As members will be aware, PDMHS had to temporarily suspend underground trips in 2016 because our existing insurance was not providing sufficient cover for underground activities. PDMHS needs more people to help us record, survey, and preserve the underground heritage of Derbyshire’s mines, so the solution we have decided on is the formation of an autonomous group within PDMHS. It will be called the Underground Exploration Group (UEG), and will apply for member club status with the British Caving Association and take part in the BCA Public Liability Insurance scheme. Continue reading
Category Archives: Walks and underground trips
Duckmanton Railway Cutting and Arkwright Town, near Chesterfield.
Saturday 17th February 2018. Only one place still available.
Prior booking essential – meeting arrangements will be supplied when booking your place(s).
Organiser: Paul Chandler.
Paul Guion (East Midlands Geological Society) has kindly agreed to show us around this very important and unique geological site. A short, easy walk from Arkwright Town will bring us to the Duckmanton Railway Cutting (located on the long closed Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway line between Chesterfield and Lincoln). The cutting is now split by a filled bridge, with access to the west side being over a stile and down some concrete steps. Access to the east side is over another stile and down a zig-zag inclined path. As the railway cutting will be wet underfoot, wellies are essential. Please also bring a helmet (if you require one, please mention it when booking, as Paul’s stock is limited).
Further information and photographs of Duckmanton Railway Cutting can be found here.
In addition, Paul will be giving us the background to the fascinating story of why an entire Derbyshire coal mining village, Arkwright Town, was “moved” in the 1990s.
Duration approx 2hrs. Party size is limited to 20 (including 5 places for Masson Caving Group members). Booking is essential, and priority will be given to PDMHS and MCC members. Contact Paul at meets@pdmhs.com or tel: 01246-220773. If over-subscribed, you will be added to a reserve list.
Visit is courtesy of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (permit supplied) and many thanks to Paul Guion for leading the walk.
Please help us to keep these walks free by giving us a donation if you are not already a member of PDMHS. Alternatively, why not join us?
Underground Trip – Milldam Fluorspar Mine, Great Hucklow.
Saturday 17th March 2018 (date to be confirmed). Meeting arrangements will be supplied when booking your place(s).
Please note: this trip is now fully booked.
Organiser: Paul Chandler.
A second opportunity for Society members to visit this, the last working fluorspar mine in Derbyshire. We will be able to see the progress made since our previous visit in November 2016. Just the one trip this time – a morning visit – which will last around two hours. We will be walking around the mine, so no crawling involved! Photography is allowed, so bring a camera if you wish, but please don’t post any pictures on social media.
There are 20 places available on a members-only basis (10 places allocated to PDMHS members & 10 for Masson Caving Group members). To book your place(s), contact Paul, either by email at meets@pdmhs.com or tel: 01246-220773. Preference will be given to Society members who have not visited before, but please book early! If over-subscribed, you will be added to a reserve list. Sorry, this is a members-only trip – no guests allowed. As our visit will be covered by the company’s insurance, the minimum age limit is fifteen years, but there is no upper age limit.
Wear overalls/old clothes and wellies (it will be wet underfoot in places), a helmet and a hi-vis jacket/vest (if you have one). Lamps & self-rescuers will be supplied, though if you have your own belt for the lamp & self-rescuer that might be useful.
Many thanks to Richard at British Fluorspar Limited for arranging the visit.
Stanton Moor Industrial Heritage Walk Report
As with many of our recent walks, we were lucky with the weather at the end of October for our guided heritage walk looking at some of the disused gritstone quarries on Stanton Moor. Fourteen of us met near Birchover, including one couple whose ancestors quarried at Stanton for at least 200 years. They brought with them the wonderful photograph below of several members of their family with a steam crane at one of the quarries.
Walk report: Castleton, Pindale and Dirtlow Rake
The group of 15 set off from Castleton to Odin mine sough tail, Trickett Bridge.
The stream bed here is stained orange due to iron in the shale the sough runs through. The valley bottom is mostly of shale with the reef limestone rising up to form Treak Cliff and Long Cliff.
A strong flow of water was rising at our next stop, Russet well, this was formerly a main source of Castleton’s water supply. The well helps drain the Peak to Speedwell cave system, of which the large natural shaft, Titan, is a part. Continue reading