Star Shaft

[Burt]

I was walking the dog the other day and went by Star Shaft.
The metal hatch covering the main entrance has been damaged by a combination of rusted out hinges and vandalism (I suspect people just pulling it up to have a look). It is possible to open the hatch sufficiently to get on the ladder which could lead to disastrous consequences.

The old engine house nearby is also accessible and currently hidden under a metal door, but all that is needed to gain access is to drag the door away.

[mikem]

Appropriate person at CSCC has been informed & something will be done to remedy it.

[Cap'n Chris]

IIRC it's about fifteen years since the original works were done so it's survived quite well and could benefit from a fettle anyways. :-)

The original (genius) design of the hatch/gate was for it to be a single drop-in unit, easily removed and replaced when the time came. No cementing, welding etc..

[Cap'n Chris]

The old engine house nearby is also accessible and currently hidden under a metal door, but all that is needed to gain access is to drag the door away.

Mark I and me made the capping for that and put a ladder in, hidden beneath a removable metal covering which we then put stones and soil on so it would grow over and only the people who knew it existed would ever find it. Obviously something better might now be a worthwhile project. The ante-chamber it leads to is where the pumping engine was sited and there is a (blocked) lateral link to the main shaft which could technically be opened up but it was more trouble than it was worth back in 2006 to do anything about. Other notable people such as Alan G and Wessex Paul etc. were involved in excavating it so it was definitely a team effort/discovery. Even Whitelackington helped out :-)

[Cap'n Chris]

could lead to disastrous consequences.

Misadventure = death by falling (100ft). For anyone stupid enough to do that it is "probably their time".

[Cap'n Chris]

Archive info here:https://cscc.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=news:star_shaft_mine_capping