Blasts from the past - archive photos

I believe it was, and as I say, therein lies a tale

I was climbing a ladder in Caplecleugh when the whole ladder with me on it came crashing down
I fell into water which broke my fall, but the ladder missed my chest by inches and my head hit the side of the level. This smashed the helmet, but it remained more or less in one piece.
Years later in there with Heb I spotted the ladder in its fallen position and told him the story. Looking at the rock he found bits of the blue fibreglass still stuck to the wall.
If he is around, he may well remember this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Heb
Wow, a Joe Brown helmet will have damaged the level wall, Hope not too much damage to the rock 🤣 lucky you dodged the ladder, sounds like that'd been a really nasty stove in chest!
 
Roy, is this mainly a thread where you show us some of your old photos? Or would it be OK to add some so I can identify places and people that I don't recognise? I am happy to start another topic - your call!
 
Hi Quarryman, no I dont consider any thread to be "my thread", feel free to add. Its a fascinating topic.
 
Thanks Roy - I have photos of quite a few mine people I have forgotten - and some others might like to see (or not) :) . I am currently scanning all my print collection from the 70s to ca 2002. It's an exercise in personal nostalgia!
 
This photo was taken on one of those very few trips the memory of which I shall treasure as long as I am alive. In 1990, Eric Gale organised visits to Geevor and the dewatered Levant - a never to be repeated experience. My visit on Nov 2nd 1990 is shown here. I don't recall who else was on the trip - probably Trevithick Soc members. I also don't recall anyone else taking photos, but if by some fluke they did, and someone recognises them and knows them (I know, slim chance) it would be good to have a photo of myself on the trip. Geevor 18 Level.
Nov 02 geevor 18 level abandoned drill eric gale explains.jpg
 
davel said:
Clogau?
Click to expand...
Give that man a cigar!
Lechfraith adit in the late 1980s. What I know and remember does not tie with what I have had a read of today. The gentleman withe stick I believe to be Mr Roberts who I always knew of as Jack, although modern material refers to him as "William". Anyway, I used to wonder down the path from where I had parked. It was a Ford XR3i bought new December 1985, but totalled by an idiot in 1989. I remmber being in that car so as can date the photograph, I use this method a lot, can remmebr every car i ever owned and the years.
Anyway, he had a wooden shed above the adit and was always there on a Sunday, so I ued to chat to him. He seemed to like the company but was mindful of people messing about in his yard. The were pictures on the wall of groups he had took into the mine. This went on for two or three years or more, he seemed to deterioate as can be seen from his posture in the photo. It was the last time I saw him and he took me down into the yard and I took the photo.
These are my memories as best I can remember. Anyone feel free to add to it.
 
Quarryman. 1990s, did you ever talk to a chap in his 40s taking photos of Wheal Owles and mention the trips into Geevor?
If it was you, we spioke again at Geever later year and I was invited on a trip, but could not stay over due to running a business. You would probably remember my Brummy accent and a chatty little blonde lady I was with at Geever
Its a long shot, but its a smaller world than people think?
 
Royfellows said:
Not a very good photo, taken by me which probably explains this. So, who and where?
Click to expand...

The late Jack Williams standing outside the portal to the Llechfraith Adit at Clogau. I spent a bit of time in that shed too, chatting about mining. He used to offer me roll-ups made from pipe tobacco - one of them would near-blow your head off!!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: CJ
I have no recollection - but I have met a lot of odd people in my wanderings. (Sorry couldn't resist....) My next visit wasn't until September 1991, and I am not sure tours were still going on. When did Geevor finally turn off the pumps and call it a day?
 
John Mason said:
The late Jack Williams standing outside the portal to the Llechfraith Adit at Clogau. I spent a bit of time in that shed too, chatting about mining. He used to smoke roll-ups made from pipe tobacco - one of them would near-blow your head off!!
Click to expand...
Yes, its come back to me about the roll ups. This thread I started is becomming wicked!!
You got anything interesting to put in John?
 
Quarryman said:
I have no recollection - but I have met a lot of odd people in my wanderings. (Sorry couldn't resist....) My next visit wasn't until September 1991, and I am not sure tours were still going on. When did Geevor finally turn off the pumps and call it a day?
Click to expand...
I have the year 1998 floating in head, but could be wrong.
We used to stay at Trevaylor camp site and there was an old fellow I just knew as "Bill" lived in the house on the corner. I bought the St Just district geological map and Levant agents reports off him. I used to spend a lot of time trying to find a way into Wheal Owles. I got into Cargodna Adit OK, its an interesting sort of double drive with a drainage below the main entrance. Dont know whether its still open. Got into Edward as well. But no way into Owles proper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back