1. The History
The Masson Complex is a complex series of old lead mine galleries and natural caverns extending from top to bottom of Masson Hill. It has a number of entrances from the site of Masson Hill Top Quarry down to the river level. The extensive underground workings at Nestus Pipes and Bacon Rake. The Nestus Pipes are medieval “pipe workings” identified by their distinctive 'woodpecker' pick work. Historical documents show there were extensive working circa 1470. In addition to the adit entrances there are a large number of hand-picked shafts from surface. The mine also has coffin levels, along with other extensive underground mining evidence dating from the late 17th century right through to the 20th century.
The mined workings include both large east-west stopes in a rake and workings within extensive mineralised hydrothermal pipe/flat deposits leading to north-west and south-east. The main stopes are located on Bacon or Great Rake, while the deposits to either side are the Nestus Pipes. South of the rake is referred to as Nestus Mine, now shown to the public as Rutland Cavern when it first opened to the public in 1810. Running north from the rake are Cardings Nestus Mine, High Loft/Black Ox Mine, and Critchman/Knowles Mine. These pipes, together with a short section of Bacon Rake now make up the tourist show cave, Great Masson Cavern, which opened to visitors in the 1870s. In addition to the spectacular show caverns, the Great Masson/Rutland system has extensive evidence of mining activities, including some that date back to 1470 AD i.e. medieval times, while the18th century Critchman Mine was mined commercially for fluorspar. There are examples of fine pick marks typical of the period, small tunnels which suggest the workings of children and the technique known as “Fire setting” (heat up rock then quenching it with water. The inter-connected Nestus Mine was one of the largest mines in the Lower Derwent area active in the prosperous 17th century.
2. The Explore
First time this place has been reported on here. Me and my non-member mate met up with @Jl.urbex for this one. Access is “interesting”. It’s a difficult-ish climbdown and squeeze through from the end of Masson quarry. The quarry itself is interesting enough. One we’d climbed down, things very quickly open up into the Crichman Chamber. Making our way down the passage eastwards, we passed the coffin level up to our right. Further on, we came to the complex junction around the pretty wet Dale Shaft. This was the most photogenic part of the mine complex with many old mining relics left behind. We then headed north before dog-legging left, heading down through the impressive stacks of deads to the lovely lake in a large natural chamber that was discovered in 1779.
We then headed back to the main junction and made our way east along the beautiful mineral passage to its natural conclusion. From here, we could have crawled through one of three or four low cut-throughs to buddling chambers, the other lake, a vertical shaft used when fluorspar was being mined and the gated passage which links to the show cave. At this point though, we decided it was time to head out of the mine and retrace our steps.
The climb out was a bit of a challenge but having ascended the narrow and near vertical passage we were back out into the overhanging rocks on the quarry wall. On the walk out at the top of the quarry, we bumped into a group of cavers heading down there. Unbeknown to me one of them was our very own @MotionlessMike Small world, eh? So, expect another excellent report on this place incoming in the near future.
3. The Pictures
Approaching the quarry:
And on to the quarry’s northern rim:
And down to the quarry floor:
This is where we need to be:
Up we go:
Down and were in. The propped passage out of the Crichman Chamber:
Some smartly stacked deads:
Coffin level entrance up to our right:
And through to the main chamber:
An old kibble showing us the way:
Loads of old mining detritus here:
Nicely displayed here:
An old miner’s lamp?
Cement setting agent plus an old winch:
Some sort of drive shaft:
A spade or a shovel:
And another:
Higher level mining:
Including this lovely pick work:
On to the lovely little lake:
Looking up a rather wet Dale shaft:
A little puddle:
The Masson Complex is a complex series of old lead mine galleries and natural caverns extending from top to bottom of Masson Hill. It has a number of entrances from the site of Masson Hill Top Quarry down to the river level. The extensive underground workings at Nestus Pipes and Bacon Rake. The Nestus Pipes are medieval “pipe workings” identified by their distinctive 'woodpecker' pick work. Historical documents show there were extensive working circa 1470. In addition to the adit entrances there are a large number of hand-picked shafts from surface. The mine also has coffin levels, along with other extensive underground mining evidence dating from the late 17th century right through to the 20th century.
The mined workings include both large east-west stopes in a rake and workings within extensive mineralised hydrothermal pipe/flat deposits leading to north-west and south-east. The main stopes are located on Bacon or Great Rake, while the deposits to either side are the Nestus Pipes. South of the rake is referred to as Nestus Mine, now shown to the public as Rutland Cavern when it first opened to the public in 1810. Running north from the rake are Cardings Nestus Mine, High Loft/Black Ox Mine, and Critchman/Knowles Mine. These pipes, together with a short section of Bacon Rake now make up the tourist show cave, Great Masson Cavern, which opened to visitors in the 1870s. In addition to the spectacular show caverns, the Great Masson/Rutland system has extensive evidence of mining activities, including some that date back to 1470 AD i.e. medieval times, while the18th century Critchman Mine was mined commercially for fluorspar. There are examples of fine pick marks typical of the period, small tunnels which suggest the workings of children and the technique known as “Fire setting” (heat up rock then quenching it with water. The inter-connected Nestus Mine was one of the largest mines in the Lower Derwent area active in the prosperous 17th century.
2. The Explore
First time this place has been reported on here. Me and my non-member mate met up with @Jl.urbex for this one. Access is “interesting”. It’s a difficult-ish climbdown and squeeze through from the end of Masson quarry. The quarry itself is interesting enough. One we’d climbed down, things very quickly open up into the Crichman Chamber. Making our way down the passage eastwards, we passed the coffin level up to our right. Further on, we came to the complex junction around the pretty wet Dale Shaft. This was the most photogenic part of the mine complex with many old mining relics left behind. We then headed north before dog-legging left, heading down through the impressive stacks of deads to the lovely lake in a large natural chamber that was discovered in 1779.
We then headed back to the main junction and made our way east along the beautiful mineral passage to its natural conclusion. From here, we could have crawled through one of three or four low cut-throughs to buddling chambers, the other lake, a vertical shaft used when fluorspar was being mined and the gated passage which links to the show cave. At this point though, we decided it was time to head out of the mine and retrace our steps.
The climb out was a bit of a challenge but having ascended the narrow and near vertical passage we were back out into the overhanging rocks on the quarry wall. On the walk out at the top of the quarry, we bumped into a group of cavers heading down there. Unbeknown to me one of them was our very own @MotionlessMike Small world, eh? So, expect another excellent report on this place incoming in the near future.
3. The Pictures
Approaching the quarry:
And on to the quarry’s northern rim:
And down to the quarry floor:
This is where we need to be:
Up we go:
Down and were in. The propped passage out of the Crichman Chamber:
Some smartly stacked deads:
Coffin level entrance up to our right:
And through to the main chamber:
An old kibble showing us the way:
Loads of old mining detritus here:
Nicely displayed here:
An old miner’s lamp?
Cement setting agent plus an old winch:
Some sort of drive shaft:
A spade or a shovel:
And another:
Higher level mining:
Including this lovely pick work:
On to the lovely little lake:
Looking up a rather wet Dale shaft:
A little puddle:
