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Snailbeach Lead Mine Booking
Tours |
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Visitors
should leave their vehicles in the village hall car park, which is big enough
to take a coach. Note that there are
toilets in the car park but none on the mine site. Although the site can be visited at any
time, access to the Visitor Centre, Locomotive Shed, Blacksmith’s Shop and
underground is only possible when the site is manned by Trust
volunteers. Guided
tours can also be arranged for groups at other times, including
evenings. The ideal group size is from
8-15 persons but smaller groups are always welcome, although you may be
merged with another group. Larger groups can be accommodated by splitting
them into smaller groups and having separate guides.
Leaders
should note that they are responsible for control of their group during
tours. School parties are welcome with
the tour content being adjusted to suit the age of the children. Tour
Itinerary A
full tour (including underground visit) can take about 2½ hours but can be
tailored according to the time available and the interests of the group. There are four main elements and you
can “pick & mix” to suit your requirements. Surface
(approx 60 minutes) Your
guide will give you a conducted tour around the site, explaining the history,
geology, buildings, how the mine was worked and the way of life. You will have access to the Locomotive Shed
and Blacksmith’s Shop. There is an area
where you may search for mineral specimens if you wish and take them away.
Perkins
Level (approx 40 minutes) The
first part of the mine has water on the floor and sometimes this can be up to
6 inches deep. It is thus recommended
that wellies be worn (unless you have spare footwear). We have some spare wellies that can be
borrowed but we cannot guarantee the sizes will fit you! The
mine is unlit so torches are essential. Helmets will be provided and there may
be some headlamps available as well, depending on numbers. You
will see veins containing barite and lead (galena) in the area where the men
were working. There you can see the
tools they used, with which the guide will demonstrate mining
techniques. If
time permits, you can see the end of the exploration level where the miners
carried out their last blast. Since
there was no mineral, they gave up at this point and didn’t even bother to
clear away the rubble, thus ending over 1,000 years of mining started by the
Romans. Here
your guide can demonstrate total darkness.
This underground experience is considered to be the “icing on the
cake”.
Day
Level (approx 20 minutes) The
mine is normally dry underfoot so normal footwear is sufficient. It has rails laid along most of its length
and, if you are lucky, you may get pushed up on a truck with seats. This is especially popular with
children. The
mine is unlit so torches are essential. Helmets will be provided and there may
be some headlamps available as well, depending on numbers. There are no traces of mineral since
this was only an access level to the main shaft. The latter has been grilled over at the end
so you can look down. You can also
look up and see daylight filtering down from 30 metres above. Because of this, it is not possible to
demonstrate total darkness. However, with the lights turned off it is similar
to the conditions miners worked under with candles.
There
are tools at the end which the guide will use to demonstrate mining
techniques. Although shorter than
Perkins Level, with fewer mining features, it can give you a flavour of what
it was like underground. Note - no underground visits during
December-February due to bat hibernation Visitors
Centre (approx 30 minutes) It
is recommended that all groups include this in the tour as the last place
visited, whether on surface or underground.
You can watch a 10 minute DVD, which gives a resume of what you have
seen and more. You are then welcome to
spend time looking at the displays and perhaps to purchase books and
souvenirs.
Disabled
Access Please
note that the surface tour will involve climbing steps and some steep paths
so not all of it will be accessible for wheelchairs. It
may be possible to arrange access for disabled persons underground into Day
Level using a truck with seats but prior notice should be given. There is parking next to the Visitor Centre
for disabled persons. Booking Contact
the Site Co-ordinator :- Peter
Sheldrake 11
Brook Rd Pontesbury Shrewsbury
SY5 0QZ T.
01743-790613 Charges We
make a charge as a contribution towards preservation costs of the mine
site. Current charges per person are £7.50 Adult £3.00 Child £18.00 Family (up to 3 children) Discounts
may be available for educational establishments, etc so please ask when
booking. |
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Last revised: 1 April 2010