After our last visit to the West High Cross Vein, we wanted to go
again to have a look at a few more things that we ran out of time for
previously. Also we had 3 others with us that had not been there before so it
gave them a chance to have a look around as well. We were entering the adit at
about 10.20 and now we had the hour or so slog ahead of us to get to the
junction of interest. Shale falls, waist deep water, crawls, squeezes, fresh
falls, panting, sweating and before you know it we were at the junction with
the West High Cross Vein. Then some more crawling and finally we reached the
rise to the Great Limestone and the stopes above.
Once everyone was up,
we started to take some photographs of the stopes and then made our way to the
cross vein showing the others various things of interest. This time we had a
good wonder around the stopes and found out that they all connected in loops
around the cross vein. We headed north along the West High Cross Vein, until we
reached the Brownley Hill Vein. Here we climbed up a short rise of maybe 4m or
so and had a look around in this working right at the top of the Great
Limestone. Here we found various remains of candles, pipes and clogs. By the
way, it also made a great spot for lunch. One of the clogs that was found had a
hole at the back on the heel. This was rather odd and we wondered whether it
had been done for comfort, but if so what about protection for the wearer?
Climbing back down from the working we made our way to the main junction in the
stopes. The group split up here for a while and myself and Karli had a play
around with taking photographs and lighting effects.
Wondering where
everyone had got to, Colin appeared and told us that all were at the south end
of the cross vein, so we headed that way to meet up with them. They had found
pretty much all things we had last time. However, I was interested in a ore
chute that we had found last time which, had an anchor in it. On further
inspection the bolt and anchor were in good condition, and Pete also spotted a
second bolt, but no plate. Luckily Pete had some hangers, but they were with
his bag left at the junction in the stopes. Kindly enough he volunteered to get
them, Ian joined him to also get his bag. Whilst they were gone Colin had a
coffee break and I took some more photographs of the shattered stopes further
south on the cross vein. On Ian's and Pete's return we started to rig the ore
chute.
Pete abseiled down first, and shouted up that the ore chute
intersected a level which, he recognised as being the one that ran under the
ore chute with the rails that we had to cross. The ore chute continuted down
past the level and ended in a shale passage below the Great Limestone. Karli
came down next followed by myself. The level northwards was at a forehead and
southwards after 30m or so a fall had occurred. It must have been used for
tramming ore as there were rails in the floor. Karli climbed back up and myself
and Pete swung into the level on the way up and exited that way, whilst the
others derigged. The ore chute judging by the length of rope used must have
been around 23-35m deep - depth of the Great Limestone, considering we came
from a bit above it and then to below it. The section of level that we had
entered does not seem to be connected to the horse level as there is no
connection to that area on any plan we have seen. If anything we felt that it
was probablly a bit higher up as it was pretty much right under the Great
Limestone. |
