All meets are subject to weather, and permission being granted. Further details in Newsletter. Please ALWAYS contact the appropriate meet leader if you intend going on a meet. Dogs are not allowed on some sites; please check with the meet leader before bringing a dog.
If you wish to organize or lead a meet please contact us.
Upcoming Events
22 -24th March
The Third International Early Engines Conference (IEEC3) at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life. Please visit www.earlyengines.org for further details.
Saturday 28th April
Annual General Meeting. Gisburn Festival Hall, Bentlea Rd, Gisburn BB7 4LL
20-21st July
The Legacy of Arthur Raistrick to be held at The Devonshire Institute, Grassington, BD23 5AZ
NMRS is partnering with local societies, the Yorkshire Geological Society, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park to organize this event.
Please visit this link for more information and to book a place.
Saturday 28th September
General Meeting to be held on Zoom at 2.00pm
Further details, meeting times, places & meet leader contacts can be found in the Members Area Please note that all persons going underground must have valid BCA insurance.
IMPORTANT
NMRS recognises that exploring old mines and mine sites is a potentially hazardous activity.
Participants in these events should be aware of, and accept, these risks and be responsible for their own actions.
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Short reports of previous events, the full report and further details can be found in members’ newsletters.
Unfortunately, we have not had any outdoor meets since Covid and the later death of our Meets Co-ordinator.
If anyone would like to volunteer to take on this role or to lead a meet, then please get in touch with us.
September 21, 2019 SURFACE – We left the main track and walked towards Beevers Mine, on a small path that passes a flooded shaft, a Meerstone was found in this area. The top of the 60-fathom deep Engine Shaft is guarded by a metal grid. Work started on this shaft in August 1836,…
July 28, 2019 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – We entered Carrs Mine through the Show Mine, which is interesting with well-preserved tram rails, and after the “gate” entered the ‘real’ mine. Beyond the “gate” there are three flats. Initially, we progressed along the Horse Level that is below the Smallcleugh Cross Vein. As many have…
June 15, 2019 SURFACE – Coldstones Quarry is situated on Greenhow Hill at 1400 ft above sea level and is one of the highest quarries in Britain, the quarry currently covers an area of about 30 hectares. It is worked on 6 benches 15-18m high to a depth of 300m at the base….
May 18, 2019 EASY UNDERGROUND – A small but dedicated bunch of NMRS members joined up with other mine enthusiasts for a fascinating visit to Goldscope and adjacent mines in the Lake District. In the company of Mark Hatton from CATMHS, we were treated to a tour of the above and below-ground remains,…
April 27, 2019 INDOOR & SURFACE – Following the AGM at Slaidburn Village Hall on April 27th myself and nine members did a surface walk to Jumbles Quarry. The weather was overcast with occasional light showers but warm. Jumbles was one of the quarries used to supply Millstone Grit to the Stocks Reservoir…
October 20, 2018 INDOOR – Autumn general meeting held at Gisburn. Members drinking tea and chatting before the start of the meeting.
September 22, 2018 EASY UNDERGROUND – Visit to Coate Moor Mine in Kildale, North York Moors, by invitation of the Cleveland Mining Heritage Society. After a welcome and introduction from the CMHS secretary Simon Chapman the CMHS members set to work clearing out a mine drain and repairing a fence around a ventilation shaft, while NMRS were…
August 18, 2018 SURFACE – A small party of members arrived mid-morning at Skelton Park Mine in Cleveland and were met by Colin Keighley and Chris Twigg of Cleveland Mining Heritage Society. We first went into the mine power house where air compressors were once housed and D.C. power was generated, for an introductory chat and a look at some large…
August 11, 2018 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – Five members gathered in Nenthead on a warm sunny morning for a trip into Rampgill level. Unfortunately, Mick, who had organised the trip, was suffering from an injured arm so reluctantly withdrew from the underground trip. Our guides were three members of the NMCS. Even though there had been…
July 21, 2018 INDOOR – A Garage Book Fair for members was held at Nelson and had a good range of books and publications for sale. The most popular were our second hand copies of now out of print BMs, which are quite sought after nowadays.
July 14, 2018 INDOOR – The weekend of 14th & 15th July was a busy one for our Society. Enrico Rinaldi, the organiser of the North Pennines Mineral Expo at St Johns Chapel, Weardale, had kindly offered NMRS a free stand at this event to showcase our publications and use some of our…
June 9, 2018 SURFACE – Eleven members turned up for the Foul Clough Walk near Todmorden. The weather was lovely totally opposite to last year when the walk had to be cancelled. We saw evidence of the Foul Clough Colliery’s coal mining activities ranging from the late 1700s up to the early 1900s….
May 19, 2018 INDOOR – We Society had a stand at Tennants, Leyburn at the second Yorkshire Mineral and Fossil Fair. We showcased many of our publications, as well as some of the Print blocks we have available from the Robert T Clough books
April 14, 2018 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – Our meets organiser had arranged a very interesting visit to a mine in Weardale led by five enthusiasts. The six NMRS members had a five hour underground experience marvelling at the artefacts and the layout of the mine.
September 2, 2017 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – A small but enthusiastic group of mine explorers gathered with Chris being our guide for the day. Chris eagerly shared his knowledge of the mine and led us safely through the labyrinthine passages: this is one place that should definitely not be entered without the guidance of someone familiar with the…
August 19, 2017 SURFACE – Eleven members turned out for the archaeological surface walk to, Fox Clough and Trawden Collieries in Colne. Our meet leader had prepared a hand out, which gave an overview of the history as well as some interesting maps to peruse. Another member had some previous knowledge of the site and he provided…
July 30, 2017 SURFACE – Five of our members enjoyed a fascinating surface tour of the mining remains at Nenthead. Despite some small showers and threatening clouds, the weather was kind, allowing us to visit the main parts of the site in comfort. Pooling our individual knowledge, we were able to give a good account of the…
July 29, 2017 INDOOR – We were very pleased to be invited to participate in the first North Pennines Mineral Expo held at St John`s Chapel, Weardale, Co Durham, the last weekend in July. This event, organised by Enrico Rinaldi and his wife, Felicity, had as its aim to pay homage to the historical mining area in the heart…
June 10, 2017 CANCELLED – Foul Clough Lived up to its name on Saturday the 10th of June. As a result the field trip had to be cancelled due to atrocious weather. However the dedication of some of our members has to be admired with eight turning up at the meeting point. Hopefully…
May 13, 2017 INDOOR – The inaugural IEEC saw over 80 delegates from the UK, Germany, China and New Zealand, including several NMRS members, travelling to Elsecar in South Yorkshire to hear an extensive programme of papers on the history and developments of early heat engines. The purpose of the conference was to provide a forum for presentation…
April 22, 2017 INDOOR – This years AGM was held at Cliviger village hall, half way between Burnley and Todmorden. A well attended meeting started with general conversation and book sales, followed by an excellent buffet lunch. The meeting itself started at around 1.00pm where reports from the Society’s officers were read out…
April 22, 2017 SURFACE – After our recent AGM at Cliviger Village Hall. Sixteen members joined me on an archaeological field trip to the former Dyneley and Cuckoo colliery sites in Cliviger. The weather was glorious sunshine, a perfect day for digging up the past. Both of these collieries are situated just of…
October 22, 2016 INDOOR – Members met for the Autumn General Meeting at the Festival Hall, Gisburn, Yorkshire. Following the sale of books and a buffet lunch, the formal part of the meeting heard reports from the officers and various other items of business. Following this a number of presentations were made by…
September 17, 2016 SURFACE Eight members met at the Foregill Gate Watersplash for a visit to the lead bale sites on Calver Hill. The walk was organised by Sallie Bassham and led by Richard Smith and was based on the paper: Smith R. and Murphy S., 2003, ‘Bale smelting sites at Calver Hill,…
August 14, 2016 INDOOR – NMRS stand at Leyburn Mineral & Fossil Fair, Tennant`s Auction Centre, Harmby Road, Leyburn. Barbara attracted 3 new members and managed to sell a number of books.
August 6, 2016 SURFACE WALK – Informative information sheets and maps were handed out prior to setting out to find and discuss the lead and barytes mining remains at Skeleron, Rimington. A full report should be in the November newsletter.
May 21, 2016 SURFACE VISIT – Our visit to view production of bricks to meet demand in the UK resulted in a most enjoyable day. Thanks are due to the management for arranging viewing of the vast production areas, situated by the A683 just beyond Caton. Having previously walked from the quarry on past…
April 16, 2016 SURACE VISIT – Hanson’s Quarry, Hawes Road, Ingleton, was begun in 1955. Full planning permission for the continuation to the year 2020 of the extraction of the much needed product has been given by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. With an even greater demand for road and railway repairs…
April 16, 2016 INDOOR – Our AGM, head again this year at Mealbank Hall, Ingleton. Members gathered at midday to view books for sale, before tucking into a nice buffet lunch.
April 2, 2016 SURFACE WALK – Those attending the first meet of the year were a mixture of those knowledgeable about the coal mining in the Talkin area, and those who are very, very, very knowledgeable of the area. Although the meet was entitled “Lord Carlisle’s Railways”, the hero of the area’s mines…
August 1, 2015 SURFACE WALK from Surrender Bridge looking at the Surrender and Old Gang smelt mills and and the mines in the valley.
July 12, 2015 HARD UNDERGROUND – The trip visited the limestone workings, the Milwr tunnel and the lake in Powell’s lode cavern. Access was via a 400ft descent down a shaft to tunnel level, mostly on fixed ladders, a 4 mile round trip to the lake and then ascent back up the ladders…
June 27, 2015 EASY UNDERGROUND – Rogerly mine in Weardale is the only mine operated on a commercial basis solely for mineral specimens in the UK. Operation of the mine was taken over by UK Mining Ventures in 1999.
June 13, 2015 SURFACE WALK to view the operations of the Cliviger Coal Company which worked several pits in the Cliviger Valley including, Copy, Railway, Cliviger Drift, and Union. Copy Pit was the last to close in 1966. Also examined were the coal workings around Merrills Head Farm which was the headquarters of…
May 22, 2015 INDOOR WITH FIELD TRIPS – held at Nenthead, near Alston in Cumbria from 22nd to 26th May. 168 people were involved in several roles including speakers, trip leaders, receptionists and delegates. There were four surface trips, 40 underground trips and two days of winch trips to Brewery Shaft. Twelve speakers…
May 9, 2015 SURFACE WORKING PARTY – The Friends assembled for another working party weekend, bringing tools, talent and talk of recent research, together with a hint of excitement at the prospect of uncovering more features of the industrial archaeology of the site. Site Manager Glen, and Chair of the Friends Steve opened…
April 11, 2015 INDOOR – Held at Meal Bank Hall, Ingleton, North Yorkshire. Following the AGM, there was a visit to the New Ingleton Granite Quarry on Hawes Road.
March 28, 2015 SURFACE WALK – As the weather forecast had predicted, heavy rain shortened the walk on this years return visit to the Constant Mary Colliery on 28th March. As the photograph shows, the site is in excellent condition. This drift coal mine was worked by a 12ft diameter waterwheel with a 7ft…
October 25, 2014 INDOOR – Annual autumn meeting at Gisburn. After the formal part of the meeting the following presentations were made: David Nicholls told us all about the Morecambe Bay Gas Fields. Graham Topping talked about Cliviger Coal Co., as an introduction to a NMRS field trip in 2015 David Lewis` presentation…
August 9, 2014 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – Carrs Mine – the upper workings are a series of flats which are very extensive with much gangue material stacked at the side of the passages, very much like the Wheel Flats area in Smallcleugh Mine. Up here are remains of rail tracks and points.
July 26, 2014 EASY UNDERGROUND – This mine near Stanhope, Weardale was first opened in the early 1970s as a source of mineral specimens, notably green Fluorite. It was acquired by its current owners, UK Mining Ventures, in 1999.
July 25, 2014 INDOOR WITH FIELD TRIPS – The theme was “Mining Technology: Technical Innovation in the Extractive Industries”. There were 16 lectures covering subjects ranging from “Mechanisation on the coal face” to “Precipitation Pools on Mynydd Parys”, dates ranging from “Prehistoric Mining Technology” to “Metalliferous Mineral Exploration in North Wales since 1964”…
June 21, 2014 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – Carrock Fell is a tungsten mine, the principal ores are wolfram and scheelite but other minerals are present as well. Small scale workings, mainly looking for lead and copper, took place in the 19th century but only yielded a few tons of galena. Tungsten mining was begun…
May 17, 2014 HARD UNDERGROUND – Hard Level to Brandy Bottle through trip After hastily eating a couple of sausage rolls and half a flask of coffee at the same time as changing we were ready to. There were 32 attendees in total, 22 were going to make the underground trip whereas 11…
May 17, 2014 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – Brandy Bottle Incline. Alternative meet for the less brave (crazy). For those not so hard men who like to take a bath in hot water in the light, as opposed to cold water in the dark, we have organised an alternative to Mike Richard’s Hard Level to Brandy…
May 3, 2014 INDOOR – A day of talks, surface walks, underground tour of Caphouse Colliery, plus displays from geological societies and groups including a NMRS sales and membership stand. The was all part of the “Yorkshire Geology Day”
May 3, 2014 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – We met on a sunny morning off the lane above Kildale and entered the mine through the recently excavated East Entrance. The mine was only worked for a short period during the 1870’s and closed on account of thinning seams and the fall in iron prices. Two…
April 26, 2014 INDOOR – Books sales were followed by the AGM. After that Bernard Bond organized a short walk around Ingleton’s Coal Mining Industry. The still standing Weigh Bridge Office, the First Aid and Cart shed were visited thanks to Brian Huck of the Ingleton Scrap Yard. Also a further visit to…
April 5, 2014 SURFACE WALK – around the colliery remains, followed by visit to Woodend Coal Mining Museum at Reedley Hallows, Burnley.
March 18, 2014 UNDERGROUND VISIT – The Boulby mine was sunk in the 1960s/70s to exploit potash and other mineral deposits found during oil exploration in 1939. The deposits date from the Permian 290-245 million years ago when the Zechstein Sea covered much of Northern Europe from NE England to Germany. This tropical…
October 26, 2013 INDOOR – Annual autumn meeting, held again at the Festival Hall, Gisburn. Following the formal meeting, the following presentations were given: Bernard Bond gave a short update on Claughton Brick works and Woodend Museum. Keith Turner’s photos of the NAMHO 2013 Conference. Mike Richards provided some interesting underground photos of…
September 14, 2013 SURFACE WALK WITH BITS OF EASY UNDERGROUND – This was a joint meet with the Geological Society of London (Yorkshire Branch) On a lovely warm sunny morning we met on the roadside where the Appletreewick & Gillheads tramway crosses. After inspecting the tram rails that are still embedded in the tarmac,…
August 10, 2013 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – Some members wanted to see the Ballroom Flat. Went in via Smallcleugh Flats & Hetheringtons crosscut and out via Hetheringtons crosscut, Flat crosscut and the horse level. Total distance underground about 2½ miles.
August 10, 2013 SURFACE WORKING PARTY – a potential lead bale site at SE 05939 99141 was found in 2012 and was excavated as a joint project by the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group (SWAAG) and the Northern Mine Research Society (NMRS) under the supervision of professional archaeologist, Tony Liddell of Vindomora Solutions…
July 21, 2013 EASY UNDERGROUND – the weather was hot and sunny so the cool entrance was especially inviting. We initially navigated to the stone workings which provided stone for many of the roofs in Reeth long after the demise of lead mining within Booze Wood. Some members spent some time trying to get into every “nook and cranny”…
July 6, 2013 EASY UNDERGROUND – Rogerley Mine, Stanhope, Weardale Worked by UK Mining Ventures for mineral specimens. An easy walk in level preceded by a steep flight of wooden steps.
June 28, 2013 INDOOR WITH FIELD TRIPS – held in mid-Wales, based at Aberystwyth University, over the long weekend 28 June to 1 July. It was well attended, with around 120 delegates from across Britain and Ireland, and feedback to the organisers has been very positive – everybody appeared to enjoy themselves in…
June 1, 2013 SURFACE WALK – we gathered in Swaledale for a walk led by Sallie Bassham through the mining remnants of Gunnerside Gill. Paul Dollery had opted for an earlier start and so he, I and Richard Platt headed leisurely up the eastern side of the gill, ahead of the others who…
May 11, 2013 MODERATE UNDERGROUND – Once inside the mine it was necessary to wade shin deep through water of foot-numbing coldness. After only a short period of adjustment, however, feeling returned to our feet and, comfort restored, there was much to absorb our interest and divert attention from potential dangers and discomforts….
April 27, 2013 INDOOR – This was a day of lectures and displays celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Yorkshire Geological Society, held at National Coal Mining Museum for England, Caphouse Colliery, Wakefield
April 20, 2013 INDOOR – Books were on sale from 11.30am with a free buffet lunch from 12.00; the AGM started at 1.00pm. A good number of members were present and it was nice to see some new (and old) faces present. Afterwards Bernard Bond led a walk to see some of the…
October 20, 2012 INDOOR – our autumn meeting held at Gisburn Festival Hall. After the formal meeting we had a series of presentations: David Cross gave an interesting presentation on the Winn family of Nostell near Wakefield who owned Nostell Priory and some ironstone quarries in Lincolnshire. Ken Geddes talk on mine museums…
September 22, 2012 EASY UNDERGROUND – A short level walk from the road soon brought us all to the main entrance of the mine. The “dry” haulage level had a small amount of water flowing out of it and a rather inconveniently placed tree in front of the entrance, however everybody managed to…
August 4, 2012 EASY UNDERGROUND – Joseph Williamson lived from 1769 to 1840. He came from a poor family to work in Liverpool and found a job with Thomas Moss Tate, a tobacco merchant. He worked hard, did well for himself and married into the boss’s family. In 1818, Joseph Williamson was rich…
July 21, 2012 EASY UNDERGROUND – Rogerley Mine, Stanhope, Weardale Worked by UK Mining Ventures for mineral specimens. An easy walk in level preceded by a steep flight of wooden steps.
July 16, 2012 SURFACE WALK – around the colliery remains at Thatch Marsh and Goyts Moss, north Derbyshire.
June 30, 2012 INDOOR WITH FIELD MEETS – hosted by the Derbyshire Caving Club and held at Quarry Bank Mill, near Wilmslow, Cheshire. The main theme of the conference was to describe the mining heritage of Cheshire and by extension other areas where the ratio of mining to agriculture may historically have been…
May 27, 2012 INDOOR – held at the Community Hall, Ingleton A chance to meet up with members at our NMRS table where our publications and other mining books were available for sale.
May 5, 2012 EASY UNDERGROUND – underground via the fan drift behind the 1919 Sirocco Fan House. First port of call underground was the large 1914 ventilation furnace, originally at the base of a shaft to surface, this provided the mine with ventilation before the installation of the Sirocco fan, artefacts such as…
April 8, 2012 EASY UNDERGROUND – the entrance is quite low, however everyone entered with enthusiasm and at full speed ahead. We pushed on with wet craws through digs, through shale falls, and a few other “normal type crawls”. After a while we came to a old four way junction. Off to the left there is…
March 31, 2012 INDOOR – Held at Mealbank Hall, Ingleton Meeting started at noon with a free buffet lunch followed by the AGM. After this Bernard Bond lead a short walk around Ingleton Coalfield entitled “Brief Encounter”
Grassington Moor
Carrs Level Nenthead
Coldstones Quarry, Greenhow Hill
Goldscope Mine
AGM 2019 & Jumbles Quarry
Autumn Meeting
Coate Moor Mine, Kildale, North Yorkshire
Skelton Park Pit Cleveland
Rampgill Level, Nenthead
Garage Book Fair
North Pennines Minerals Expo
Foul Clough Colliery
Yorkshire Mineral and Fossil Fair
Weardale
Guisborough Jet Mines
Fox Clough & Trawden Collieries
Surface tour at Nenthead
First North Pennines Mineral Expo
The Collieries and Geology of West Calderdale
International Early Engines Conference
Annual General Meeting 2017
The Fringe Collieries Of the Towneley Coal Company, Cliviger
General Meeting
Bale Sites at Calver Hill in Swaledale
NMRS Stand at Leyburn
Rimington Lead & Barytes Mines
Claughton Brick Works
Ingleton Quarry
Annual General Meeting
Lord Carlisle’s Railways
Surrender & Old Gang Mines
Milwr Tunnel
Rogerley Mine
Cliviger Coal Mines
NAMHO Conference
Hemingfield Colliery
Annual General Meeting
Constant Mary/Dunkirk Colliery
Autumn Meeting
Carrs/Rampgill Mine, Nenthead
Rogerley Mine
NAMHO Conference
Carrock Fell Mine
Brandy Bottle
Brandy Bottle Incline
Yorkshire Geology Day
Coate Moor Ironstone Mine
Annual General Meeting
Dunkirk Colliery
Boulby Potash Mine
Autumn Meeting
Trollers Gill and Burhill Mines
Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead
Swaledale Bale Site
Booze Wood
Rogerley Mine
NAMHO Conference
Gunnerside Gill
Moulds Level
Yorkshire Geological Society
Annual General Meeting
Autumn Meeting
Tynebottom Mine
Williamson’s Tunnels
Rogerley Mine
Thatch Marsh & Goyts Moss
NAMHO Conference
Ingleton Book Fair
Ayton Monument Ironstone Mine
Turf Moor Lead Mine
Annual General Meeting
