Alderley Edge mines (under ground not underwater)
Sunday brought a different type of descent, this time into the underworld as opposed to under water.
Archaeological evidence indicates that copper mining took place here during Roman times and the Bronze Age (c. 4000), and written records show that mining continued here from the 1690s up to the 1920s.
Most of the mines are still accessible although many surface features have been obscured by vegetation over the years.
Many of the mines are owned by the National Trust and have been leased from them by the Derbyshire Caving Club which maintains access and continues to explore and search for areas of mining that have been closed for centuries.
Meeting at the National trust Wizard car park on Alderley Edge the Derbyshire Caving club guides, led by Olly King. The first stage was to get kitted up with old style hip battery powered head torches and helmets ready for the descent. Its not potholing but it is dark and there are some low ceilings.
To find the entrance we went deep into the main Alderley forest. The entrance to Wood Mine (named because it is in a wood), is a solid metal door, accessibility is fairly easy but needs to be unlocked from inside by the guide who dropped through a trap door in the woods. A long corridor leads down and it’s easy to see where Alan Garner got his ideas for the Weird Stone of Brasingamen and the Moon of Gomrath.
The caves work downwards using ladders, steps and sloping corridors all hewn out of the rock. We visited places with names such as Sand cavern and down to the rabbit cavern and Blue Lake Junction. Some of the routes needed crawling through due to sand filling the tunnels but most allowed us to walk, if not a little hunched up.
The deepest point of the mines was 40 – 50 meters but it felt deeper, similar to our diving depths!
One of the most stunning sites was the Green Waterfalls. These are actually the stain left by copper that has been washed down the passages. The walls, in places, have striking blue and green hues that look like waterfalls.
In places we came across the rusting evidence of machinery and tracks form the later mining days. The walls also showed the signs of pick axes and the rods holes for explosives. We also were challenged to go through tight gaps to wriggle onto other levels.
After what seemed like a short time we returned to Sand cavern and made our way back to the surface via ladders and finally up the corridor to the entrance.
We had been down the mine for 3 1/2 hours, it didn’t seem that long. The tour was fascinating and Olly’s knowledge of the mines is amazing and interesting. Hopefully we will return for another tour sometime soon.
For more information on the mines have a look at Derbyshire Caving Clubs webpage Main Page: Alderley Edge Mines (derbyscc.org.uk)
