The works you saw have been undertaken by the Vale of Avoca Development
Association (VADA), as part of an ongoing programme to conserve various key
elements of the mine heritage of Avoca. To date they have completed works
on the Tramway Arch and Ballygahan Engine House on the west side of Avoca,
as well as providing temporary shoring to the remains of the Baronets Engine
House in east Avoca. These works are separate from the visitor centre
planned by Mr. Nicholas Coy for the Williams Engine House and adjoining
area, and I am uncertain what plans might still exist for that proposal.
The VADA effort has throughout been focused upon conserving mine heritage
features on the entire site as well as the mining landscape itself - ideally
as a mine heritage park to be operated in partnership with the local
authority.
The forthcoming NAMHO 2003 meeting in Avondale/Avoca in June, will include a
presentation by VADA on their work to date, as well as surface and
underground tours to various parts of the Avoca site - see the MHTI web site
for current details [www.mhti.com].
Regards,
John Morris,
Inventory and Conservation Coordinator, MHTI.
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Daz Beattie
Sent: 19 January 2003 22:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Avoca (Ireland), Copper Mine's Preservation
On a recent visit to Avoca I noted that preservation work was well underway
on the Williams engine house stack, I spoke to the contractors on site who
stated their remit was preservation of the stack only. Is there any
information within this group as to any further plans with this site, ie is
it intended to go ahead with the proposals made previously, to create a
visitor's centre and possibly opening the mines to underground tours. It
seems a shame that such an accessable and historical site as this has
remained "Out of reach" for so many years.
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