Dear list,
A former colleague has asked me if there is any recognised method of shaft
capping recorded in the late 18th century. I could point him to the usual
anecdotal version of branches, timber and whatever else was to hand being
chucked into the shaft opening, then capped off with loose spoil and earth,
but can anyone point to a contemporary written record of how this was done?
Did mine engineers have a prescribed capping method or was it done just
anyhow, as the anecdotal record suggests? I suspect it was rarely miners who
did this task and more likely it was estate workers and farmers making their
land safe in the aftermath of mining, in which case record is unlikely - any
thoughts?
Thanks
Phil Newman
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