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Where am I?  DCC > ALDERLEY EDGE

INTRODUCTION

The Alderley Edge mines in Cheshire, UK, were mined from the Bronze Age (c. 4000 years ago) until the early 20th century. 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 by them to the Derbyshire Caving Club which maintains access and continues to explore the network for areas of mining that have been closed for centuries. In recent years, a fairly comprehensive study has been made of the mines by a project team lead by the Manchester Museum and the National Trust. This study is due to be published soon.

For details of Malcolm Bailey's bike ride for charity, go to our special page.

THIS WEBSITE

In this website, you will find information about the mines, their history and their current state. There is also information about the Derbyshire Caving Club and its activities and links to other sites of related interest.

Please feel free to comment on the site or send me any information that may add to the value of the site or knowledge about Alderley Edge and its mines.

My e-mail address is

All information is © Copyright Nigel Dibben 2000-2009 except where otherwise noted.

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LATEST NEWS

18    01/05/07    To bring things up to date: (a) West Mine now has a couple of interesting traverses to test people's caving skills; (b) the Flight Deck rope has been replaced with a rope ladder; (c) the entrance passage to Engine Vein has been dried out a bit by putting in a membrane and drain pipes.

17    29/10/05    Pictures added of the work at Plank Shaft - check the new West Mine Photogallery

16    18/09/05    Some investigation has been begun at the bottom of Plank Shaft by Malcolm and others.

15    05/05/05    New bridge (the "Bailey" Bridge) now installed in Wood Mine at the end of the adit.  Along with the ladders at Junction Shaft and Sand Cavern, the work has been done by Malcolm and his loyal team to a very high standard.

14    01/01/05  Timber Shaft dig still going.  

13    12/05/04  Dumper up and running!  2004 April and September Open Days were quieter than usual but just as enjoyable for club members and visitors alike.  Digging underway in West Mine at the end of the Main Chamber.

12    28/4/03 A brief round-up:

1. The dumper has been refurbished and is nearly ready for use again.  It should not jump out of gear now.  Before it goes back into service, it will have an anti-roll bar fitted.
2. The September 2002 Open Weekend was very popular but huge queues developed on the Sunday.  As a result, timed tickets were issued on the April 2003 Open Weekend at Church Quarry.
3. The Church Quarry weekend involved demonstrations of a working forge making tools, casting copper, smelting with a bole furnace, cave radio and cave rescue.
4. The dig at Engine Vein has been completed and is currently being recorded.

11    1/4/02    Consent has been gained for limited excavation to be resumed on the scheduled sites.  The dig at Engine Vein has resumed subject to records being kept and furnished to the Cheshire archivist at the end of the dig.  Emergency work has been carried out on a shaft at Engine Vein which subsided slightly in February and which has now been sealed and topped back up to surface level with DCMS consent.

10.  1/11/01 The sites around the 1860s treatment works and Engine Vein have been scheduled.  See the new page concerning legal constraints.

9.    10/10/01 The water and mud above Engine Vein has been removed by the National Trust with help from the DCC.  The mud has built up over twenty years and reached 8 feet deep at the lowest point.  In future, it will be cleared at regular intervals now that access has been improved and a workable digging technique has been developed.

8.    3/9/01 Scheduling remains imminent.  This will make digging of certain mines very difficult although the terms of agreement with English Heritage have yet to be agreed. The Open Day on 1/2 September was deemed a success.

7.    6/7/01  It has been decided that the Open Days will go ahead on 1 and 2 September 2001 with a demonstration of Club activities in Wood Mine.  For more details, go to the webpage on Open Days.

6.    7/6/01 Scheduling of parts of the Edge as ancient monuments is now imminent.  Watch this space as we will insert a new page when this is complete to explain the implications to members and visitors alike.

5.    3/6/01 Clearing of the "pond" above Engine Vein has been started by the National Trust as part of a volunteer programme.  The water disappeared mysteriously before the work started.  Was this work of the wizard???

4.    FOOT AND MOUTH  Some of the restrictions on access imposed because of the foot and mouth epidemic have been lifted.  For further information, please contact the Club by e-mailing the Club. 

3.    OPEN WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER 2001: The next Open Weekend is scheduled for 1 and 2 September 2001. This is likely to be in Wood Mine.  For further details, look at the page on Open Days. 

2.    Extension at Engine Vein towards Beacon Lodge. This was found by a combined effort pushing a crawl at the western end of Engine Vein. Evidence suggests that it may have been 18th century work following the lead vein at Engine Vein but could also have been re-entered in the early 19th century.

1.    Digging is well underway at Timber Shaft on Wood Mine to restore the field level and remove the blockage which slumped in 1999.  The shaft is now being built up to surface level and digging has started in earnest. 

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