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Web Site Links

UK Mine Explorer Sites

mineexplorer.com (Roy Fellows)
An individual website covering the various mining projects and activities in which I have been personally involved, plus some personal history, views on current affairs which are sometimes quite strong, the annual NAMHO field meet, and some other stuff. Slightly offbeat in places.
Chris Cowdery
An excellent resource containing information about many of the mines of north Wales, including a rather exciting write up of the Croesor-Rhosydd through trip
Friends of Cwmorthin
Information about the group working to maintain access to this historic Welsh slate mine, includes the facility to donate online to support the ongoing work at the mine
Cave and Mine Exploration
Barney's excellent collection of underground photographs from across the UK
Mine Explorer Society
Mine exploration group focusing on the Nenthead Valley and surrounding areas

International Mine Explorer Sites

Abandoned Mines of NJ
A site formed to snapshot and catalogue the numerous abandoned mines in the State of NJ, USA, contains excellent above and below ground photographs
SPOD Project
Subterranean picture of the day (Russian content) aims to display a different underground photograph every day from mines and caves worldwide
IronMiners.com
A group of mine researchers dedicated toward preserving and presenting the historic mining industry of the US to the armchair explorer
UndergroundMiners.com
The official site for abandoned coal mine research in the US with an excellent photographic archive
Mines of Sardinia
Mining archaeology and tourism in Sardinia
Coalfields of the Appalachian Mountains
A highly detailed site dedicated to the coalfields of the Appalachian Mountains, containing detailed text, maps and photographs
Iberian Topographical Mineralogy
This site contains information on the mines and minerals of the Iberian peninsular (Spanish)
The Hnatows' Trekking & Exploration Group
A group exploring and photographing disused mines in Poland (Polish, English version coming soon)

UK Mining Research & Information Sites

UK Mining Remains
Web site devoted to a wide selection of some of the UK mining sites and significant remains
UK Mining Walks
Web site devoted to hidden surface remains and walks around historic UK mining sites
Hendrecoed North Wales Mining History
The Hendrecoed north Wales mining history website is a project to document and make public some aspects of the mining history and associated industrial archaeology of north Wales
National Association of Mining History Organisations
Represents NAMHO's membership, more than 90 groups involved in research and mine exploration in the UK
Durham Mining Museum
A fantastic resource of facts, figures and photographs from the mining regions of the north of England
Welsh Coal Mines
Dedicated to recording all the mines within the Welsh Coalfields including statistics and photographs; the site also runs an active forum
MiningHeritgage.com
Free historical material related to mining and minerals, sponsored by Resources Computing International Ltd., includes the complete set of woodcut illustrations from Agricola's de re Matellica
The Slate Industry of North and Mid Wales
Dave Sallery's excellent site featuring many photographs of the remains of the Welsh slate industry
West Wheal Mary Ann Mine
Site detailing the history and minerals of the West Wheal Mary Ann Mine in Menheniot, Cornwall
Cornish Mining from Cornwall in Focus
The Mines of Cornwall - their history, locations and descriptions
Remains of the Welsh Slate Industry
Remains of the Welsh Slate Industry (ROTSWI), a fantasitc collection of photographs by one man of Welsh slate mines and quarries gathered over several decades
Tin Mining in Cornwall
An excellent site covering Cornish tin mining; it's history, regions and remains
Yorkshire Main Colliery
Information and photographs from Yorkshire Main Colliery and other Yorkshire collieries
Baddesley Mine Disaster of 1882
An excellent site detailing the explosion at Baddesley Pit, 1882
Subterranea Britannica
Subterranea Britannica ('Sub Brit') studies all man-made and man-used underground space, this includes mines, but also a vast range of other sites, regular conferences and site visits are arranged and a magazine is published three times a year
History of Irthlingborough Iron Ore Mine
A very detailed study of Irthlingborough Iron Ore Mine and it's history
North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers
World's largest mining library and archive. Covers coal and metalliferous mining. Over 1,060,000 catalogued items relating to mining included in on-line catalogue. Archive records, including maps and plans from mid sixteenth century. Detailed mine records, maps and seam plans. Detailed records of borings and sinkings. Geological and minerals plans by the thousands. Reference only library. Librarian services available by phone or e-mail.
Flintshire Lead Mining
Chris Ebbs site on the history of lead mining in Flintshire
Thurcroft Colliery
Site dedicated to the history and workforce of Thurcroft Colliery

International Mining Research & Information Sites

Old Forge Coal Mines
Pennsylvania Department of Mines Inspector Reports, U.S. Bureau of Mines Bulletins, and in the historical section over 100 reports, stories, and manuals on coal mining

UK Preserved Mining / Heritage Sites

Keswick Mining Musuem
The first mining museum to be established in Cumbria and it hosts the finest collection of mining memorabilia in the country including the Ian Tyler Collection, The Willie Shaw Collection of Minerals and part of The William Creighton and The Willie Hemmingway Collection
National Slate Museum, Llanberis
Bringing back to life the inheritance of the north Wales slate industry, which roofed the industrial revolution, not so much a museum as a pocket of history, it is as though the quarrymen and engineers have only just put down their tools and left the courtyard for home
Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen, Cornwall
A preserved Cornish tin mine run by Pendeen Community Heritage, a registered charity and not for profit company which runs the site as a visitor centre
Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre
A unique underground kingdom created by philanthropist Joseph Williamson in the 1820s and 1830s
Friends of Williamson's Tunnels
The official site of the Friends of Williamson's tunnels, an underground kingdom beneath Liverpool dating from the early 1800s
Working at Dylife's Martha Wheel
A reguarly updated report of restoration of the Dylife Martha Pit (see also Mining in the Dylife Area)

Clubs & Societies (Mine Exploration and Caving/Mine Exploration)

Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society
CATMHS is a society interested in historical industrial sites with an emphasis on mining remains above and below ground, it is actively involved with the exploration of these sites
Eldon Pothole Club
Official website of Eldon Pothole Club based in Buxton, Derbyshire, UK
Wealden Cave & Mine Society
Official website of the Wealden Cave & Mine Society, the society was established in the 1960s and is based in Surrey
Carn-Brea Mining Society
Formed in 1974 with the objective of encouraging the study of all aspects of mining, geology and mineralogy in the South West of England
South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group
A local group researching into the mining that occurred in the area until the middle of the last century. We do lectures, exhibition, research and active digging and exploration.
Great Orme Exploration Society
Site is dedicated to the exploits of the "diggers" of the Great Orme Exploration Society past and present, photos, trip reports and information on the Great Orme copper mines
Peak District Mines Historical Society (PDMHS)

Peak District Mines Historical Society (PDMHS) web site - mining history, archaeology, mine exploration and preservation, underground and surface meets and social events
North Wales Caving Club - cave and mine exploration in North Wales
The oldest club in the area dedicated to the original exploration of caves and mines
Welsh Mines Society
A Society for research and exploration of mines and quarries in Wales; holds weekend field meets and occasional conferences

Urban Underground Exploration

UrbanUnderworld
Urban exploration website focussed mainly on unearthing the UK's biggest storm drains, other exploits including exporing disused mines in North Wales and the Lake District

Underground Communities

Dark Places
Meeting point for (mostly underground) explorers to chat and share information

Mine Explorer Friendly Accommodation

Cherrytree Cottage
Bed and Breakfast accommodation, miner friendly and opposite Brewery Shaft!

Gear Suppliers

Up & Under
Excellent gear provider, selling a good range of caving related kit, based in Cardiff
Excellent Stuff
Official UK distributor for the StenLight S7 caving and mine exploration LED lamp and accessories
Protector Lamp
Protector's Flame Safety Lamps have been in constant use since 1873 and the GR6S Garforth lamp is still the approved method of checking for firedamp in all UK coal mines. A modified lamp has carried the flame for all Olympic torch relays, most recently in Vancouver and next year for London.

Mining & Quarrying Related Books

Moore Books
Specialist books covering mining, speleology, industrial history, caving, walking, travel and the outdoors
Penhellick Publications
Penhellick Publications produces mining and historical books by Mining Historian Allen Buckley and Mining Engineer Karla Riekstins
Books on Welsh Coal Mining and Collieries
Covers all aspects of the South Wales coalfield including the collieries, districts, ownership, disasters and trade unions

Industrial Archaeology

I.A.Recordings
I.A.Recordings is a voluntary organisation formed in 1982 to make moving picture records of historic industry, covering everything from Aqueducts to Zinc mines: creating an archive for posterity and providing copies on DVD and video tape for sale to help fund the recording work. Mining is particularly well represented with hundreds of disused and working mines recorded both above and below ground, in the UK and abroad.
The Trevithick Society
Formed in 1935 to save the Levant beam winding engine from being scrapped, the Trevithick society has interests in Cornish industry wherever it may be.