My first report holme bank chert mine

[kieron young]

Please go easy first time doing a report. No pics sorry


Sunday 7th April 2013
Mine/ Cave:- Holme Bank Chert Mine, Bakewell

Meet Time:-  0930
Going under:-  1000
With
leader:-  Andrew ,
Kieron , Gareth , Vaughn , Jim , Angela , Bob , and jo
(all members of Chesterfield caving club)
Access/ Egress:-  walk in/ out, Permission £2 donation plus key
Report:-
Holme bank chert mine was used until around 1960 after being opened in 1870ish. Holme banks first major accident happened in 1899 when the shot was fired and the stone was not released, a second charge was set and exploded leaving one man dead and another seriously injured.
Most records started around the 1905 mark and ended with the mine being shut down and not much information is available before this.
I arrived about 10 minutes after AP and worked out access/egress and tried the key in the lock to no avail. So we decided to go under the carpet to gain access, as it was my first time underground i decided to stick to the middle of the line as not to get lost and was rather wary of everything and cautious to an extent. After about half an hour in the cave i was wondering off with bob and joe exploring different passages (short explored lasting only a few minutes to see which way we should go) and regrouped with the rest of the team. After about 10 minutes of being in the mine i thought we had come to a dead end and was told it wasnt and we were going through  openings in the rocks. (What to me looked like a very small opening in the rocks, although i was told it was quite a large hole incomparrison to other caves and mines.)
After entering the mine at the carpet we decided to go left at all junctions we eventually found another exit after about 45/50 minutes had a quick breath of air and headed back inside. We then decided to look for the lower sections, and after an hour or so of being temporerly misplaced found water, unfortunatly it was the wrong sump and pictures were took. We turned around and headed to find the pump room and the deeper lower sections, after taking a few more wrong turns we found the “divers” safety line and decided to rest for 10 minutes. We then headed up the right passage to the pump sump and hand a quick picture oppertunity. We did contemplate going for a quick swim but after realising none of us had clean dry knickers we decieded to leave that to another time. After around another 20 minutes we decided to try and get out at the lower passage gates (the ones we couldnt get in at) and we wiggled the keys and finally got out. On exiting the mine AP saw some walkers who had lived in the area for years andthey asked if their was a cave after showing them the mines survey they were very shocked and didnt know that the mine was on their doorsteps. After paying dues and returning the keys some members decided to go for a quick liquid lunch, i on the other hand decided to return to bakewell to be picked up.
Time out:-  1230
Accidents and incidents:- None reported
With Thanks:- Oldfield Design Studios for permission and the keys
Report By Kieron Young

[Andrew Farrow]

top report - holme bank is a nice little mooch

[mike leahy]

good report . thanks for putting it up