Dear All,

Further to my last on the above matter, I must advise of another example for 
historical fact reasons. 

Now, before I start, I wish to make very clear that I am not having a go at 
the author or this particular book, it is simply a classic example. The book 
is really well worth having, since the photographic records are extremely 
good, and they, and most of the text will make excellent reference for the 
future. The pbl. I refer to is British Small Mines (North). 

I make reference to the Cambokeels Mine surface plan on p.27, it is 
completely wrong. I spent probably about 6 years 'hovering' around this 
place, and know/knew every square inch of the site: those with the plan in 
front of them & who know the site the following will be obvious, but for 
others, as follows:-  

There were two road entrances to the site at an opposing angle to the one 
shown. The distance between the two being approx. 200yds.. The other entrance 
came 'onto' the site approx. where "Up" is shown on the plan. To use maybe a 
better description, North being the top of the page, the whole site (but not 
the A689 road), needs moving from N to S to N to E & S to W. The main decline 
and the adit shown on the plan do not run up the Dale as shown, but in fact 
went underneath the main road directly into the hillside. The Power House 
(more correctly the Compressor House - 1 Bellis & Morcom (main), & an At.Cop 
(I think), & a standby geny), was approx. 30ft to the left of the decline 
entrance - not positioned as shown on the plan. The River Wear seems to have 
totally changed course on the plan, since it was the boundary for the length 
of the site approx. in line with the road (approx. as a guide - in fact what 
is shown as the fence can be regarded as the river). The magazine was by the 
river (approx.18ft above - as was the whole site), and was situated 
'opposite' the Workshops, but set back from same about 300ft, and was behind 
a bank of spoil. As to the other buildings: no lorries were ever loaded 
directly from the decline gantry; a loading shovel was used to blend and mix 
from the separate stope 'hoppers' to keep run-of-mine fluorspar as constant a 
grade as possible for the mill - quartz presented a problem here sometimes, 
and it ruins pumps & pipes in mills! - particularly sharp bends. (Yes, I know 
there are special linings & pump impellers now!). I have to say I do not 
remember "Eleven unloading chutes each side": I remember 5 or six, because 
the protective cover sheets were rather heavy to lift! The tubs were in fact 
emptied into what were three bays either side of the gantry. I have extensive 
photographic records of this place, above and below ground - as also most of 
the working Weardale mines of the 80's, including the Rookhope Plant and the 
Frosterley Plant. It is a shame that the Redburn Mine was missed out of this 
book though.

Now, again, I am not having a go at the author of this book, & again, it is 
well worth buying since the p.graphs. are a very good record to have, 
particularly so of the coal sites the author visited, some of which I have no 
knowledge of whatsoever: but coal is not my field, and these were out of my 
area (except the Alston area... where the Flow Edge mine seems to have been 
forgotten (I have p.graphs of it also) - I sold them quite a bit of plant 
once (as also another small oper. in the District), but Flow Edge no longer 
exists sadly - & not because I sold them plant I might add!!! 

All these sorts of errors can so easily be avoided if proper proof-reading is 
done by the right people. I can mention quite a few other books, but I shall 
not do so since enough has been said on the matter I think. One of the best 
books I have purchased recently is the new one on Ecton and it's surrounding 
mines: a superb example of how it should be done - it is thorough. As I said 
before, nobody likes criticism, but if same produces a faultless (or as near 
as is possible) publication, then there is not only more pride in the pbl. 
for the author, but everybody gets the right facts. I know now that when I 
ultimately produce my book, there will be 100's looking with magnifying 
glasses for faults!!!!! - good, that will make me even more careful in it's 
writing and production!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Spelling again - the ABC button is useful! Sory, cood not risist the 
mension!!!!!!!!

Kind Regards To All,  Bernard


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