The grilled portal of Deep Level is open to the west of the track and
water flows from here along a leat into the stream. A short distance in there
is a filled shaft offset to the right of the level, this corresponds to a
depression on surface next to a track. Air Shaft is 150yds from the entrance
and there is an obstruction in the level due to attempts to fill the shaft, the
infill having fallen away to a height of 20ft up the shaft. At surface, the
shaft is open to a depth of 30ft due to settling of the infill. The level
continues to the base of the filled No.1 Shaft, at which point it turns left.
The passage then leads to stoping on No.3 Vein which is very loose and the
source of the large amount of water in the mine. The main passage continues
and, in 1964, contained rotting timber which had to be cleared before access
was gained to a second stope, on No.1 Vein. Numerous formations of ochre and
hydrozincite occur in these workings. A clay dam is eventually reached, beyond
which the water reaches the roof. Attempts to remove this dam have not been
successful. There is bad air in the far reaches of these workings and breathing
apparatus is required.
To the south-east of Air Shaft, there are the masonry remains of a
waterwheel and dressing floor. To the east of these are two parallel veins
running up the hilside, which have been worked by open cut methods. There are
three adits driven on the veins but all are collapsed a short distance in. An
open shaft part way up the hillside leads to some workings the other side of
one of the adits.
Engine Shaft is situated in the middle of a large spoil tip to the west and
has collapsed to leave a large crater. Just to the north of this is a line of
open cut workings and a collapsed shaft, as well as a short masonry arched
tunnel for which the purpose is unknown.
A track leads south-west down the hillside to the site of No.1 Shaft
which is filled. Across the stream to the west was a stopehead, which has now
been capped. There are three short trial adits just south of this and some open
vein workings in the hillside. Further south, on the left side of the dingle,
is another short adit. No.2 Shaft appears to have been filled and ploughed over
in the field to the west.
In October 1993, Paul Thorne from
A smaller party then proceeded up the adit until they came to the first
obstacle, where silt had slipped down an offset shaft into the adit. This was
frenziedly attacked until another large volume of water was released, bringing
the airspace down from 10cm to 60cm. There was some discussion as to whether
there might be bad air in the adit if it had been flooded for so long and if it
should be left for a couple of weeks for air to flow. In the event, Steve
Powell and John Davies decided to push on, taking the oxygen meter with them in
case of bad air. After negotiating neck deep water, they came eventually to the
main blockage. Steve then entered a flat out crawl for a few feet before being
able to stand upright on a cone of rubble. This was at the base of the Air
Shaft and the infill had fallen away for a height of 15 metres, leaving the
rest jammed above. The way on was completely blocked at this point but could
easily be dug, so exploration was abandoned for the day. Since there were bats
hibernating in the adit, it was decided to leave further exploration until the
summer.
In August 1994, a digging party returned to the bottom of the Air Shaft,
shored it up and dug out the gravel blocking the way on. This dropped the water
level on the far side and allowed members to carry on up the adit. On reaching
the first junction, however, an old notice was seen warning of the possibility
of bad air. The side passage was explored for a few feet until the oxygen meter
warned of bad air and a safety lamp flame went out. At this point, the party
made a quick exit.
Not to be beaten, members returned in September 1994 with aqua lungs and
oxygen bottles. The exploration party consisted of Mike Worsfold, Steve Powell
and a close friend Colin who would act as the back up man. It was decided to
use the diving rule of thirds, which gave 20 minutes going in, 20 minutes to
come out and 20 minutes as a reserve. Colin also had some reserve bottles in
case the other two did not return on time. All three proceeded up the adit but
at that point the oxygen meter decided to stop working. This meant that they
didn't have any warning of bad air but they decided to go as far as the
previous trip, since air was sufficient to this point at least. Colin would set
up base here and the other two would use oxygen from then onwards. They started
out after synchronizing watches and leaving Colin with the bad air signs for
company.
After some distance they reached the first section of stoping, being
able to see the dips in the strata and barytes pillars left in for support.
They found they were able to breathe at this point without the aqua lungs, so
they explored the stope and took photos. The way on was again blocked but,
after clearing a few rocks, it was possible to squeeze through into the passage
behind. Beyond this was a second set of stopes and another passage but, since
the first 20 minutes had expired, they were not explored. The two put their
bottles on again and returned to Colin, then exited.