- Joined
- Jun 7, 2014
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Holwell Iron Company, it was constructed in 1878 with the first iron being tapped in 1881.The site later expanded to include a foundry.
Holwell was amalgamated with the Stanton Iron Works Company in 1918 but continued to operate seperately. It was subsequently taken over by the large producer of Iron & steel Stewart and Lloyds in 1947. The introduction of the Continuous Casting Process increased production significantly, however in the 1950s and 1960s there was a steady decline in the use of the blast furnaces at the site and a decline across the industry in general due to increasing international competition from import cheap pig iron.
During the 1960s the installation of Kunkel-Wagner machinery made Holwell one of the most advanced foundries in Europe. but Holwell's internal Ironstone quarry closed in 1962.
The mines are in a public nature res so access can be a bit dogey. the mines are home to Natterers, Daubenton's, Pipistrelle & Brown long eared bats... of which I saw no evidence whatsoever.
Iv been in here 3 times, all rather rushed visits, first was solo as someone couldn't contort the somewhat tight entrance
second was with my lad who wasn't keen so didn't get far in again, third was more successful with a non member friend but with torch issues still had to rush around a bit.
Its pretty unstable as signs on the roads above now warn you where not to park in case your car "disappears into a hole" but with the massive entrances there is no O2 issues normally associated with iron mines.
Its all a bit samey so here's the best of what I got.
Thanks For Looking
