Report - Draycott Colliery- (Prob The last ascent of the shaft) - Oct 21

[Bikin Glynn]

DRAYCOTT CROSS COLLIERY

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Wanted to see this place for quite a while so when the opportunity arose a meet with @Kewipie was arranged & we began what turned out to be quite an eventful trip.

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History has been covered many times before but in brief
Draycott Cross Colliery was a privately owned drift mine which operated from 1983 through to early 1991. The adits were mined in the southern portal of the former Draycott Cross Railway Tunnel. The tunnel and line were constructed from 1888 through to 1894 and were originally part of the railway line running from Totmonslow to Cheadle. The tunnel was abandoned in the 1930’s as it was prone to collapse, despite the addition of steel hoops to support the roof and a diversion was built to the East making the tunnel redundant.

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So we did the usual entry which anyone who has been knows involves a bit of cotorsion quite high up, but didnt take long for us to be inside the main tunnel.

Rope scores in rock

We checked the main tunnel & climbed the collapse / backfill at the end to ensure we didnt miss anything

Next we found "the hole" to the shaft, but we will come back to that.

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At this point we went through & I started to climb the shaft, "ooh I can see daylight" @Kewipie replies "do u think we can get out that way?" "Ill have a look", so up I scrabble!
this was quite hard but achievable so about 50ft from top I was certain we could exit this way if needed so back down I went to explore the rest of the tonnels.

Back into the main tunnel we proceeded to explore all the mining off chutes.

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Back in the main tunnel we stand by the entrance & make the decision that the shaft would be an easier exit.. I should of read replies to this post BEFORE we went lol
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/draycott-cross-colliery.3739/#post-55554

The exit that could of been

So back through the hole & crawl over the half buried cart.

The roof support tin laying on the floor made the climb a bit more fun.

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In hindsight I prob should of checked that last 50ft a bit more carefully, the incline increased to a near vertical last 10ft with nothing but crumbling sand to claw your way out it was tricky & its fair to say that @Kewipie needed a bit of assistance here but finally like mother nature giving birth we emerged!
The fun didnt end there, I suddenly got a barrage of messages & realised we had missed our call out time by half hour. @Down and beyond was seconds away from calling cave rescue oops!

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Not long after someone said the shaft had been filled. I wasnt sure as it seemed a difficult task to fill this as it is on a 45deg bank so no way diggers could be used & would require tonnes of material but was out that way recently so thought Id check it.....

Thats all from this thoroughly enjoyable place!
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[Mikeymutt]

That's really nice and so much to see inside. Close call with the cave rescue turning up.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

That's really nice and so much to see inside. Close call with the cave rescue turning up.

yeah its a really call place, I genuinely completely lost track of time in there, but going up & down that damn shaft (twice) was unnecessary & time consuming lol

 

[Mikeymutt]

yeah its a really call place, I genuinely completely lost track of time in there, but going up & down that damn shaft (twice) was unnecessary & time consuming lol

It looks a fantastic place to wander around must admit.

 

[HughieD]

That's mega. Really wished I could have joined you on that one. Fab set of pics mate.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

That's mega. Really wished I could have joined you on that one. Fab set of pics mate.

Thanks dude, highly recommended though u need a good shovel if u wanna do the shaft lol

 

[Calamity Jane]

Lovely set. Nice mine this. The shaft doesn't sound like an easy option to me lol, but then again Ive never been here. Close call with rescuers, but good to know you had someone watching your back

 

[pauln]

Excellent pics. I know its said that old mines often have gas builds up so do you take a monitor with you?

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Lovely set. Nice mine this. The shaft doesn't sound like an easy option to me lol, but then again Ive never been here. Close call with rescuers, but good to know you had someone watching your back

Thanks Jane, yeah standard procedure if I go underground, always have a call out... I must get better at time estimating though lol

Excellent pics. I know its said that old mines often have gas builds up so do you take a monitor with you?

Yes some do & I cut my teeth in ironstone mines which have particular problem with O2 depletion.
Coal mines do have their own issues (coal damp) but this one was very clean Im guessing because of the through draught. BUT anyone who manages to get in now be very careful with the shaft now sealed there is a very real chance bad air may build up in here

 

[ikkdjct]

That looks amazing. Would love to see that…

 

[Bikin Glynn]

That looks amazing. Would love to see that…

Thanks Dude
Its worth a look, it "may" b still open though why the coal authority would go to the effort of filling the shaft & leave main entrance open I doint know

 

[Hidinginplanesite]

I got this place on my list have done for a while - got a friend who live near the area that take us it just finding time in my hetic life - but grate photos

 

[Bikin Glynn]

I got this place on my list have done for a while - got a friend who live near the area that take us it just finding time in my hetic life - but grate photos

I know the feeling, I had it for years like many places just gotta one day make that decision to go for it lol

 

[Hidinginplanesite]

I know the feeling, I had it for years like many places just gotta one day make that decision to go for it lol

It finding the right day to go as I have to ask my dad to baby sit my little one she a bit young for this kinda explore

 

[CantClimbTom]

My worry is that if a shaft gets filled whatever air flow it allowed has stopped. People need to be *even more* cautious now. Lovely report!