Park Lane Quarry

This quarry is situated about half a mile due south of Ridge Quarry, it is marked on a 1:25000 Ordnance Survey map by the trial shafts nearby. The best way to approach the site is by a bridle-path which starts on the east side of the road between Atworth and Neston. Walk down the bridle-path for about 800 yards until you see a left hand bend. In the trees on the left of the path is a trial shaft. It has a stone wall built around it and is grilled with old rails. By dropping a stone down the shaft the depth of the mine can be appreciated. Although this shaft is not connected with the mine it is very close and of similar depth. Following the path to the bend look through the gateway on the right. Depending on the weather and the crop growing in the field you can sometimes see another concrete wall surrounding an air shaft near the depression in the middle of the large field. This air shaft is close to the western limit of the mine. Further up the path is a large spoil mound, keep to the right following a low stone wall until you have passed the spoil mound. To the east you should see another obvious air shaft in the field, If you look further into the second field you may also see a pile of stones with a bush growing through them, this is the shaft marking the eastern limit of the mine. One more air shaft and a trial shaft, both capped can be found in the trees and field to the west of the path opposite the spoil mound. The entrance to the mine was by slope shaft in the centre of the mound. At the time of writing it is understood that access to the mine is strictly prohibited by the farmer. For many years the slope shaft has remained blocked with earth and rubble but recently one of the caving groups has dug down into the roof of the slope shaft. This entrance will undoubtedly be blocked up before long unless the farmer can be persuaded to allow a gate and padlock to be installed. The mine itself is in remarkably good condition, partly due to very few people gaining access and due to it closing down as late as 1948. The stone here is particularly strong as there are very few joints in it. This has meant that there are no roof collapses in the mine and that water can't quickly drain out once it has leaked in. In the past some sections of the mine have completely flooded up to the roof, a tide mark is clearly visible on some of the walls. There are a few remnants of cranes in the mine along with wooden barrels and lots of cut stone stacked up on squats to let the air circulate around them, see appendix one. There is even a can with a cork in the spout full of paraffin once used by a quarryman to fill his lamp. One of the highlights of this mine is the stables, they are found close to the foot of the slope shaft and are the best example of underground stables in the area. The floor is cobbled and the remains of a wooden stall are evident. Lots of "Cave Pearls" can be seen on the floor along with tiny stalactites on the roof.


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