Posted by Robert Dilley on July 16, 2002 at 17:43:05 from 216.211.68.243 user rdilley.
In Reply to: Re: Mines - surface versus deep posted by Robert Hill on July 16, 2002 at 16:12:44:
Since most Lake District mines are found on the fellsides, they tend to be adits rather than shafts: it is easier to drive in horizontally rather than dig down vertically from higher up. The coastal coal mines in West Cumbria -- most if not all now closed -- went down some distance and then seamed horizontally; in some cases miles out under the Irish Sea.
There are shafts within Lake District mines: presumably when it was easier to dig down to follow a fractured seam than to drive a new adit from a distant hillside. This is why care is needed in exploring these old mines -- you can't be sure there won't be an unexpected shaft suddenly opening at your feet! I don't think you'll find many mines on the fells that start vertically, though Ian may be able to correct me -- I am more familiar with the Caldbeck Fells than those of the Coniston area.
Some years ago we were in the mountains of Southern Colorado and went on a mine tour that followed (by mini train) a long adit until there was over 1000 m of mountain over our heads. Not the place for a claustrophobe.