Location
SJ854776
Directions
Park up at the pub 'The Wizard Inn' at Alderley Edge. The mine is a short walk from here
Access
Via DCC, contact them for a trip
Suggested Equipment
None. a very easy walk around mine
Length
A few miles of tunnels
Flood Risk
There are drainage pipes dotted about the mine, there are taps on these to flood some parts of the mine and make others accessible and vice versa
Mine Attributes
Copper
Description
An interesting copper mine with some nice formations. Wood Mine is a confusing array of passages which sports some large caverns and splendidly-coloured blue-green chrysocolla "waterfalls". The impressive Sand Cavern and Rabbit Caverns are often included in the route taken on public open days.
Wood Mine connects with both the Hough Level and Engine Vein. The Hough Level, which is dry to start with where we entered it in Dickens Wood, reaches an area of waist-deep (or more) water past the Blue Shaft connection to Engine Vein. There's a very smart three-person Canadian canoe in this section which can be used to reach the Brynlow Level without getting wet.
The spectacular Blue Shaft in Engine Vein is ascended via a fixed metal ladder and provides a superb underground photo opportunity, with the blue-green mineral deposits flowing down the wall vertically for almost the full height of the climb.
Unexplored Passages
None
Digs
Several DCC digs
Links
http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Wood-mine_1101/Wood-mine.asp (http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Wood-mine_1101/Wood-mine.asp)
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Awesome photos - same mine UCET went to last year - Alderey Edge ? :)
Cheers Ian. Alderley Edge is a collection of mines, some joined, located in the woodland around Alderley and the Wizard pub, so you probably went in via Wood mine.
Did you do the boat level trip into Engine vein?
[quote="Suboffender" post=3709]
Did you do the boat level trip into Engine vein?[/quote]
We sure did and just after we got out of the boats, Ed found a "new" hole to scramble into and explore. I think that is also where the "Bicycle" thing is too :)
What fantastic pictures Joel!
I am just reading the Wierdstone of Bressingamen to Bella, which is a magical tale set in this and the connected mines and caverns. It would be fantastic to take Bella there with you and Vikki sometime. Masybe others would like to come too and make this a weekend trip.
Thanks john. Was talking about that book the other day, as the book was inspired by the mines in Alderley.
UCET has been down there in the past and it would be very easy to arrange a club trip down again. Will organise something after the new year. (give me a nudge)
I can lend you the book when we have finished the story. You can read it to Vikki. I was not sure how accurate the description of the mine is and your pictures show several of the features described in the story - like the Lion rock.
What fabulous photos, and a brilliant mine. I read Alan Garner's book when I was 10 and have been fascinated with mines ever since...an amazing read for all ages.