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The following is from Mines of the Forest of Dean by kind permission of the author: Clearwell Caves [Iron Mines] also known as British Mine NGR SO 5760 0820 A 550 feet Coleford. Just south of Coleford, turn right off the B4228 by the Lambsquay Hotel. These are disused iron mines which are open to the public. The mine complex extends over 600 acres and includes hundreds of miles of passages which zig zag up and down the strata of limestone from east to west, at an angle of 15o. It has been mined to a depth of 600 feet below the surface. But since the mine closed the water level has returned to it normal level of around 400 feet. The tourist section consists of eight caverns, or churns, as they are called locally. They are well lit and paved and the tour is self-guided. Some artificial pools and plenty of flowstone of various colours, including white, red and green makes the mine appear as a natural cave. Other features include Barbecue Churn complete with toilets and gas barbecues. A fine two storey surface building of local stone, in typical Forest of Dean style, contains a Cafe, a Museum of mining relics and a Gift Shop which even sells caving lamps. Cavers can obtain special permission to visit beyond the tourist section and other mines in the area: Old Ham Gale, Old Bow Pit, New Dunn Pit Gale, Easter Iron Mine, Lambsquay Gale, Oak Pit Gale, Injunction and Belt Iron Mine (including Lea Bailey Mine Level), Wigpool Mine, Dean's Meend Gale and Drybrook Iron Mine etc. Contact: Ray Wright, Clearwell Caves, Clearwell nr Coleford, Glos. Tel 0594 832535 day or 0594 823700 evenings. nb at present, due illegal tipping of toxic waste polluting the water and creating oxygen deficiency in the air, the first six mines are closed [since July 1992]. References: Fell R & Grevatt T 1989 A Visitor's Guide to Underground Britain pp 65-66 Naylor, Peter 1981 Discovering Lost Mines. 63 pp illus. Description and survey pp 21-23. Sibley p 41 - 44 Trotter p 5, 14, 19 Wright, Ray & Jonathan 1990 Clearwell Caves / Ancient Iron Mines / 16 pp illus surveys. On sale at the caves. Mines of the Forest of Dean is available from: Tony Oldham, Duncavin, Rest Home for Retired Cavers, Riverside Mews, Cardigan, SA43 1DH, UK Price £7.50 post free. Morin wrote: > > Does anyone know how I can find out information about > Clearwell Caves (Ancient Iron Mines) > I think these are karstic mines ? > > Thanking you in anticipation. > > ************ > Denis MORIN > UPR CNRS 806 "Métallurgies et Cultures" > [log in to unmask] > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%