This is the mine connected to the Cults Lime and Brick Works which I explored several months ago, and first reported on 28DL. It was worked for at least a century – Cults Hill produced some of the purest lime in Scotland, and was large enough to warrant its own internal tramway system. first serving the mine, then the quarry which succeeded it. The mine closed around 1949 or 1950 when the quarry opened, and at the same time the old lime kilns were replaced by a new limeworks.
Several parallel adits were driven at a shallow angle into the hillside by Cochran of Cults, and they extend southwards for several hundred metres, with many cross-galleries running off them. Although I understand that all the accesses were backfilled when the mine closed, at least three are now accessible, which also means that the mine still has a degree of through-ventilation. At least 3km of underground chambers and galleries remain, but the surface works connected with the mine have all gone. For me, this explore was about becoming accustomed to the underground enviroment, rather than taking photos – but I’ve posted a few of the better shots.
Narrow gauge rails are still evident on a couple of inclines, along with the remains of a steel haulage cable (the engine houses at the head of the lines used electric motors, at least latterly). Cast iron pumping mains also run at the side of a couple of inclines, and are in better condition than the cables, which crumble to the touch. We located the remains of a 2-foot gauge Hudson-type skip frame, some axles and wheel bearings, plus a skip body lying elsewhere. Occasionally there are impressive pieces of flowstone, a toadstool, or pit props covered in a white, “deep pile” fungus – mostly there are long successions of galleries and chambers around three metres high, four or five metres wide, many with fallen rocks on the floor. There are some arrows and notations painted onto the walls, and long coloured twines which are said to be the result of a police search of the mine during a murder enquiry …
Cults Mine is a labyrinth, and I became disorientated quickly: it would have been too easy to get lost if I hadn’t been in the company of more experienced mine explorers. That emphasised that the risks in old mines are of a different magnitude to those in derelict buildings: there is bad air in the western part of Cults; there are several big roof collapses, and several more dodgy parts held up by rotten timber props, or 20 lb steel rails deformed way beyond their yield point. The furthest reaches of the inclines have flooded, and the areas close to them have a deep layer of “high suction” mud on the floor … on the way to a sump.
Explored with Number Six, V70 (see above!), Pincheck and Cuban – big thanks to Number Six for his knowledge of mine safety, and also his patience while I scuttered around with torches and bulb mode. A little understanding of limestone mining has given me a great deal of respect for this mine.
Several parallel adits were driven at a shallow angle into the hillside by Cochran of Cults, and they extend southwards for several hundred metres, with many cross-galleries running off them. Although I understand that all the accesses were backfilled when the mine closed, at least three are now accessible, which also means that the mine still has a degree of through-ventilation. At least 3km of underground chambers and galleries remain, but the surface works connected with the mine have all gone. For me, this explore was about becoming accustomed to the underground enviroment, rather than taking photos – but I’ve posted a few of the better shots.
Narrow gauge rails are still evident on a couple of inclines, along with the remains of a steel haulage cable (the engine houses at the head of the lines used electric motors, at least latterly). Cast iron pumping mains also run at the side of a couple of inclines, and are in better condition than the cables, which crumble to the touch. We located the remains of a 2-foot gauge Hudson-type skip frame, some axles and wheel bearings, plus a skip body lying elsewhere. Occasionally there are impressive pieces of flowstone, a toadstool, or pit props covered in a white, “deep pile” fungus – mostly there are long successions of galleries and chambers around three metres high, four or five metres wide, many with fallen rocks on the floor. There are some arrows and notations painted onto the walls, and long coloured twines which are said to be the result of a police search of the mine during a murder enquiry …
Cults Mine is a labyrinth, and I became disorientated quickly: it would have been too easy to get lost if I hadn’t been in the company of more experienced mine explorers. That emphasised that the risks in old mines are of a different magnitude to those in derelict buildings: there is bad air in the western part of Cults; there are several big roof collapses, and several more dodgy parts held up by rotten timber props, or 20 lb steel rails deformed way beyond their yield point. The furthest reaches of the inclines have flooded, and the areas close to them have a deep layer of “high suction” mud on the floor … on the way to a sump.
Explored with Number Six, V70 (see above!), Pincheck and Cuban – big thanks to Number Six for his knowledge of mine safety, and also his patience while I scuttered around with torches and bulb mode. A little understanding of limestone mining has given me a great deal of respect for this mine.
