Surface Trips
An extensive programme of surface trips is planned. There will be visits to lesser-known parts
of Shropshire’s mining history as well as some longer trips further afield. It is planned to have a minibus trip on the
Monday if there is sufficient interest.
Click on the thumbnail picture to see a larger version
FRIDAY 29th JULY
|
1200
|
F21 - Snailbeach Mine Visitor Centre & Day Level
Time : 1200 – 1600
Meet : Park in village hall car park (SJ373022)
and walk up hill following signs
Details : Visitor Centre,
Blacksmith Shop and Locomotive Shed will be open. Underground trip into Day Level. Explore the self-led conducted tour.
|
Adrian Pearce
|
|
1400
|
F22 – Mining on
the Clee Hill
Time : 1400-1630
Meet : Park just east of Clee Hill Village (NGR SO595753). This
is on the main A4117 Ludlow to Kidderminster Road. It is just outside of
Clee Hill village, on the south side of the road.
Details : This walk will
visit mining and quarrying remains on the top of the Clee Hill, ranging in
date from medieval times to the 20th Century.
|
David Poyner
|
|
1400
|
F23 - Ironbridge
Gorge
Time : 1400 –
1630 approx
Meet : The
Toll House on the south side of the iron bridge adjacent
to the car park (NGR SJ671033)
Party
Size : Maximum 25
Details : Tour of many
mine sites and examine the complex geology of the gorge. Telford and Wrekin
Council have been working to understand the mining legacy over the past few
years and an engineer will lead the walk and share the findings of the
research including showing copies of various mine plans and photographs of
many of the mine workings which remain accessible.
|
Colin Pitcher
|
SATURDAY 30th JULY
|
1000
|
SA21 - Snailbeach
Mine
Time : 1000 –
1400 approx
Meet : Park in village hall car park (NGR
SJ373022)
Details : Tour of the main mine
site and Visitor Centre (with optional easy underground trip into Day
Level). Then on to Lordshill Chapel,
Blakemoorgate and Resting Hill Chimney.
Bring a packed lunch or eat at a pub.
|
Nick Southwick
|
|
1400
|
SA22 – Oswestry’s
Forgotten Coalfield
Time : 1400 -
1630
Meet : Trefonen Village
Hall (NGR SJ262269)
Details
: A tour around the many and varied surface remains of the former
small coalfield south of Oswestry. This area has been described as “a
microcosm of a still preserved former industrial landscape”. Vehicles will be used to visit the
widespread sites.
|
Gordon Hillier
|
|
1400
|
SA23 – Lilleshall
Limestone Mines
Time : 1400-1700
(or longer if there is interest)
Meet : Car park
of “The Aston” pub (NGR SJ737174).
Details : A tour of the
Pitchcroft Mine site, with a detailed visit to our great archaeological
excavation. Then across the fields
to the Lilleshall quarry and mining sites and connecting canal as far as
the Willmoor Bridge and return. This
is a little known but very important limestone mining area operated by the
Lilleshall Partnership and Lilleshall Company 1765-1882. Refreshments can be obtained in the pub
afterwards.
|
David Adams
|
SUNDAY 31st JULY
|
1000
|
SU21 - Grit Mines
Time : 1000 –
1400 approx
Meet : White
Grit engine house (SO319979).
Details : A walk along the
Rider Vein to the top of the hill, then to Old Grit Mine, following the New
Britain Vein to Ladywell Mine, then south-east on the Ladywell Vein to
Shelve Hill and so to Grit Hill and back past East Grit engine house.
|
George Hall
|
|
1400
|
SU22 - Shropshire
Barytes Mines
Time : 1400 -
1630
Meet : TBC
Details
: Tour
of Cothercott, Wilderley, Huglith and Wrentnall
mines which are closely grouped. Trip will be tailored to focus on
attendees' interests in the different sites and their remains.
|
Mike Shaw
|
MONDAY 1st AUGUST
|
1000
|
M21 - Minibus Tour
Time : 1000 –
1600 approx
Meet :
Conference Reception (SJ433143).
Details
: Visiting
the surface remains of the
coal and lead mining industry around Wrexham. There will be a charge for the minibus
TBC
|
Adrian Pearce
|
|
1000
|
M22 - Shrewsbury
Coalfield
Time : 1000 -
1300
Meet : Park at
Station Road, Pontesbury by the
long closed railway station. There
is plenty of street parking (NGR SJ397063).
Details
: Visiting some of the mining
remains of Pontesford, Nags Head and Boycott Collieries with four engine
houses, 2 converted (external only at best), one decent ruin and one
low ruin. Also passing other places of industrial interest, mills, railways
and smelt houses.
|
Mike Shaw
|
|
1400
|
M23 – Lilleshall
Limestone Mines
Time : 1400-1700
(or longer if there is interest)
Meet : Car park
of “The Aston” pub (NGR SJ737174).
Details : A tour of the
Pitchcroft Mine site, with a detailed visit to our great archaeological
excavation. Then across the fields
to the Lilleshall quarry and mining sites and connecting canal as far as
the Willmoor Bridge and return. This
is a little known but very important limestone mining area operated by the
Lilleshall Partnership and Lilleshall Company 1765-1882. Refreshments can be obtained in the pub
afterwards.
|
David Adams
|
|
