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Snailbeach Mines, Shropshire

Snailbeach Mines, Shropshire
  • Client :
    Shropshire Council
  • Architect :
    Philip Belchere
  • Position :
    Specialist Contractor
  • Total Value :
    £25K
  • Date :
    2012

Believed to have been worked since Roman times, the lead mines at Snailbeach, nestled below the Stiperstone Hills, was the largest leadmine in Shropshire. Following closure in the 1950's, the mines were abandoned but are now managed on behalf of Shropshire Council by The Shropshire Mines Trust.

We were delighted when approached to carry out the works at the mines as we had just completed the restoration of a nearby miners' settlement at Blakemoorgate.

The primary task was to build a replica pithead winding gear over a shaft known as Black Tom.

The 'Black Tom' project was funded by Shropshire Council and led by Historic Environment senior conservation architect Philip Belchere; the Cbs team went under ground to retrieve remains of the original ironwork, which was copied and in many instances restored and re-used to create the new structure. Specialist carpenter Martin Johnson assisted with the construction of the frame, with details gleamed from crucial photographic and anecdotal evidence provided by local farmers Vincent and Vernon Chidley and their mother Margaret. The Chidley’s grandfather had worked down the 120ft deep Black Tom shaft, sunk in the 1820s.

The site is open to visitors all year round with trips into the mines conducted by The Shropshire Mines Trust.

For more information go to http://shropshiremines.org.uk/snailbeach/index.htm

  • Replica pithead winding gear using heavy carpentry techniques
  • Repaired brickwork on the old Engine House adjacent to the Smithy
  • Introduced structural ties and replaced hung slates to the Mines Office
  • Supplied and Installed a new oak framed protective gaurd rail to the Cornish Beam Engine House
  • Completed various areas of brick & stonework repair using traditional techniques and materials.

This project encompasses the following services

Church Conservation, St John the Baptist, Kenley Mytton Bridge Wombridge Augustinian Priory Kilpeck Castle, Herefordshire The Cold Bath House, Ludlow, Shropshire War Memorial Alsager St Lawrence’s, Ludlow Wroxeter Roman Town House White Castle, Abergavenny St Peters Church, Stanton Lacy, Shropshire Snailbeach Mines, Shropshire Bowers Yard Lime Kilns ‘Once upon a hill’ Blakemoorgate Hopton Castle, Shropshire. St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Attingham Park Northeast Pavillion Richards Castle Stirchley Furnaces Iron Bridge House Brynkinalt Estate, Chirk 40 Pride Hill, Shrewsbury All Saints Church, Grinshill The Church of St John the Baptist, Ruyton XI Towns The Rutland Memorial Fountain, Dublin, Ireland Emo Court, Co. Laoise, Ireland. St Mary’s, Tremadog, Gwynedd. Shrewsbury Railway Station St Govan’s Chapel, Bosherston, Pembs. Flimstone Farmhouse, Castlemartin, Pembs. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury. The Cross, Oswestry, Shropshire. St Mary’s, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Wollerton Animal Pound, Wollerton. Sker House, Porthcawl. Chapel of St Thomas, King Williams College, Isle of Man Almshouses, Neath St Pauls Church, Bedford. Manor Farm, Cranage, Cheshire