A Tour of Carrs Mine - exploring the Nenthead Visitor Mine
Price £12.95 running time 31 minutes
I purchased a copy of this video expecting too see a film of a family wearing brightly coloured helmets having a jolly romp through a sterilised mine passage listening to a student guide on his last day still using his hand written script of witty jokes and book of useless information . I expected to see the occasional dummy in pose, or suggestions that stalagmite formations could be interpreted as the Swiss Village or to be told that shadow cast accidentally by the 1000 watt searchlight looks just like the template for "T'Angel o t'North".
Well nothing of the sort this is a professional high quality informative documentary, which includes buildings and features on the museum site including a view down into the 90 metre deep brewery shaft. You are provided with information about the importance of water, waterwheels, launders and respective machinery. It is written and produced in such a way that there is no time to be bored it is exciting and informative at the same time.
As you enter the underground sections there is a very clever use computerised graphics showing a simplified mine locator and identifying where on the tour you would find yourself. What I like most about this film is that the features of Nenthead Mining with Horse levels, mineralisation, flats, rises, stone arching , pit props, stemples, and many other mining features are presented as there are and not tourist impersonations. You find yourself captivated by sheer grandeur and hard work that went into these mines. The production methods are explained and video clips of mining methods are slipped in to demonstrate further working conditions that would expect to find. The video is highly informative and provides a details of the history of the mine and its various owners.
The producers were not just satisfied with the tourist bit but as a taster of some of the many highlights of Nenthead Mining you are shown areas where the public do not go and you also see explorers in many of other levels on the site.
See if you can spot a young slim Adrian Pearce, Mole in his best yellow one piece, Steve Holding, Stuart Tomlins oh and of course yours truly I had forgotten assisting one sunny day sadly the real stars Peter and Kelvin never appear. I should mention peter Wilkinson who was the guide on this film whose knowledge and love of these mines is second to none.
This is an excellent video and a real credit to their expertise and patience in producing this Mining History record in a format that is accessible to all.
The video is available direct from IA recordings, PO Box 476, Telford, Shropshire, TF7 4RB England or ordering via their website WWW.iarecordings.org if all else fails via myself
Cheers
Mines a Guinness
Mike
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