Journeys in the 21st and 16th centuries.

Heavy rainfall eroded path

Since last writing, I have had another session working with a group of our regional volunteers  - the group that brings a cake!  We were repairing some of the damage we have had on the Catbells terrace path and also on the mine track on the Newlands side of Catbells.  A few weeks ago we had a heavy rainfall event where a lot of water falling in a short time onto dry summer ground had done some damage.  

It could have been worse but some earlier work, again done by volunteers, had helped minimise the damage.  We were repairing that by putting in wide, angled ‘sleeping policemen’ to shed the water across the path as quickly as possible.   A lot of hard work was completed, the cake was up to the expected standard and the foxgloves were at their best!

Then, one evening, a friend and I made an excursion into the disused  Goldscope mine in Newlands valley.  We explored a passage that carried water along a leat  from the Elizabethan stone and turf dam on the fell-side above the mine. The water entered the level and travelled through from one side of the hill to the other.  These passages were named coffin levels because of their shape.  

Coffin level

No overtaking!

Copper staining

This shape minimised the amount of stone they had to remove to create access for a man.  The levels predate the late 19^th century and were hand-picked using iron tools much like those illustrated in the 16^th century book  De re Metallica. 

Children would have been employed in the early stages of digging out these passages.

Many of these coffin levels were subsequently destroyed when explosives were developed that could be used to enlarge them and make it easier to bring out the ores.  This one survived because it was used only for water.  

Chamber for water wheel

Timber-work above the wheel-pit chamber

About half way through this passage there was a chamber with a water-wheel that powered a chain system that dewatered the lower mine levels.  This too was cut by hand – the picture shows the tool marks clearly.

The water continued through the hill-side and was then used to power another wheel for the stamping mills.

It is awe-inspiring to stand in these passages knowing that such massive works were carried out using just hand-tools.

Mist having second thoughts.