Engine Vein Mine

Introduction

The Engine Vein Mine is perhaps the most conspicuous mine at Alderley Edge but is relatively small when compared to West Mine and Wood Mine. It can be found a short distance to the north of the Wizard and the surface workings take the form of a long gash which follow the course of a WNW-ESE fault (fig. 1). Around 38 minerals have been found at Engine Vein Mine and the area has been mined intermittently since the Bronze Age ^[2]. It has recently been established that the Romans mined at Engine Vein and a hoard of Roman coins were discovered in 1995. The name 'Engine Vein' is derived from the vein-like form of the orebody and the engine which either drained the mine or managed the ore ^[2].

Figure 1: The surface workings of Engine Vein Mine

Early Mining

As previously mentioned in the history section, Bronze Age and Roman mining took place at Engine Vein Mine. The Bronze Age miners used wooden shovels to dig pits at Engine Vein and

Figure 2: Exposed Bronze Age workings at Engine Vein Mine

broke the ore up with stone hammers. Remains of smelted copper and charcoal together with recently discovered Bronze Age hearths suggest that smelting took place on site ^[13]. There is also evidence that the fire-setting mining method was used because smelted ore has been discovered in-situ (ie. not extracted) ^[2]. Unfortunately the majority of Bronze Age features were obliterated by later mining but some can still be seen on the northern wall of the Engine Vein Opencast (fig. 2).

In 1995, a hoard of Roman coins were found in a shaft at Engine Vein which prompted an archaeological excavation of the area. The coins were dated to the 4th century and the shaft in which they were found is now known as Pot Shaft ^[13]. At the bottom of Pot Shaft some timbers were found which were radiocarbon dated to the 1st century BC ^[13]. A square tunnel at the bottom of Pot Shaft displays pick marks and it is similar in appearance to other Roman excavations in Britain ^[13]. The evidence that had been gathered was strong enough to convince archaeologists that the Romans had indeed been responsible for some of the excavations around Engine Vein Mine.

Mining From The 1690s Onwards

It is likely that the Engine Vein Mine was worked during the 1690s at the time of the conflict between Mr Crosse and Mr Legh. Since then it was probably worked by Mr Abbadine in the 1700s who had constructed a smelter near the present Edge House Farm ^[2]. However, the surface workings seen today are predominantly the work of Charles Roe (1755-1771) and the Alderley Mining Company (1800s) ^[2]. The Alderley Edge Mining Company (1858-1878) worked Engine Vein Mine and connected it to the Hough Level at several places ^[13].

The ore impregnates the fault breccia, Engine Vein Conglomerates and Wilmslow Sandstone and patches can still be seen at the surface (fig. 3). At Engine Vein Mine the lead minerals are more abundant than the copper minerals and form richly mineralised ground ^[2]. During the period 1858-1878 the Alderley Edge Mining Company removed the ore using the same method as at Wood Mine and West Mine. Most of the underground workings were excavated into the rock on the south side of the Engine Vein Fault which created a series of stopes, levels and shafts.

The Layout of Engine Vein (based on the DCC's website ^[13])

Following the entrance tunnel brings you to the main passage where you can continue either to the east or west. If you choose to travel in an easterly direction you pass the Roman Level (which leads to Pot Shaft) on your way to a chamber with a concrete roof.

Figure 3: A picture of Blue Shaft in Engine Vein Mine (image courtesy of the DCC)

The chamber was once in open air but was sealed in 1982 to prevent unauthorised access into the mine. A tight passage leads from this chamber to Blue Shaft (fig. 3) and a shaft (known as Ring Shaft) connects to the Hough Level. The mine also continues to the east where there are several more shafts.

The mine also extends to the west at the point where the entrance tunnel meets the main passage. After a short distance you encounter a metal bridge which leads to the upper passages further to the west (fig. 4). These passages lead to Bear Pit Shaft which connects to Blue Shaft and the Hough Level. However, the mine also continues in a westerly direction via three tunnels, one of which is inaccessible. The other tunnels eventually lead to Balloon Shaft via coffin levels and a stope which contains a pool of water. The shape of the coffin levels gives them their name. The Derbyshire Caving Club have been working near Balloon Shaft recently which marks the western extremity of the mine.

From the metal bridge you can also descend some stairs to a 19th century stope which contains a railtrack and truck (installed by the DCC but similar to the original). By following the railtrack out of this cavern you reach Ripple Roof Chamber, so named because the roof displays fossilised ripple marks (fig. 5). Another tunnel called the Blue Shaft Passage is found at this depth which connects Ripple Roof Chamber, the lower chamber, Bear Pit, Balloon Shaft and Blue Shaft. Blue Shaft is a sloping tunnel so named because of the redeposition of copper minerals occurring here (fig. 3). It was possibly dug by Charles Roe in the 1750s and leads to some coffin levels.


Figure 4: The main chamber in Engine Vein Mine (image courtesy of the DCC)	Figure 5: The stope known as Ripple Roof Chamber due to the ripple marks preserved on the roof (image courtesy of the DCC)