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NEWS ARCHIVE

This page contains news archive, the first few lines of which will be seen on the home page if your browser allows this and the rest has previously been on the front page but is now out of date.  The second part of this page covers older news moved from elsewhere on the site.

Current newsreel

A number of pages have been slightly changed.  If a link you have bookmarked stops working, please use the menus or search facilities to find the new name.  There is a new page on how to extract copper from the Alderley ore using vinegar.

The April Open Weekend has now passed and many people enjoyed a guided visit to Wood Mine.  The next Open Weekend will be in September but if you want a trip before then, look at the web pages about visits as special trips can be arranged for groups.

The caving log has been enhanced with captions.  Details of the recent trips to Layby Pot and West Mine are on-line with a selection of photos.

The meets list is a reality.  Keep an eye on the events page.

A new page has been set up to summarise plans for the Club's Golden Anniversary.  This is available to the general public.

New members always welcome.  Go to our Club joining page.

Newsreel archive

Sadly, we have heard that Granville Shillito, orator, caver, collector, fluffy, has died.  Club members will be kept informed.  There are a couple of pictures on the log page.

Do you like the changes to the front page?  Whether or not, the Webmaster would like to know.

Club members can now read the Club Handbook on-line and print selected pages.  Club records and library are also fully listed on-line for members only.

Alderley Edge and its mines feature on the front page and a major article in Current Archaeology, January edition.

Keep the weekend of 17th-18th April 2010 free for the April Open Weekend.  Details will be confirmed later.

There is a new page where members can read about recent trips and view photographs.  Members can also add their own accounts and pictures.  It is quite basic but should be adequate.  Guests can post items but they are not displayed until checked by the Webmaster. 

Sadly, we have lost another member, Derek Kenyon.  Derek was a keen digger in the 1980s and worked on Bear Pit, Ring Shaft and elsewhere.  There is a short note and more photos on the log (click HERE).

2010 is the DCC's 50th anniversary.  Anyone got ideas how to celebrate?

More mining photos on the mining gallery.

AGM soon.  Members should look at the members' pages for details.  The Chairman is resigning so there is a vacancy to be filled.

New photos from the 1940s and 1950s on the Alderley Gallery.

DCC annual dinner in less than two weeks at the Coach and Four, Wilmslow on the 28th of November 2009.  DON'T MISS IT: Simon sings Karaoke!  If you cannot make the dinner, what about coming along afterwards.

It is sad to have to report that Iggy (Ian Higgins) died recently.  Anyone wanting to know more details should contact the Club.  The picture is of Iggy at an early Wood Mine Open Day.

The September Open Days are now history and we look forward to the next Open Days in April.  Keep the weekend of 17th-18th April 2010 free.  Details will be confirmed later.

Annual Dinner booking screens now on-line (members only).  Non-members should e-mail the treasurer at derbyscc.org.uk.

Ceremonies to scatter the ashes of past members Colin Darroch and Jim Lovelock take place in September on separate dates.  Anyone remembering them and wanting to take part should contact the Club.  Email to the Secretary or Webmaster.

Change of Open Day Plans: the Open Days on September 5th and 6th will now be held at Wood Mine.  Please note new venue.

Recent break-ins at Wood Mine and West Mine have cost the Club money and time and have been reported to the Police and Natural England as the vandalism in the mines is a criminal offence.  The Police will be making enquiries to try to find the perpetrators.  Access is readily available by following this link.

Malcolm arrived at John O'Groats at 1720 on 14th June after 942 miles cycling from Land's End.  More here.

Have you tried our search facility?

Members will find details of a recent trip to Nent Head (no password required).

NAMHO Conference coming up soon.  DCC members have been asked to arrange trips to the Alderley mines.

Malcolm's Bike Ride: in support of DCRO and Christie's - details of his plans and, during the ride, his progress, will be available on this site by following this link.  Malcolm starts on 5th June.

Money was pledged to Malcolm for his bike ride based on the number of visitors we welcomed at the Open Weekend and his charity choices have received some significant contributions as a result.

Trip to the Peak District over the weekend, 15-17 May.  Contact Bill B. for details.

Members will find details of recent work in Braille Cave and a visit to slate mines in North Wales.

The Webmaster recently appeared on Canalside Community Radio in Bollington to publicise the Club's activities and the Open Weekend.

A successful Open Weekend was held at Wood Mine, Alderley Edge on 25th and 26th April 2009. 

Older news

2008            Plenty going on this year; we had a meet in Derbyshire in May, there is another trip to Derbyshire in August, Tony B is going to Matienzo this summer and Simon, Neil, Pete and Allan continue to cave regularly in the Dales.

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.

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

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

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.

01/01/05  Timber Shaft dig still going.  

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.

30/04/04    The Open Day got a number of the cavers out to help the miners at Alderley Edge.  The caving side of the club is building up again with regular trips being organised.  Contact the for more information.

28/08/03    Members joined the Matienzo expedition and a cave was extended after a concerted dig at the end.

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.

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.

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

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.

4/9/01 Page added on dig in White Scar Cave, Yorkshire.

Digging is proceeding in Carlswark Cavern.  See project news under "club - digging" or click HERE.

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.

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.

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.

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???

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. 

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. 

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.

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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