Not an academic proposition, I'm afraid, but the destination is one that has
been the subject of much study!
Owing to last-minute dropouts, I can offer a couple of free seats on a car
trip from Sheffield to Nenthead on Sunday, 25 July, leaving Sheffield at
07.30. A party of five of us are meeting in Nent around 10.00a.m. with the
aim of visiting the historic and famous Smallcleugh Mine. We plan to be in
there around five hours. Probably back in Sheffield by 7.00p.m.
It seems a shame to waste the spaces, and it won't cost you anything, but
you must be able to be somewhere central in Sheffield before 07.30 on the
Sunday morning. You would also need to bring your own underground gear and
supplies. The trip would permit ample time for photography and would be
ideal for newcomers to the Nenthead Mines and Smallcleugh in particular. It
is being led by two individuals who are familiar with the mine. We are all
friendly and welcoming people with a serious interest in mining history, and
we do not bite! We also operate a full equal opportunities policy (i.e. we
don't care who you are as long as you like mines!!) As a matter of
courtesy, Hope Anderson at the Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre has been
informed of our visit. Please note that this visit is undertaken entirely at
your own risk.
The route will be via "the back of the mine", through the Smallcleugh Flats,
and will include some hands and knees crawls, especially in the infamous
Hetherington's Crosscut, so gloves and kneepads are advisable. Most of the
areas to be visited are completely dry, but there is welly depth water in
the first couple of hundred metres of the main level.
Please ring me direct if you're interested: my office number (08.00 -
17.30hrs) is 0114-259-4750, or leave a message on my machine at home on
0114-235-3473.
If you want to know more about the mine, you could do worse than read
Critchley's "The Nenthead Mines", originally published many years ago as a
PDMHS Bulletin and re-issued with revisions last year as a PDMHS "Mining
History" publication in time for the NAMHO Field Meet in Nenthead.
John Gibson
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