Snailbeach Mine,
Summer Open Day
Sunday 29th
June 2008
The Shropshire Mines Trust are opening Snailbeach Lead
Mine (see below for details of activities). For general information about
Snailbeach Mine, visit the website below.
Location
The mine is sited in the
How to get there
click on map to get larger version
From the North - head for the A5 Shrewsbury bypass from either east or west and turn
down the A488 south signposted for
From the South - head for
There is ample free parking so please ensure that you
park behind the Village Hall, either on the car park or the grass field below.
Do NOT drive up the small road to Lordshill or park on the roads.
Opening Times
Activities will take place from 11.00am to 5.00pm.
Please note, however, that you may not be able to join in the activities if you
turn up after 4.00pm. If you turn up in the morning then you can be sure of
participating in everything.
Parking
Everybody should park in the Village Hall car park (use the lower field
if full) and then walk up the hill opposite to the mine site. There are toilets in the car park but none on
site so you may wish to make use of them first!
Surface Buildings
Snailbeach Mine has the best set of surface lead mine
buildings in the country and you can explore these throughout the day.
It takes about 1 hour to go round on the surface and
you should note that only part is accessible to disabled persons due to either
rough ground or steep climbs. In addition, part of the route climbs a steep
hill so you must be reasonably fit.
Disabled persons will be allowed to park near the buildings – ask one of
the helpers.
The following are the main buildings :-
a) Locomotive Shed
This used to house steam locomotives which operated the
light railway to Minsterley, taking away lead ore and bringing back coal for
the boilers. It now contains a number of artifacts found on site and there are
future plans to install displays of mining techniques.
b) Blacksmiths Shop
This used to produce all the metalwork for the mine
and sharpened the miners' tools. It has been recently refurbished and the forge
will be operating during the day. The resident blacksmith will show how it
worked and may be making items out of iron. You will also be able to see lead
being melted and poured into moulds to make small ingots. The Roundhead blacksmith should also be there
making lead musket balls.
c) Visitor Centre
This used to be the Miners Dry (where they dried their
working clothes). You will be able to see displays and watch a video about the
mine. Adjacent to this is the reconstructed wooden headgear and winding wheel
on George's Shaft.
There will be volunteers in each of the buildings to
show you around and answer questions. You can buy a self-guided surface tour
leaflet for 50p to see the rest of the site.
Underground Mine
If you wish to participate, we would ask you to make a
small donation towards our Preservation Fund which finances the cost of looking
after the site and preserving mining machinery. Go to the Visitor Centre first
to book a trip.
a) Underground Taster (allow 20 minutes underground) –
THIS MAY NOT BE OPEN THIS YEAR
Visitors will be taken into Day Level, which was a
19th century access tunnel driven to meet Lordshill Shaft. Lead ore was wound up
the shaft to this level and pushed out to the adjacent crushing machinery.
Rails have being re-laid in this level and visitors will be pushed in most of
the way on a truck with seats.
The level will be lit along its length with hurricane
lamps but you may wish to bring your own torch for extra lighting. A few
torches will be available on the day.
Helmets will be provided at the entrance. It is on the level and is
upright walking apart from a short section (but you will be pushed along this
bit). Remember, however, that it is not a Show Mine so don't expect concrete
floors and be prepared to get dirty shoes. You should also wear warm clothes as
it will be cool underground. At the end is the shaft and it is covered by a
grille so you can look down into its dark depths! There will be displays
of mining equipment and a guide will tell you about working methods.
b) Longer Tour
(allow 40 minutes underground)
Visitors will be taken into Perkins Level, which was a
20th century access tunnel driven to meet several chambers where barite was
mined. It also connected with workings deep in the mine. There is the chance to
see a big barite vein as well as traces of galena (lead ore) in the rock. There
is usually ankle deep water at the entrance so wellies are advisable or bring
spare shoes. Helmets will be provided but this mine is not lit so it is
essential that you have your own light.
A few torches and pairs of wellies will be available on the day.
Virtual
Tour of Day Level & Perkins Level
REMEMBER
We
provide - helmet
You
bring - wellies, torch, old clothes
English Civil War Re-enactment Society
This year we are pleased to welcome some members of
the Earl of Essex Regiment of Foot.
This
was a roundhead unit from the English Civil War and they will be in full period
uniform.
Experience
the sights and sounds of 1643. Witness what life may have been like as the
country struggled to reconcile its political and religious differences; as the
mine continues to produce lead although now mainly for musket balls and shot and
households and recruits go about their daily lives. With demonstrations of cooking, metal
working, musket ball manufacture, medicine, military drill, religious and
political this event brings a unique opportunity to visit this turbulent time
in our history.
There
will be two main displays, one a civilian street with a household including
kitchen, bedroom living quarters, the other portraying recruitment into the
Trayned Bands gathering in defence of Shropshire as they are introduced to
military skills of musket, pike and billhooks.
During
the day there will be military drill displays in the white tips area as the new
recruits are put through their paces in handling muskets, pikes, billhooks and
muskets responding to orders relayed by the drums and colours, portraying the
tactics of 17th century warfare.
During
the event skilled re-enactors will seek to portray day to day 17th
life and offer you the chance to try on soldier’s equipment and for youngsters
to join up and learn how to drill in the use of the weapons of the time. There
will be a running commentary during the Drill Displays.
Their timetable of events is :-
|
11:00 Site Open to Public |
|
11:15 Drill Display |
|
11:40 Children’s Drill (20 minutes) |
|
12:00 (Approx.) Lunch |
|
13:30 Drill Display |
|
14:00 Children’s Drill (20 minutes) |
|
15.30 Pay Parade |
|
16.30 Colours withdrawn |
|
17:00 Site closes to Public |
Throughout the event children will be
encouraged to complete a time trail quiz. The challenge will be to ask the
re-enactors for a letter in exchange for a series of questions. The letters
will form the watchword for the day. Those successfully arriving at the correct
answer will be awarded with a commission scroll by the Company Scribe.
Disabled Access
There are parts of the site that would be very
difficult for a disabled person to access due to steep slopes and uneven
ground. However, the buildings are all
accessible and It may be possible to arrange access to Day Level for disabled
persons – ask a helper. There is limited
parking for disabled persons’ cars at the mine.
Tankerville Mine
This is another lead mine,
a few miles to the south, which is owned by the Trust. It has an almost
complete engine house and chimney, as well as other features, which have been
recently preserved. You are welcome to
visit it during the day and, if you are part of a large group, ask a helper to
see if we can provide a guide.
click on map to get larger version
Staying in the area
If you wish to stay over in the area we recommend
the Stiperstones Inn
Further information
If you wish to enquire further about any of the
activities:-
Adrian Pearce
72
Shawbirch
Telford
T. 01952-405369
Last
revised: 19 June 2008