Furness Iron Mine receives CNCC supplied pipe
It's not often we get to support our mine exploring community, but when we can, we are glad to help.
Our Chairman was recently contacted by Dave McDougle, a caver member of the Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining Heritage Society (CATMHS), a very well organised group who help facilitate access and conserve mines across the north west of England. Dave was looking to source a section of pipe to install into a dig at a collapse 100m into Furness Iron Mine, when a friend suggested he contacted the CNCC for advice.
After some quick discussions, we were able to supply a length of pipe from our stores.
Remember, CNCC is mostly funded by BCA, who are the National Body for underground exploration including mines. Many of BCA's members are mine explorers, so it is only right we support these kinds of projects.
Report on the work courtesy of Dave McDougle:
Tucked away in an small woodland valley in Furness, once the centre of iron ore production in the North West, is a small nick in a mossy wall with some surface mud run in over the entrance. Following introductions at a CATMHS meet, observing the surface features of this valley, some keen members made plans to explore this old level at a later date, which quickly came around.
We got past the run-in at the entrance, which turned out to be obscuring it from view rather than blocking it, to find a wonderfully straight level, with a dense clay collapse blocking further exploration about ~100 m in. This collapse is the site of a previous CATMHS dig which succumbed to the years, pressures and moisture, rotting the timbers and blocking the wonderful further workings.
A week later, with shovels and mattocks in hand, we started attacking the collapse along the line of the level. After maybe digging in a foot, a draught was felt coming from the left! This turned out to be the original Ray Bland dig from prior to the bigger CATMHS one, over 30 years ago.
This session reopened a small letterbox, just big enough for us to squeeze through and have a good explore of the closer workings. But how to keep this open and keep the ominous oozing clay from blocking it again? We knew the perfect solution; a wheelie bin with the bottom cut off. The following week, the sacrificial bin in tow, we dug some more grotty clay out, easier said than done as this particularly iron rich stuff is heavy and a nightmare to get off your tools. Finally, we slotted the bin into place, and packed out the sides with spoil.
Job done. Level open for business for eternity, or so we thought.
That was, at least, until we went back the next week to find the bin had been crushed at the base. Who knew removing the bottom would remove all structural integrity?
Head scratching and moaning in WhatsApp groups led to us being directed to the CNCC Chairman, Andrew Hinde, who after asking about where its going and what its holding, kindly donated a length of twin wall corrugated pipe.
Two intense digging sessions later, the bin was unceremoniously removed, and the dig widened to accept the pipe. Only minor adjustments were required to the bed rock of the letterbox with a hammer and chisel. We got the pipe in, supported by bedrock top and bottom, and sides packed out with the spoil heap.
This has reopened the gateway for future exploration, hopefully with more digs to come – although not yet as the team need some recovery time!
Thank you to Dave for this report, and for contacting CNCC for assistance. All photos (including a mandatory banana for scale) courtesy of Dave McDougle.