Miner Mike wrote:
Sure, I'm the same way. Wow, the blues really are vivid. Do you know what keeps mines of this age accessible for so long? I know there are mine preservation groups in the UK that dig out old adits and refurbish workings. With mines this old, I am curious to know how well they are documented and how difficult they are to find. Historical books and maps get lost over time (although the Internet seems to slowly be changing that) and I have to imagine an eroded adit must be difficult to discern that is over 400 years old.
Mike,
You ask some good questions, i will try my best to answer them.
With regards to what keeps the mines accessable. Take Cae Coch for example due to the rock being of a volcanic nature it is pretty solid which makes the place quite stable other places the roof will come down by just looking at them! There are caving clubs that have leases on some of the mines in the UK and these groups do a sterling job of keeping them open to the public.
As for the mines being documented, yes the majority on non coal mines are well documented and many due to there remote location and lack of dangerous gases are left ungated, with little research and google earth the adits can be easily found. I am fortunate in that were i live i am no more than two hours drive in any direction from various types of mining, Slate, Copper Lead, Coal, Fluorspar, Limestone, Sulphur,Silver,Gold, Fireclay, Stone.
Have a look at my flickr site to view some mines.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/b3tarev3/sets/
There are some dedicated websites that you maybe familar with that cater for all things underground in the UK that are well worth a look at.
http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/
http://www.aditnow.co.uk/
If any of you guys find yourself in the UK at some point and would like to see any of these mines just let me know.