the_undertaker
31-07-2010, 04:02 PM
Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria
Above & Below Ground
31 July 2010
the_undertaker & superkev
An early morning start for the short trip over to Braithwaite near Keswick to have a mooch around Force Crag mixed mineral mine. We didn’t get round all of the underground stuff - of which there is a lot to see over a few levels, but will certainly be back soon to do the rest when we’re not so bound by time.
Located in an impressive glacial valley at the end of a two mile long track, lead, zinc and barytes have been mined at this site for over 130 years. The mill building was constructed in 1908/9 and modified in 1940. The National Trust acquired the mine and mineral rights in 1979, the mine ceased working in 1991 and was declared abandoned in 1992.
On approach to the site, the mill building to the lower right:
http://i32.tinypic.com/nl8qjd.jpg
Dressing mill externals:
http://i31.tinypic.com/r8aydi.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/23lbmsx.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/5pen1i.jpg
Drainage shoot from no.1 adit:
http://i31.tinypic.com/a1jq04.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/2z55heh.jpg
Grizzly crushing hopper & conveyor to dressing mill:
http://i27.tinypic.com/2zptqhs.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/9t3jmb.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/2qs575s.jpg
http://i30.tinypic.com/33kq6aw.jpg
Going underground on no.3 level:
http://i32.tinypic.com/206j2fp.jpg
http://i29.tinypic.com/2mhetle.jpg
Area of collapsed water cover:
http://i25.tinypic.com/vz96pt.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/2vkakxx.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/j1338i.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/2qs8p49.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/35laobc.jpg
Sleepers stacked up…
http://i30.tinypic.com/ogdgd3.jpg
…and in situ:
http://i26.tinypic.com/2h6dqfm.jpg
Water draining down to no.2 level:
http://i31.tinypic.com/2j33yuv.jpg
Remains of track under an area of collapse:
http://i32.tinypic.com/919k77.jpg
The perfect mirror – still water on no.2 level with the access to the incline on the right:
http://i32.tinypic.com/2zoeqkj.jpg
Up the incline:
http://i25.tinypic.com/10d5jy9.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/zlock.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/5cj8n4.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/29ve4yg.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/315zcee.jpg
The top of the incline leading to the next level – one for next time perhaps:
http://i26.tinypic.com/53lqw1.jpg
No time to go further on this visit but we know there is a lot more to see, especially the machinery etc left behind. Part two to follow!
Thanks for looking.
Above & Below Ground
31 July 2010
the_undertaker & superkev
An early morning start for the short trip over to Braithwaite near Keswick to have a mooch around Force Crag mixed mineral mine. We didn’t get round all of the underground stuff - of which there is a lot to see over a few levels, but will certainly be back soon to do the rest when we’re not so bound by time.
Located in an impressive glacial valley at the end of a two mile long track, lead, zinc and barytes have been mined at this site for over 130 years. The mill building was constructed in 1908/9 and modified in 1940. The National Trust acquired the mine and mineral rights in 1979, the mine ceased working in 1991 and was declared abandoned in 1992.
On approach to the site, the mill building to the lower right:
http://i32.tinypic.com/nl8qjd.jpg
Dressing mill externals:
http://i31.tinypic.com/r8aydi.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/23lbmsx.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/5pen1i.jpg
Drainage shoot from no.1 adit:
http://i31.tinypic.com/a1jq04.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/2z55heh.jpg
Grizzly crushing hopper & conveyor to dressing mill:
http://i27.tinypic.com/2zptqhs.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/9t3jmb.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/2qs575s.jpg
http://i30.tinypic.com/33kq6aw.jpg
Going underground on no.3 level:
http://i32.tinypic.com/206j2fp.jpg
http://i29.tinypic.com/2mhetle.jpg
Area of collapsed water cover:
http://i25.tinypic.com/vz96pt.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/2vkakxx.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/j1338i.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/2qs8p49.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/35laobc.jpg
Sleepers stacked up…
http://i30.tinypic.com/ogdgd3.jpg
…and in situ:
http://i26.tinypic.com/2h6dqfm.jpg
Water draining down to no.2 level:
http://i31.tinypic.com/2j33yuv.jpg
Remains of track under an area of collapse:
http://i32.tinypic.com/919k77.jpg
The perfect mirror – still water on no.2 level with the access to the incline on the right:
http://i32.tinypic.com/2zoeqkj.jpg
Up the incline:
http://i25.tinypic.com/10d5jy9.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/zlock.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/5cj8n4.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/29ve4yg.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/315zcee.jpg
The top of the incline leading to the next level – one for next time perhaps:
http://i26.tinypic.com/53lqw1.jpg
No time to go further on this visit but we know there is a lot more to see, especially the machinery etc left behind. Part two to follow!
Thanks for looking.