Harnisha lead mine - July 2008

[BigLoada]

Visited with Sausage. Harnisha is an old 18th century mine, originally mined by the Bacon family in partnership with William Blackett and his gang.

It was later reworked for fluorspar in the 1970s, hence the evidence of some modern artefacts.

It is a classic design with some good examples of arching and contains some good features such as a hopper, and some good timberwork, although it is fairly hazardous in a lot of places with some serious rock falls and rotting timberwork.

EDIT: Sorry, forgot location in title and don't know how to edit. Anyway, its in County Durham
Heres the pics:

Food tin from the 1970s:

Note the workings above the bottom level:

Modern bow-saw:

Ore hopper for transfer from higher level:

 

[Neosea]

Nice find and some really cool photo's

 

[Foxylady]

Wow, wonderful stonework...love the way the arches seem to be growing out of the surrounding stone. Fabulous colours. Seeing the two levels of workings is amazing. Excellent stuff!

 

[Engineer]

Harishna Lead mine.

Wow, nice pics, a fair bit of steelwork in there!
Is that the normal water level?

 

[Elvis killer]

Mate you really get about. That mine is a class explore... Heres a mine related question for you, did the old lead miners in the weardale area wear clogs as a sort of protective footwear? its just someone I know from Alston said when he was young (80s) he would find loads of clogs in the mines him and his pals would go in.

 

[smileysal]

Oooooooooooooooh I'm drooling over this one. Love all the stone arches seemingly to be joined to the stone beneath. I love it, I want to go here. Love all the colours, any more pics from here? Could look at these all day.

Cheers guys, love it, excellent pics.

Sal

 

[Northern Exposure]

Very nice indeed. Not one I had ever thought of trying but is not on the list so to speak. You have some cracking shots there. Canon or your new Nikon??

 

[BigLoada]

Mate you really get about. That mine is a class explore... Heres a mine related question for you, did the old lead miners in the weardale area wear clogs as a sort of protective footwear? its just someone I know from Alston said when he was young (80s) he would find loads of clogs in the mines him and his pals would go in.

Yes they did mate. Sometimes they are found down there, but I havent.
Cheers for all the nice comments folks.

Northern Exposure - its the old Canon. I decided when I buy a new Nikon, it aint going underground. Am still emptying the water and mud out of the Canon!

Engineer - Water level varied from abput an inch to about knee level in places, filling the welllies up.

 

[pdtnc]

nice shots man...!!!

That last one is class!
Cool, to see all that wooden shoring up and nice water shots.

 

[Sabtr]

I'm still "reeling" over this one. Definately the best so far.
At the entrance to the mine I didn't have much hope. Deep water and mist exiting the mine. The mist was simply a natural process at the entrance and we pushed on. As the water became shallower (it never got dry) the mine became a real stunner. In the distance the mine was "talking" to us. Distant splashes and water movements made noises which became distorted, up to the point where it sounded like talking coming from just round the corners. Beautiful noises and archways became the order of the day. I was a bit rusty with my camera at first - thats what you get when you have a break in your explores. My own camera failed when it was time to turn back - I think there were corrosive or conductive waters in this mine. As BigLoada says - I too am still drying my camera.
On with my pics:

BigLoada working hard!


My favourite of the day.


Who's been here then? (It was removed!)


Ladders to higher workings.


Impressive archwork.


BigLoada phone home?


As far as we went.


A big thanks goes to BigLoada for doing the driving this day and for nagging me into doing this mine. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

 

[pdtnc]

looks like you found the devil down there!

 

[Sabtr]

looks like you found the devil down there!

Nah he's quite tame really. I asked him to stick a torch in his bright new (old) boilersuit and that was the result!
BigLoada - you really need to get that thing oily and dirty cos it hurts my eyes.

 

[BigLoada]

Nah he's quite tame really. I asked him to stick a torch in his bright new (old) boilersuit and that was the result!
BigLoada - you really need to get that thing oily and dirty cos it hurts my eyes.

That boilersuit is from Bates colliery, its a relic. It just was still wrapped in plactic until we did this explore.

That orange torch demon photo is insane though. I look like the Elephant man or something.

 

[Urban Mole]

Thats a pretty damn fine explore, excellent work guys, and the pics are great :wcool:

No mines here on the island tho, youd hit the sea if you started mining here

 

[Geordie_Jon]

Some cracking photos there lads. I have to get out with you guys some time!

 

[Sabtr]

Some cracking photos there lads. I have to get out with you guys some time!

Yup! I don't know where the next trip will go mind! I have a few ideas though.

 

[pdtnc]

That boilersuit is from Bates colliery, its a relic. It just was still wrapped in plactic until we did this explore.

That orange torch demon photo is insane though. I look like the Elephant man or something.

yeah, your big orange baby-grow looks lovely.... don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Glow sticks and a council jacket and they'll let you into any Rave!

 

[BigLoada]

yeah, your big orange baby-grow looks lovely.... don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Glow sticks and a council jacket and they'll let you into any Rave!

Ooooh thats fighting talk mate

That my good man is an NCB antique, a relic from a golden age of mining. I have the donkey jacket to match , not a poncy British Coal one either but a real NCB one! It has never been worn and never will either.

 

[pdtnc]

Ooooh thats fighting talk mate

That my good man is an NCB antique, a relic from a golden age of mining. I have the donkey jacket to match , not a poncy British Coal one either but a real NCB one! It has never been worn and never will either.

Oooo, Handbags at two paces it is then!

Things of the past eh... cool

 

[BigLoada]

Oooooooooooooooh I'm drooling over this one. Love all the stone arches seemingly to be joined to the stone beneath. I love it, I want to go here. Love all the colours, any more pics from here? Could look at these all day.

Cheers guys, love it, excellent pics.

Sal

Thanks Sal for the kind words. I have more pictures on my flickr page the address of which is at the bottom of this post