• List of publications received by NAMHO Secretary up to 31/5/2001

 
• MONUMENTS PROTECTION PROGRAMME

The event is a self-contained Conference with no surface or underground visits and no special Saturday night activity. There will be no raffles, auctions, quizzes etc, just a chance to have a natter with people you don't see often enough.

The theme of the Conference - "Mining History and Beyond"- will concentrate on aspects of mining history which have so far received little attention, and look to the future.

Because of the urgency of the situation a core of speakers, who are recognised as leaders of their various fields, has been established. However, anyone who offers to give a lecture on the theme will be given serious consideration.

Further information is available from Mike Gill, 38 Main St, Sutton in Craven, KEIGHLEY, BD20 7HD. Tel: 01535 635388 or E-Mail: martgill@legend.co.uk.

I have the E-Mail addresses for those representatives who provided the information on the 2001 Renewal Invoices.

If any representative, who has E-Mail facilities and who did not give the information on their renewal form, wishes to receive information by electronic means, would they please advise the Secretary of their E-Mail address.

His "Geology of the Northern Pennine Orefield", first published in 1948 and revised and re-issued in 1990, remains the North Pennine 'bible'.
Ian Forbes (NMRS Newsletter)

There has been much criticism of the Trust in the local area. This has reflected concern that little emphasis has been placed on conserving the unique surface remains, which is now the only substantially intact tin dressing complex in its original location in the country. There has also been much concern that the Trust has not seen fit to publish accounts for the site into which large amounts of public money have been poured.

The Management Contract for the site with Cornwall County Council lapses in September 2001. A group of concerned local people - mainly ex Geevor staff - with a wide range of abilities have formed a group, called Pendeen Community Heritage, to tender for the contract. The aim of the group is to create a high standard mining museum for Penwith which befits the economic regeneration of the area by creating substantial jobs and increasing visitor numbers. Pendeen Community Heritage will be constituted as a Charitable Company. It can be contacted at Bojewyan House, Pendeen, PENZANCE, TR19 7TR. Tel: 01736 787312.
Bill Lakin

A selection of objects from the Lancashire Mining Museum, which closed in July 2000, will be displayed in the Centre. The collection will be kept together in a permanent gallery. It is intended to depict the importance of coal mining as a fundamental factor in the region's prosperity from the 18th Century.

Rob Sharland-Ball, formerly of the National Railway Museum, is now working on the design of the Coal Mining Gallery at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry.
I J Brown (Mining & Minerals April 2001)

It is hoped that by identifying coalfields heritage and examples of innovative practice throughout the country, it will be possible to encourage new projects, both for the preservation of heritage in its wider sense and in order, where possible, to link with action for regeneration. The Project hopes to uncover aspects not usually seen as part of heritage, and to build on local interest

Further information is available from Rosemary Power, The Coalfields Heritage Trust, 2 Portland Place, Spring Gardens, DONCASTER, DN1 3DF. Tel : 01302 304400, E Mail: info@coalfields-regen.org.uk

My interest lies in the location and business conducted at Salt Horn. WMC would seem to mean "Working Men's Club" and this might well suggest mining, as would Salt Horn in the title.

I would be most obliged if anyone could give me a lead in this quest.
P R Edwards, 13 Lodge Close, Canons Drive, EDGWARE, Middx, HA8 7RL

About 30 miners were drowned in the Bagdigi Coal Mine, Eastern India. The Bharat Coking & Coal Ltd, owners of the mine, have been ordered to suspend work at all of its mines until mine plans have been updated. Mining Journal 9/2/01

An explosion at a mine in NE China killed 37 prisoner - labourers on 4/2/01. The Pingan Mine is operated by the prison in the town of Jixi. Mining Journal 16/2/01

A river near Tipnani in Bolivia broke its banks on 23/2/01 and flooded an underground gold mine killing at least 9 miners (exact number not known because no register was being kept). Mining Journal 2/3/01

A gas explosion in Lianyuan Mine, China, killed 21 miners on 22/2/01. This followed the death of 11 miners by poisonous gases and high temperature at another mine on the same day. Mining Journal 2/3/01

All prospecting for minerals has been halted in the Irish republic as part of the drive to prevent Foot and Mouth Disease spreading. Mining Journal 9/3/01

Heavy rains caused a mine to collapse near Gonau in the Congo killing at least 70 miners who were getting columbite-tantalite (Fe, Mn)(TaN62O6), known locally as coltan and a source of niobium and tantatum. Coltan mining has become important in recent years as rebels in the Congo are using profits to fund their war with the authorities. Mining Journal 16/3/01

A side wall failed at Nchanga Open Pit, Zambia on 8 April 2001. This incident resulted in 10 men, and their equipment being buried. The Anglo American Group operate the Pit and, three days after the collapse, a spokesman stated that only one body (and a grader) had been recovered. Anglo American Group also stated that about 8 million tons of material had fallen into the pit. Mining Journal May 2001

Greenside Mine was one of the largest lead mines working almost continuously from 1825 until closure in 1960. The village of Glenridding in Patterdale, Lake District, grew with the mine, being home to many of the miners.

The exhibition consists of hundreds of photographs from 1880 to 1960, newspaper articles, archive material, maps and plans. There is a display of working models of mine machinery and paintings by a Yorkshire artist. Major events at the mine are covered including the recent reopening of the Lucy Level, the main entrance to the mine. Last year's exhibition resulted in more exhibits being made available and these will be incorporated into the exhibition this year.
John Hodgkins

Recently I have been in touch with a German Hydrological Engineer, Dr Thomas Krassmann, who told me that he has prepared list of all known man-engines worldwide. These lists can be found on the web-site: < http/www.untertage.com >

These lists are in German and English. The Germans call the man-engine "fahrkunst" and the French "echelles mobiles".

Dr Krassmann surprised me by stating that there are two man-engines still operating. One is at a mining Museum at Kongsberg in Norway and the other, which is in regular use to enable pumping equipment to be serviced, is at the Samson Shaft at St Andreasberg in the Harz Mountains, Germany.

The man-engine at Samsons was installed in 1837 and was powered by a large water wheel. It was converted to electrical operation in 1924 and the pumps are at the 190 metre level.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has actually travelled on either of these devises.
David Tew, 3 Sandringham Close, OAKHAM, Rutland, LE15 6SH

A project has been set up in Switzerland, at an underground fire study and training centre, to investigate tunnel fires on an international basis. This will involve the extension of the tunnel network at the existing Hagerbach Test Gallery at Flums, which already has 4.5km of tunnels.
I J Brown (World Tunnelling April 2000)

If a mine could be dewatered by an adit it was classed as a dry mine but if the water had to be pumped out of the mine, it was classed as a wet mine. It was, therefore, possible to have more water coming from dry mine than from a wet mine.
Friends of Killhope Newsletter

Further information and copies of the book are available from Mike Gill, 38 Main St, Sutton in Craven, KEIGHLEY, BD20 7HD. Tel: 01535 635388 or EMail: martgill@legend.co.uk.
NMRS Newsletter

There is free admission to all National Museum & Galleries of Wales sites, including the Welsh Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Coal Mining Museum of Wales at Big Pit, Blaenavon.

The Valetta Convention Article 3 will mandate the licensing of both individuals and excavations. It will cover all forms of prospecting including geophysical and field walking. It will not just affect local societies and "amateur" archaeologists, but will spread to universities, museums and research institutes.

Only time will tell how the Article will be applied in practice, but the initial impression of the Article is that many NAMHO organisations will be affected by this Article if it were to be strictly enforced. It would appear that permission will be required to clear sites and even dig out adits.

If any organisation, or individual, has any views on this article, would they please contact the secretary of NAMHO.

The web site of the Council for Independent Archaeology is :  www.independents.org.uk/

The 26 year old man had abseiled down the Stainsbury Shaft at Charterhouse and it is believed that he was trapped in the shaft for 11 days.

Children walking a recently reopened foot path heard his cries for help and raised the alarm. He was rescued by the Mendip Cave Rescue Team.

The lorry had broken down on the Pass when it rolled back and fell 30ft into the beck and landed upside down in the ravine.

The road was closed, a 200yd exclusion zone established, and the lorry was recovered next day.

The HSE was of the opinion that there was little risk of an explosion but was concerned that someone may have been injured by slipping into the beck.
CAT Newsletter