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NAMHO GUIDELINESThe following are NAMHO guidelines. Click on the code in the list below.
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ATTENTION ALL: The Coal Authority have sent the following message to NAMHO (the UK/Ireland National Association of Mining History Organisations) - it should be considered carefully by anyone contemplating exploring abandoned coal workings. They are dangerous places and entering / interference with such workings in prohibited in the UK. CLICK HERE to download. We need a positive response from mine explorers to stay well clear of coal workings. If there were to be any further incidents like this, there would undoubtedly be pressure for closing off coal mine entrances with consequent damage to the surface archaeology, so saving lives and saving the archaeology go hand in hand. Underground Exploration - Novices If you have never explored a disused mine before, remember that it can be EXCITING if done properly but LETHAL if you do not know what you are doing. Here are 12 basic rules for your survival. 1. JOIN A MINING HISTORY GROUP There are many groups in the UK that cover the whole of the country. Unless you are attending a special course, consider joining one of these and they will teach you how to be safe underground. 2. GET THE BASIC GEAR The basic things that you need are :- Warm clothing and a boilersuit For simple mines a torch is OK but the best is a miner's electric headlamp. ALWAYS carry spare lighting and REMEMBER a change of clothes. 3. ALWAYS GET PERMISSION Always ask the mine owner for permission to enter. If you don't know the owner, ask the local mining history group. Never break in, or trespass, if permission is refused. Always leave mines safe by replacing gates or lids before you leave. 4. TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU ARE GOING If you have an accident, you want people to know where to locate you! Leave a message with a responsible person, giving the following details :- - name and location of the mine 5. NEVER GO UNDERGROUND ALONE OR INCAPABLE FOUR is the minimum safe number underground so that, in the case of an accident, one can stay with the casualty and two can go for help. NEVER take alcohol or drugs before or during a trip as this will reduce concentration, with potentially lethal results. 6. DO NOT EXCEED YOUR CAPABILITY Choose easy trips at first and leave the more difficult techniques until you are used to moving underground. Ladder climbing, for instance, can be very strenuous at times and it is always harder climbing back out! If in doubt, turning back is better than having to be rescued. 7. DO NOT GET LOST Some mines are like mazes and it is very easy to get lost. If there is a plan of the mine (your local mining history group can advise you) take a copy with you. One good idea is to cut small arrows from a brightly coloured polythene bag and, whenever you come to a junction, leave one of them pointing towards the entrance. ALWAYS pick them up on the way out. 8. NEVER CLIMB ON OLD LADDERS OR MACHINERY You may come across old ladders, timbers, etc which were used by the miners. NEVER use these as they are of uncertain age and probably rotten. Similarly, don't climb on old machinery as it is probably rusty and may collapse. 9. NEVER CLIMB ON STACKED ROCK OR WALLS For their convenience, miners often left waste rock in the mine. It was stacked up and supported by timbers, which have long since rotted away, leaving the rock precariously balanced. DON'T TOUCH, or climb, on these features or you may bring down tons of rock onto yourself and others. 10. NEVER FOOL AROUND WHEN UNDERGROUND People in groups sometimes do silly things but, with the dangers underground, practical jokes can have tragic endings. Be a steadying influence on your friends. They may laugh when you say "better safe than sorry" but this is a small price to pay for your life and theirs. 11. DO NOT RUIN THE MINE ENVIRONMENT This is what you have come to see, so leave it in a good condition for others. Don't :- - hammer minerals in an indiscriminate manner TAKE only photographs. LEAVE only footprints. 12. KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY Mines are dangerous places and accidents can happen to even the most experienced people. If, however, you don't panic then the casualty stands a good chance of surviving. Learn about simple First Aid so that you can make them comfortable. Exposure is one of the most dangerous things - learn about its symptoms and treatment. Always leave someone with the casualty and send at least two people for help. The area Cave Rescue Organisations are very efficient and can be called out by dialling 999 and asking for the Police. Tell them what has happened, the location of the mine and the nature of any injuries. These 12 rules are the most basic knowledge that you need but it will take a few years before you are anything like experienced. THE BEST WAY TO GAIN THIS EXPERIENCE IS TO JOIN A RECOGNISED MINING HISTORY GROUP AND TO GO UNDERGROUND WITH EXPERIENCED PEOPLE. A list of such groups can be seen by CLICKING HERE. You can also write to the Secretary of NAMHO and ask which groups cover the area you are interested in. Mineral Collecting at Disused Mines DOES THIS AFFECT ME? If you visit disused mines to collect mineral specimens, then you should read the following. WHY DOES MINERAL COLLECTING AFFECT OTHERS? Disused mines are used by several other groups of people for recreational purposes, ie Naturalists, Cavers and Industrial Archaeologists. All have a particular interest but sometimes the activities of one group can seriously interfere with the enjoyment of others, albeit unknowingly. This can sometimes lead to friction and, in extreme cases, cause one group to gate entrances and deny access to others. If we respect the interests and needs of other users, this situation should not arise. HOW DO I RESPECT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS? Follow the simple guidelines below and you can collect mineral specimens without interfering with others. WHAT SHOULD I DO ON THE SURFACE?
WHAT SHOULD I DO UNDERGROUND?
Underground Exploration - Leaders You may be an experienced caver but disused mines contain many dangers not found in natural caves. Unless you can recognise and avoid these dangers you are playing Russian Roulette with your life (and the lives of your party). If you intend to lead a party of novices into an old mine, you are responsible for their lives as well as your own. Training and Assessment Courses for Cave Leadership are available through the Training Committee of the National Caving Association. The following advice has been compiled from people who have had many years experience in the exploration of disused mines. We do not claim that it is a definitive set of rules, we merely hope that you will take note of the advice and perhaps a tragedy may be avoided through a greater understanding of the dangers facing you underground. ACCESS The problems of access to disused mines are different from those for caves. The existence of mineral rights means that the mine owner is not necessarily the same as the land owner. Remember that it is often less trouble for a mine owner to close the entrance completely than to allow access to explorers. Mining history groups have worked for years, both nationally and locally, to get access agreements. Don't be the one to deny access for everyone through a thoughtless act. Follow these simple rules and help to keep the mines open. 1. ALWAYS get permission from the land or mine owner before exploring. If the owner is not known, ask the local mining history group. 2. OBEY the Country Code when crossing land to get to the mine. 3. NEVER break into a mine, or section thereof, if it has been sealed off and do not trespass if permission has been refused. 4. ALWAYS ensure that any gate or lid to a mine entrance is securely replaced after your visit. If you are not leaving anyone on the surface during your trip, ensure that the open entrance will not be a danger to cattle or passers-by. 5. ALWAYS ensure that you are not contravening Health & Safety Legislation. NAMHO/NCA have issued guidelines on this. SAFETY 6. NEVER explore disused coal mines, they are prone to weak strata and bad air. 7. ALWAYS check out a mine with an experienced party before taking novices in. 8. FOUR is the minimum safe number underground in case of accident, 1 to stay with the victim and 2 to go for help. 9. NEVER have a ratio of more than 5 novices to 1 experienced person. Have an experienced person at the front and rear of the party and, with large numbers, spread the experienced persons amongst the party. 10. NEVER drink alcohol or take drugs before or during a trip. This can reduce concentration and increases the risk of exposure. 11. NEVER go underground unless properly equipped. The leader is responsible for checking everyone's equipment and should be prepared to leave anyone who is not so equipped on the surface. Disappointment is better than disaster. 12. ALWAYS wear a helmet and check that it fits securely before going underground. It should have a chinstrap and be comfortable. The easiest way to check is to shake the head up and down and from side to side - if the helmet moves it is too loose. 13. ALWAYS wear strong boots or wellingtons with a good tread. Never use boots with lace hooks since these can catch on electron ladders. 14. EVERY person must have a light. A miner's-type electric headlamp is best but a strong torch with spare batteries is acceptable in easy mines. Carbide lamps are not recommended. If any vertical climbing is involved, a headlamp is essential. 15. EVERY party should carry spare lighting for emergencies, even if only candles. 16. ALWAYS wear warm clothing, preferably with a boiler suit on top. Remember to have a change of dry clothes on surface. 17. ALWAYS tell a responsible person where you are going. Ideally you should give them a written message showing :- a) location, grid reference and name of the mine. Ensure that the person with this message knows what to do if you are overdue and that you contact them when you exit from the mine. 18. IN EMERGENCY you should dial 999 for the POLICE and ask them for CAVE RESCUE. Give them full details of the location of the mine, the extent of injury to the victim and whereabouts in the mine they are. Stay by the telephone unless they say otherwise. 19. Carry some high-calorific food (eg Mars Bars) and a drink in case of emergency. 20. Carry a plan of the mine, if available. Your local mining history group can advise you if there is a plan of the mine. 21. ALWAYS count the number of persons in a party before going underground and check regularly during the trip, especially on exit. With absolute novices, allocate a place in the line and tell them to keep their position, to be patient and not to overtake. 22. Just inside the entrance, wait 5 minutes to allow the eyes to get accustomed to the dark. During this time, check that everyone's lamp is working. 23. The helmet will protect your head from a low roof but not against dangers on the floor like rocks or open holes. When moving, keep your eyes mainly on the floor to avoid these dangers. If you want to look around - STOP. 24. Ensure that the party does not become separated. If anyone lags behind, the person in front of them should stop and shout ahead for the party to wait. 25. When you come to a junction, look back and memorise the way out as it can look different from the other way. Better still, leave a marker such as coloured polythene arrows (remember to remove them on the way out) or a line of stones. 26. If someone's light fails, there should be a spare. In emergency, however, you can get someone to walk just behind and to one side and, proceeding slowly, there should be sufficient light for both to see ahead. If all lights fail, be patient and sit it out until rescued. Feeling the way in the dark is courting disaster. 27. NEVER use a mining trip to test endurance and stamina. If someone feels claustrophobic or tired DON'T make them carry on - take them out. Novices should be told that there is no shame in turning back, there will be less embarrassment over this than pushing on and risking an accident. ABANDONED MINES ARE MAN-MADE AND HAVE MANY FEATURES NEVER ENCOUNTERED IN CAVES. THIS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE AND CANNOT BE OVER-STRESSED. THE FOLLOWING SECTION DRAWS YOUR ATTENTION TO SPECIFIC HAZARDS FOUND IN MINES. 28. NEVER touch anything that looks like explosives or detonators. These may be unstable through age and extremely dangerous. Make a note of their position and tell your local mining history group. 29. Miners often made false floors by building timber roadways over a stope (a large open working). These are not always obvious since they may have been covered by mud and even hold water. When the timbers rot you risk falling through into the stope below. If the floor feels shaky or hollow - TURN BACK. 30. Miners often drove through soft ground for speed, erecting roof supports which may have now rotted. NEVER disturb roof supports. 31. Miners often left waste rock underground to save the trouble of taking it to the surface and sometimes used it to support the roof. This rock, called "Deads", was often stacked on timbers in the roof or sides of passages but, over the years, the timber rots and leaves the deads jammed together. NEVER touch or climb on deads anywhere in a mine or you may bring down tons of rock onto the heads of yourself and others. 32. Hoppers were used to draw off rock from stopes into wagons on levels below. There is often a great deal of loose rock jammed in these hoppers. NEVER interfere with hoppers or you may release tons of rock. 33. When wading through water, beware of flooded shafts in the floor. After the first person has passed, the water becomes muddy and you cannot see anything. Shafts are often to one side of a passage so you may miss them on the way in but find them unexpectedly on the way out! The first person should pass a warning back along the line and mark the position for the trip out. 34. In deep water, keep to the sides of the passage where it is often shallower and (if in solid rock) you can steady yourself on the walls. Beware of submerged rocks on the floor - if you find one, pass a message back. Go at the pace of the slowest person. NEVER race and NEVER swim underground. 35. The edges of shafts can be loose so NEVER stand on the edge. If you must look down then get someone to lifeline you, lie on the floor and peer over the edge. The tops of large shafts can also be timbered over leaving a small access hole. Beware of standing on this timber which may be rotten. 36. Shafts often have drystone walling at the top called "Ginging". When descending, beware of touching this in case you cause it to collapse on people below. 37. NEVER climb on or over old machinery, since it may be severely weakened by rust. Apart from the safety considerations, you may spoil the mine environment for others. 38. In some mines, ladders were used to get from one level to another, with wooden platforms at intervals. In other mines, timbers called "Stemples" were jammed across shafts to climb on. ALL such structures are now suspect through age so NEVER climb on old ladders, platforms or stemples left in a mine. 39. Beware of gas underground. Although it is rare in non-coal mines, it can be lethal. The commonest gases are :- a) Hydrogen Sulphide b) Carbon Dioxide c) Methane Atmospheric conditions can affect the quantity of gas in a mine and it may be found one day but not the next. If you suspect gas - TURN BACK. Better still, carry an oxygen meter or a miner's flame lamp. When exploring a shaft, test for gas at the bottom before descending. 40. NEVER light fires underground. Combustion will produce gases which are difficult to detect and lethal. 41. In unventilated mines with no air flow, there is a possible danger of Radon gas which is radioactive. This changes to minute particles which are carried in the air and can be absorbed into the lungs, possibly causing cancer. It is recommended that you do not explore unventilated mines. If you must, it is recommended that you wear a dust mask which absorbs most of these particles. 42. It is recommended that you do not smoke underground because :- a) there may be inflammable gas present. 43. Beware of chemicals dumped down shafts - some of these are poisonous. THE PREVIOUS SECTIONS HAVE DEALT WITH DANGERS SPECIFIC TO MINES. THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS DEAL WITH GENERAL DANGERS AND APPLY EQUALLY TO CAVING AS WELL AS MINE EXPLORATION. LADDER CLIMBING, ROPEWORK AND ESPECIALLY SINGLE ROPE TECHNIQUES ARE COMPLEX AND CONTINUALLY DEVELOPING. YOU ARE RECOMMENDED TO TAKE LESSONS FROM THOSE ALREADY PROFICIENT IN THE TECHNIQUES. THE NATIONAL CAVING ASSOCIATION CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT SUITABLE COURSES. 44. If the party gets wet or cold, beware of exposure. The warning signs are slowness of movement, unreasonable or irritable behaviour, slurred speech, cramps, shivers and (in more extreme cases) the smell of peardrops on the breath. STOP IMMEDIATELY and take the victim to a suitable spot where they can be kept warm and dry. Give warm drinks, food, glucose tablets and extra clothing if available but NOT alcohol. Place victim in a survival bag and get another person to share body heat by "cuddling". If no improvement after a short rest - GET HELP. NEVER attempt to walk a badly exposed person out under their own steam as this can be fatal. 45. Exposure can set in after an accident and can often be a greater danger than broken bones. If an accident happens in a wet or cold place, it is better to risk further injury by moving the victim to a dry spot out of the direct air flow. Warm drinks should be given since an anaethesist can deal with a full stomach if a later operation is necessary. In an underground environment, preventing loss of body heat is much more important. 46. ALWAYS use a lifeline when negotiating a vertical descent or ascent and make sure that the lifeline is securely tied onto a separate belay from the ladder, if used. On scrambles, remember to move only one foot or hand at a time. 47. Apart from short, easy scrambles, an electron ladder should be used. Novices should learn how to use an electron ladder on the surface first. 48. NEVER tread on ropes, you may cause damage inside. When cleaning ropes, check that no mud or grit has got inside since this acts as a very good abrasive, shortening the life of the rope and possibly yourself! 49. Check the wire of electron ladders for cuts, snapped strands or rust. Check the rungs for damage. NEVER use ladders with hemp-cored wire. 50. Clean mud out of the hinges and screw threads of carabiners. If a carabiner has been dropped onto a hard surface, discard it. Invisible hairline cracks can occur which may cause it to break under load. 51. Clean and check all your equipment after each trip and, if in doubt about the safety of anything, replace it. It is foolish economy to risk your life. 52. All persons using a ladder must be able to tie a bowline and figure-of-eight knot in case of emergency, when help may not be available. 53. NEVER approach the top of a ladder pitch unless you are lifelined. It is good practice to keep away until you are ready to descend, otherwise you may accidentally knock rocks down onto a person climbing the ladder. 54. NEVER have more than one person on a ladder at a time. 55. Deep shafts can distort sound. Before descending, arrange signals such as a whistle blast or tug on the rope, eg 1 - STOP 56. ALWAYS send an experienced person down a ladder first. At the bottom, untie and move away from the ladder in case of falling rocks. 57. If you ever knock an object down a shaft, shout "BELOW". If you ever hear this shout - NEVER LOOK UP. Get under cover or stand flat against the wall with your head hunched into your shoulders. 58. If you want to look up a shaft, peer up from under the brim of your helmet which will protect you from any stones falling down. 59. NEVER carry extra equipment down a shaft - lower it separately. 60. NEVER trust old rings, timbers, etc as belay points. 61. If your party is to separate after descending a shaft, agree some form of message so that the first group back leaves the ladder in place. 62. NEVER remove another party's ladder, etc - one day it might be you stuck at the bottom! If a pitch is already rigged and there is no space for your ladder, use the one in place and leave your tackle at the top. When the other party ascends, they should lower your ladder for you. 63. NEVER use single rope techniques underground unless you are already well-practiced on the surface. Muddy ropes can affect the friction on descendeurs and cause ascendeurs to slip or jam up. PRESERVATION People explore disused mines for a number of reasons. You might only be interested in a tourist trip but remember that others have different interests, eg history, geology, biology, photography, etc. Please follow these guidelines. 64. NEVER interfere with old mine buildings or equipment whether underground or on the surface. Removing old tools, etc is a specialised art and best left to the experts for display in a mining museum. If you find artefacts in a mine, tell the local mining history group. 65. NEVER hammer rock formations indiscriminately. This not only destroys the scenery but can be dangerous in unstable areas. Take only a few specimens for personal use. 66. NEVER interfere with roosting bats underground, they are protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Try to avoid visits to known bat hibernation sites between November and March. Report any bats seen to the local bat group, the Nature Conservancy Council or the Flora & Fauna Preservation Society. See "Bats in Caves: a Conservation Code", published by the FFPS, c/o Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY. 67. Many insects and even smaller animals live in mines, often in pools. Some of these animals are rare and damaging their environment can kill the whole population. NEVER dump carbide in a mine and avoid muddying pools wherever possible. 68. Many forms of fungus are found in mines where they live on old timber, etc. Some of these are rare and should NEVER be damaged. 69. Mine water is sometimes used as a water supply. NEVER pollute underground water and NEVER drink it. 70. Remember - TAKE only photographs. LEAVE only footprints. IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY THESE GUIDELINES Guidelines on Archival Research & Publication 1. INTRODUCTIONSooner or later, many people feel that they would like to research the history of a mine and prepare a report for publication. To the beginner, however, this can be a daunting task - where do they start? This guide is intended to give some indication of where to start on the fascinating process of discovery. Points to remember are: a) Everyone comes to blank endsb) Everyone makes mistakes c) It often does no harm to file away your notes for a year or more and start on something else. Such a pause, and the subsequent new start, often gives a clearer view of the work already done and new information may have surfaced. One of the first things you must develop is patience. There will be times when you seem to be getting nowhere at all and times when you only find a small item after a great deal of work. Persevere, however, since you can often discover a wealth of detail in some obscure source and it makes it all worthwhile. Research is like a jigsaw puzzle - you must gather together a great many small items of information and eventually you can fit them together to form a picture. Unless you are prepared to spend time on your research it is not worth starting, since what you produce will be incomplete. 2. FILINGFrom the start you must keep a file of information on your subject, however unimportant it may seem at the time. It often happens that another piece of information comes to light which, combined with the previous piece, provides an important insight on the subject. It is very frustrating to know that you have read something else previously but cannot remember where! You must head each piece of information with details of where it came from, ie book title, author, year of publication, page number, etc. This is useful if you need to refer back to it at any time and for use as your reference - more of this later.3. SOURCE MATERIALThere are two types of source material, viza) "Primary" - original mine leases, daybooks, etc. which are held in record offices, museums or private collections. b) "Secondary" - books or articles written by mining historians. You should always begin by checking if anyone else has already carried out research into your area of interest. This may save a great deal of duplication and their work can act as a springboard for your own research. This is not as easy as it sounds since their work may appear in some obscure journal or may not even be published! Try reading:- Burt, R. & "Bibliography of the History of British Metal Mining"Waite, P. University of Exeter/NAMHO, 1988, ISBN 0 85989 319 7 "Current Titles in Speleology" (annual publication) British Cave Research Association, ISBN 0 900265 319 7 These may direct you to published sources about your area of interest and these in turn, like a chain reaction, may suggest even more sources. Keep a list of potential sources to which you can add to from the bibliographies of books that you read. You may find that many of these have no relevance but sometimes you strike it lucky. Always check quoted sources yourself, since a passage copied from the original work may be condensed or omit information. There are several journals which are worth checking for information :-
Vernon, R "Mining Heritage Guide", NAMHO 1997 Your local mining history society can provide a good idea of where to start looking for source material on your area of interest. As well as telling you if material has already been published in their journal, they can also put you in touch with individuals who may have knowledge or unpublished notes of interest to you. Many also have their own archival collections but access to these is not always allowed for non-members. As with all subjects, there are some books which are regarded as required reading because they give a good outline of their chosen areas, eg Burt, R. "The British Lead Mining Industry" Dyllansow Truran, Redruth, 1984.Burt et al "Mineral Statistics (1845?1913)" by county University of Exeter. Dines, H. "The Geology of the Metalliferous Mining Region of South West England" (2 vols.) H.M.S.O., London, 1956. Dunham, K. "Geology of the Northern Pennine Orefield" Vol. 1 H.M.S.O., London, 1949. Ford, T. & Rieuwerts, J. "Lead Mining in the Peak District" Peak Park Joint Planning Board, Bakewell, 1970. Lewis, W. "Lead Mining in Wales" University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 1967. Raistrick, A. & Jennings, B. "A History of Lead Mining in the Pennines" Longmans, London, 1965. It is important that these be read, because they will give a wealth of general detail against which one's own findings may be measured. For instance, if the accepted date for the introduction of a specific process (say reverberatory smelting) is the last third of the 17th century and such a furnace is found on a site dating from 1701, then it is clearly a very early example. Once you have exhausted these sources, your work begins in earnest and there are now several places you can visit. Although you may not be able to visit all the places listed below, you should try to include as many as possible. In this way, you can be sure to have covered as much ground as possible to obtain information. 4. THE REFERENCE LIBRARYHaving arrived at the local reference library, do you know how to use it to the full? What are those numbers on the shelves? Can they be of use or did the librarian just have a lot of dymo-tape? Who are those people behind the counter - can they assist? Hazel Martell MA, BA, ALA. explains the system and some of its failings in the following section.Where do I start?The most obvious way is to ask the person behind the counter. Since, however, most people can only visit a library when it is busy, the assistant is likely to be rushed off their feet - dealing with two queues, looking for lost tickets, answering the telephone. Although your project is very important to you, it will come a long way down their list of priorities at the moment you arrive! With that in mind, the following is a very elementary introduction to the Dewey Decimal System of library classification - the numbers which librarians put on book spines and catalogue cards to enable them, and you, to find books quickly. It is a sort of map reference. To those of you who have worked it out for yourselves, we apologise for wasting your time. To the rest of you, we hope that it doesn't make you more confused than ever ... Introduction to DeweyMelville Dewey was an American who lived in the last century. This is why some of his priorities seem somewhat strange and why his allocation of classification numbers to certain subjects seem over-generous or sadly too few. In the society he lived in, it would seem logical to allocate 100 numbers each to PHILOSOPHY and RELIGION and only 10 numbers to the whole of ENGINEERING. His idea was to separate books into 10 main groups according to subject as follows:
The Library CatalogueMany libraries have a catalogue which is available to the public. This can be on cards, micro-fiches or a computer and has a separate entry for each book. It does not often help in tracing an article, however, unless you know the exact name and volume of the publication in which it appeared. Specialist bibliographies, such as that published by NAMHO, are invaluable in this respect. The card index is usually divided into two sections:
Computer indexes, where available, offer the advantage of being able to search rapidly through several fields (eg author, title or subject) and allowing "key word" searches. Some computer indexes contain details for all libraries in the county and they may show that your book is held by another branch. In this case, you can often arrange for it to be sent to your branch on loan for you to refer to. Not all books are kept on the shelves, some may be in the stack which is not open to the public. In this case, the catalogue entry will be marked accordingly. Finally, where the library doesn't stock the specific book that you want, the inter-library loan facility allows it to be borrowed from other libraries in the UK. There is usually a charge for this service and the librarian will need full details for it to be traced, ie Author, Title, Publisher, Date of Publication and ISBN if known. The fact that it has a red/green/purple cover doesn't matter to anybody! Things to Look For
When maps of different ages are compared, a problem which sometimes arises is that they do not align properly. The main reason for this is that County Sheets were surveyed from a north?south meridian in each county, from which corrections for distortions caused by the Earth's curvature were also calculated. This is the reason why the neighbouring county is left blank at their common boundary. National Grid maps, on the contrary, were surveyed from a common base line, which diverges from geographical north, from which adjustments were made. When comparing maps of different ages, you may find that they do not align properly. The reason for this is that the County Sheets were surveyed from a north-south line in each county, from which the distortion caused by the Earth's curvature was calculated. This is why the neighbouring county is left blank at the common boundary. Modern maps, however, are surveyed from a common base line, ie the National Grid. 5. THE LOCAL STUDIES LIBRARYMost county library headquarters have a local studies section containing items of county interest. Many old books are more likely to be found here than in local branches. Things to Look For
6. THE COUNTY RECORD OFFICEThis is where you are likely to find examples of primary sources which are unique and need specialist storage. Some offices insist that you book a seat in advance and many now have an identification card scheme. Telephone first and take some personal identification. There are extensive catalogues and you will have to complete a request form for items (normally limited to 3 at a time). Most offices have their own "Notes for Enquirers" but you should always obey the following rules:
Things to Look For
Remember also that some mineral owners lived outside the area and their estate papers may have been donated to a record office in another county. Try advertising in the NAMHO Newsletter to see if other mining historians have come across material relating to your area. 7. OTHER ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONSa) British LibraryThis is currently situated in the British Museum, Great Russell St, London but is due to move to new premises. You need a reader's ticket which can be obtained by producing personal identification. Items of particular interest are Geological Memoirs and Reports of HM Inspectors of Mines. Items can be seen at your local reference library via the inter-library lending service. Things to Look For
b) Public Record OfficeThere are two sites at Chancery Lane, London and Ruskin Ave, Kew, Richmond, Surrey. You need a reader's ticket which can be obtained by producing personal identification. There is a vast amount of primary source material and you should get the following leaflets which will direct you to various indexes:
c) National Monuments RecordThe record office is at Fortress House, Savile Row, London and it also holds the Ordnance Survey Archaeological Records. There is also a separate library of aerial photographs which can be useful for picking out surface features. Aerial photographs provide a valuable aid to industrial archaeologists. They often have a nominal scale of 1/10000 but, owing to factors such as ground slopes and lens distortion, this cannot be relied on. As an aid to infilling detail, local scales may be calculated by means of measurements taken in the field, or from maps, between distinguishable features, such as wall corners. Often, it is possible to detect features which are, at best, difficult to distinguish on the ground. Linear features stand out particularly well and may be transferred onto maps with a reasonable degree of accuracy. d) Others
8. LOCAL INFORMATIONA lot of information can be obtained by talking to locals but, as time goes on, it is becoming rarer to obtain a first hand account. Second hand accounts can be useful as long as you take care to filter out embellishments. Try talking to the local farmers first or write to the local newspapers asking for information. Quite often, people will direct you to others with information. Rumours will be rife but take note if you hear them from several different sources. There is a grain of truth in every rumour - the difficulty is in deciding what it is! Talking to locals can be a very time consuming job, especially with older people. They have a tendency to wander off the subject and you can offend them if you keep butting in. Develop patience and the art of bringing them back to the subject with carefully worded questions. 9. PREPARING A REPORT FOR PUBLICATIONHaving selected the journal for which you wish to write, give the editor a short outline of your proposed article and ask for advice on what format to follow. Most editors have a set of requirements, known as "house style", which helps to maintain consistency. Don't worry too much about your mastery of written English since editors will be quite happy to correct any errors. There are many forms that an article can take but it is a good idea to restrict your first efforts to a description of what has been found. Although simple in format, it will nevertheless represent a record of the site at the time of writing and, should it deteriorate, provide a valuable reference. Remember to provide a scale on any survey or map that you include, this will allow readers to align it to what they may find. Locations should be given to an eight figure National Grid Reference with the elevation (above sea level). These can be obtained from the 1:10,000 Ordnance Survey maps. Units of measurement are not standardised but more people are now using metric rather than imperial. The article should start with an INTRODUCTION, covering aspects such as the location, minerals worked and local geology. Next should be a two part description, the first giving the site's history and the second covering the remains on the surface and, where possible, underground. You can use local terms where known but, more importantly, ensure that the description is accurate as it will form a permanent record. The easiest way to cover a site's history is to adopt a chronological approach, in which events are dealt with as they occurred. By this method, it is possible to lay down a "potted history" of the mine from its discovery to closure. There are more sophisticated approaches which you can try later by copying the styles of more experienced writers. It is important to maintain a disciplined approach and not be tempted to make grand assumptions. If something is being inferred, make it clear by using expressions such as "the evidence suggests that ..." or "it remains to be proved that ...". Don't be afraid to question the conclusions of others, especially if fieldwork appears to contradict an "accepted truth". Don't use the occasion for personal attacks, however, since it can be put diplomatically, eg "The level has been interpreted as being Roman but evidence given in a legal case (give reference) suggests that it dates from the mid-18th century". Always try to be factual when describing underground exploration. The following example demonstrates the common mistakes that can be made in preparing a report for publication.
To a mining man there is something wrong with the above and an examination would reveal that Boggart Level itself is the crosscut and that the east/west levels are drifts on Bathole Vein. It is important to realise that a crosscut is a tunnel driven in barren rock whilst the tunnels in the vein are known as drives or drifts. A better description would have been:
If nothing better can be produced, sketch plans and sections of the above features may be very useful. Where a number of points need to be drawn together, or the possible direction of future work discussed, this can best be done in a CONCLUSION. This will be followed by a BIBLIOGRAPHY, in which sources are set out and related to the references in the text. There is a standard format for showing references as can be seen earlier in these guidelines. Finally, you should include a section for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS where you acknowledge any assistance in your project, such as people who have provided information or helped with exploration. It is a good idea to acknowledge help from staff in libraries or record offices and provide them with an offprint of the published article. Copyright © NAMHO 2006 Website designed by Resources Computing International Ltd |