“Thanks to the unusual layout of the drainage tunnels, in many places access comes from below. These slowly-decaying ladders offer a tantalising route into the oldest parts of the workings, but climbing them requires expertise and a dose of bravery!”
Dr Dave Merchant
“The Milwr Tunnel often ran through areas of bad ground, intersecting with natural faults in the limestone. Here a network of steel beams and rail lines have been used to protect against collapse.”
Dr Dave Merchant
“The limestone workings beneath the village of Hendre are a unique and awe-inspiring place to visit. For cavers and mine explorers used to crawling and stooping along narrow passages, to be in a space so large that your caplamps can’t make out the far wall is amazing. If it wasn’t for the distant glint from the pure white ceiling you would think you were outdoors again.”
Dr Dave Merchant
“The natural cavern at Powell’s Lode is top on the list of things to see. Although the bottom half is now filled in with mining waste, it remains one of the largest chambers in the country. Climbing the maypole leads to the huge series of caverns and workings to the north, and it’s also a great place for a photo!”
Dr Dave Merchant
“The deep blue crystal-clear water of Powell’s Lode lake is both peaceful and intimidating. Nobody knows how deep it is, the miners who tried to plumb the depths were tipped from their raft by strong currents pulling on their lines. It’s a great challenge for photographers too, with lots of DIY underwater flash contraptions seeing their first (and last!) uses in this lake.”
Dr Dave Merchant
“Climbing high in the old stopes above the Rhosesmor branch tunnel, en route to the Halkyn level. These scraps of ‘false floor’ look scary but they’re much safer than the intact versions, which don’t reveal the drop beneath until they decide to collapse! We’re much happier when we can see what we’re dealing with.”
Dr Dave Merchant
“The old workings are a maze of low-roofed tunnels, with caver-worn routes in the clay floors guiding you. All around are the remnants of workers long gone; picks and shovels, billy cans and discarded boots. The mines protect their memories like nothing on the surface ever can.”
Dr Dave Merchant
“In the higher and older Halkyn Tunnel workings we find a lot of rare artefacts such as this well-preserved wooden rail car. It puts things into perspective that the last person to see this was carrying a candle.”
Dr Dave Merchant
“The happy but tired group on the first ‘round trip’ to the Halkyn Tunnel, a mammoth all-day expedition through ten miles of passage. We were not the first to walk through this place, but those that came before are long gone. As their world slowly decays and routes are harder to follow, preserving their work through photos and documents is all the more important. What lies beneath your feet is better than any museum shelf.”
Dr Dave Merchant