have your own gloves and steel toe boots / wellingtons. DCA can provide most necessary PPE, but it is easier if you can supply some of your own. I anyone can supply their own pick or shovel would save DCA buying more. A full plan and list of recommended stuff to bring will be provided in due course. One major stipulation is that you must be a BCA member, either directly, through your club or via DCA/PDMHS etc. This job is being done under BCA’s insurance so everyone involved must be a member.

Many thanks in advance for the offers of help.
Pete Knight
DCA Projects Officer

Pete K · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2019, 10:08:04 am »

]

Recent pic by me, older ones provided by Bill Whitehouse (photographer unknown to me).

Pitlamp · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2019, 05:58:24 pm »

In that middle (black and white) image, do I recognise John Beck, Andy Broadbent, Terry Jackson and Bill Whitehouse? (And maybe even Mick Knott?)

Mark Wright · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2019, 07:08:45 pm »

Quote from: Pitlamp on July 17, 2019, 05:58:24 pm

In that middle (black and white) image, do I recognise John Beck, Andy Broadbent, Terry Jackson and Bill Whitehouse? (And maybe even Mick Knott?)

I'm not sure about Mick Knott but that's Maggie beside John and it looks like the late Ray Fairholme behind Andy.

Mark

Pitlamp · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2019, 07:29:24 pm »

Ah yes, now I see Ray Fairholme. Thanks Mark!

AR · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2019, 09:08:25 pm »

Pretty good response on the doodle page so far, even if only half the people there can make it we'll be very well staffed, might even be able to pick up a few other stray jobs in the dale while we're at it!

Mark · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2019, 09:23:32 pm »

Mick Hasney & Keith Bottoms also

Mark · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2019, 10:59:58 pm »

The good old days when you could dig where ever you wanted pretty much, if you behaved yourself no one got upset, and just let you get on with it.

bograt · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2019, 09:47:34 am »

Are you sure that's not Ted Mullins opposite Andy in front row?, I think Bill would be behind the camera.

Pitlamp · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2019, 09:50:35 am »

Ah - quite possibly.

Mark · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2019, 05:48:36 pm »

Quote from: bograt on July 18, 2019, 09:47:34 am

Are you sure that's not Ted Mullins opposite Andy in front row?, I think Bill would be behind the camera.

No thats definitely Bill, even that far back some cameras had a timer on them

Mark · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2019, 05:53:18 pm »

Might not be as big a job as you think

Extract from John Beck's Diary

Sunday 22nd July 1978

To Wardlow Sough with Andrew, Buster, and Johnny. We blocked the entrance and Buster walled it up.
We placed plastic pipes in the floor for the water.

I went and began to dig the second sough shaft, but it looks as though the ginging has fallen in.

Brains · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2019, 06:21:01 pm »

The timbering in the photos is probably long gone, so how far in to solid ground? From Rieuwerts quadrilogy it appears to run to a blockage about 900' in, but may be a couple of miles long? Did any digging take place when it was reopened before, what are the prospects in more detail. Supposedly driven on the sole of the vein, so what state were the roof and any false floors further in?

AR · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2019, 05:33:54 pm »

John Beck's article on this area is worth reading... https://pdmhs.co.uk/MiningHistory/Bulletin%207-2%20-%20The%20Caves,%20Mines%20and%20Soughs%20of%20the%20Wardlow%20Basin%20and%20Cressbrook%20Dale.pdf

Pete K · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2019, 07:29:07 pm »

Thanks for all the responses so far. We should have a good selection of labourers in September. Keep your eyes peeled on here and DCA social media for an update closer to the time, but we'll be starting on the 7th of September.

Pete K · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2019, 07:19:10 am »

Wardlow Sough update 23/08/2019
Thanks to everyone who completed the Doodle poll or emailed offers of help. We now need to make contact with you directly. DCA will be starting work at the sough on the 7th of September. There are details that need to be communicated to volunteers in advance of them turning up and we need to make sure we are not short handed or massively over staffed on any day.
Please can you email the Projects Officer to confirm you are still available on any dates between the 7th & 13th Sept. We can then do a mass email with more info and a nightly email to update everyone about our need for volunteers each day. Please email, don't just turn up on the day, as some days we won't need many people.
https://thedca.org.uk/home/contacts/canda-contacts

Pete K · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2019, 08:01:51 am »

If you offered to help the DCA with Wardlow Sough next week, I have sent an email out this morning. If you don't receive an email about this and were expecting to, it is because I either don't have your email or just missed you off accidentally. Email through the DCA website or PM it to me here. I'm only dealing with this via email group as I can't keep track of 15 different conversations via FB or forums.
Pete K
DCA Projects Officer

Pete K · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2019, 10:06:28 am »

Hi all. DCA volunteers are breaking ground on this job tomorrow! Can't believe it is here already and I'm rather nervous as usual before a big important job.
If anyone else can spare a few hours this week, we'd love to have you along. Especially on Sunday (8th), this is the one day that we're looking a little shy on help. Mainly moving buckets of soil and spoil about 10m or digging in stints so you don't get knackered. Drop me and email or PM me through here with your email and I'll send you the details.
Please let us know if you're coming in advance.

Pete K · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2019, 05:25:43 pm »

Wardlow Sough day 1 - 7/9/2019
Pete, Julian, Charley, Angus and Damon +1 made a pretty solid start to the dig as can be seen from the before and after pics. Chris and Adam popped by for moral support which was welcomed. No open sough encountered yet, but we can't be far off it (or that's what we tell ourselves).
Find of the day - rabbit skulls and rather a lot of ancient crisp packets.
We'll be back at it tomorrow on site from 10am. More hands welcome as it's looking quite thin on the ground tomorrow. Email or message through the FB page to be added to tonight's email circular.

Pete K · « **Reply #19 on:** September 08, 2019, 05:32:25 pm »

Wardlow Sough day 2 - 8/9/2019
Pete, Julian, Andy F, Roy, Gordon, Beth & Chris were at the coal face today. We’ve got it! We have found the sough. Plenty more to do before the job’s done though but we can see the goal is achievable.
Tomorrow we have the pipe and gate move and hopefully the pipe install after a bit more digging. About a dozen planning on attending tomorrow so we should fly through the jobs. Registered helpers should get an email update shortly.

Pete K · « **Reply #20 on:** September 08, 2019, 05:38:48 pm »

1976 was the last time TSG members were here. Today DCA volunteers have once again set foot in Wardlow Sough.

Goydenman · « **Reply #21 on:** September 08, 2019, 06:54:37 pm »

Great result......well done team. I guess a lot of work to install pipe and finish things off still....

Pete K · « **Reply #22 on:** September 08, 2019, 07:41:24 pm »

Yep, but at least we now know we were not digging a big hole heading for nothing. The open sough appeared about 1 metre below where our mine guru told us to dig last night. Those PDMHS lot know what they are doing! Massive plastic pipe to wrestle in that hole tomorrow and then we have to fill it all in again.

AR · « **Reply #23 on:** September 08, 2019, 08:33:14 pm »

Yes, quite a relief to me to see that the rockhead was within about half a metre of where I'd predicted it would be when I drew up the original proposal! Hoping the rain passes quickly tomorrow so we can get the pipe in ASAP and crack on with the backfill.

Pete K · « **Reply #24 on:** September 09, 2019, 06:52:25 pm »

Wardlow Sough day 3 - 9/9/2019
Myself, Beth, Chris, Adam, Mark, Nick, Ian, Ann, Katie, Andy, Botch, Mike and Shaun from NE had a rather soggy and muddy day but achieved a load. The pipe moved all the way down the valley like a giant rolling pin and we have stuck it in the hole. The homemade gate is bolted on and some back-filling was also completed today.
Tomorrow we are in with a shout of completing the job, but only if we can get as many people as possible. We will be mainly bucketing spoil into the hole and building a nice little wall with some mortar around the gate. If we can have a big team tomorrow, we can finish it all.
I think I am expecting the following people tomorrow:
Chris (+ dog), Nick, Gordon, Botch, Andy, Nige A & Ann
If you are listed there but can’t come let me know. If you are not listed there and want to come and try the most dangerous slide in Derbyshire, please please please come and help. Let me know if you are coming via email or messaging the FB page.
Tomorrow you will need gloves and lunch. Bring lid and caving suit if you want to have a look in the sough but be warned, it is really hard to get out until we put a ladder in!
10am at the sough or around 8:30/45am in The Yonderman Cafe for a bap and brew