I have recently been looking at late C18th early C19th coal mines that belonged to the Earl of Carlisle in the Gelt Valley in the north Pennines.
There are two types of mine represented in the area
either the standerd bell which now shows as a conical depression surounded by a ring of spoil, or adits running into the fell sidewith a spoil heap outside.
My query concerns these adit type mines the majority of them appear to have shafts sunk from the surface to the adit approximately 50 - 150 metres from the adit enterance. Most of these shafts will be fairly shallow as the ground into which the adits are driven is not particularly steeply sloping.
Can any one suggest a reason for these shafts. They occur on both single adit sites and also sites where two or more adits enter close together.
My thoughts are
1. original exploration sites to determine thickness of coal etc.
2. Ventilation
3. haulage. But in all cases the road access to the site is to the adit enterance.
If anyone can give references to similar sites I would be very grateful.
Graham Brooks
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