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Historic artefactsThe Beacon before demolitionDevil's GraveMain Chamber Engine Vein1930s visitors at BrynlowNorth Boundary Fault, Wood MineKey Chamber, Wood MineFinlow MineThe Laundry Chute in West MineTom's Shaft in the Cobalt MineT'owd man in Wood MineBlue ShaftSRT in Engine VeinWorkings on the vein, Engine VeinDoc MineWood MineWest MineRoman coins
Coniston Copper Mine, LakesFirst Pitch, P8 DerbyshireMagpie Mine, DerbyshireMoel Fferna slate mine, N WalesOgof Dydd Byraf, North WalesCoventosa, SpainStockport air raid sheltersRampgill Mine, NentheadBull Pot of the WitchesGaping Gill, YorkshireAlum Pot, Yorkshire DalesAven d'Orgnac, FranceOld Ing Cave, Yorkshire DalesColonnades: Lancaster HoleLennies Cave, MatienzoWartling Bunker, KentBagshawe Cavern, DerbyshireSnailbeach Mine, ShropshireGiants Hole, DerbyshireNettle Pot, DerbyshireCarrs Mine, Nenthead
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West Mine is the largest mine under Alderley Edge, and the main chamber, not far in from the entrance, is the largest single open space underground at Alderley. Nevertheless, it is small by comparison with mine chambers elsewhere in the UK. The chamber was excavated by using hand drills and gunpowder and probably took a couple of years to get as large as it is now.
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This was taken in a chert mine in Derbyshire. After the chert (a form of silica) had been extracted, the waste was left in the mine retained by walls such as the one on the right.
Two flashes have been used so as to gain perspective. The nearby flash was not on the camera so as to avoid spots on the picture and to provide a bit of shadow behind the nearby objects.

The next public event at the Alderley Edge mines is an evening trip at Wood Mine on Wednesday 17/06/2026.To find out if there is still space available, go to the booking page.

In case of emergency at Alderley Edge, call POLICE 999 and ask for DERBYSHIRE CAVE RESCUE.   They will call out local team members.  Do NOT call for the Fire Brigade.