Further to previous postings on the List re the above, I have further info.
regarding same that, whilst not giving any exact location, at least goes a
little further in direction.
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In a letter dated the 12th of Feb. 1925 (London Office letterhead - 6 Broad
Street Place, EC2 - and signed by Francis Allen), I quote pertinent
paras./sections:
"There is evidently far more water coming in than was originally
contemplated, and it would be best to consider the programme from the point of view of
stripping down the shaft and putting in a Cornish pump to avoid the great
expense of this steam pumping".
"The past year has been very wet with plenty of rain since, so that probably
the incoming water is about the maximum of what we may expect to receive,
but in any calculation it would be wise to add a substantial margin over the
present amount in case more water should make itself felt in days to come".
Josiah Paul (Mgr. of S.Crofty), was going to visit the mine, and Mr Allen
had arranged with Edwin Timmins (Mgr. at the Derbs. mine), to put Mr Paul up at
the "Hope & Anchor" in Wirksworth. The initials E.W.M. are mentioned twice
in this letter, and whoever this is seems to be as much involved in the Derbs.
oper. as Mr Allen - indeed, Mr Allen wants Mr Paul to discuss the mine with
"E.W.M" at the London Office before he (Mr Paul), returns to Cornwall. E.W.M.
could be a consultant of course.
In a letter dated August the 25th 1925, Mr Timmins writes to thank Mr Paul
for agreeing to lend an engineer for a few weeks, and supplies the following
interesting info.:
"We have done a lot of cleaning up of the old workings and have driven over
100' at the 142ft. level North of the Main Shaft. The face is poor again at
the moment so we have come back a few yards to put up a rise where we had a
little lead".
"The vein is very small but the lead is of exceedingly good quality when you
come across it and is mostly loose and in nugget form".
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Whilst the info. is getting a little more detailed, we are still no better
off as to which mine is being referred to, however, I feel certain it must be
close Wirksworth - thus the field is definitely narrowing at least! So, the
questions:-
1). Which mine/mines was/were operating near Wirksworth in 1924/5/6? - that
might suit the
above description.
2). Does anyone have any idea who E.W.M. might have been?
Any suggestions would be very welcome!
Happy New Year to All, Regards, Bernard
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