Whitelea Level


Coal Mine

Jan 1st, 2024 from NMRS by Buddle-Bot

Jul 14th, 2025 by BertyBasset



Forest of Dean
West Dean
51.7944984, -2.563272
SO 6125 1080
Private Land
93m
#21,042


adit has been levelled off, leaving little surface evidence of the original workings. However, the alignment of the backfilled shafts remains faintly visible in the woods as subtle ground depressions, marking the route of the underground level. No major structures survive.



This level was driven east by south from near the north end of the lower Cannop Ponds, approximately 1.2 miles south of the Speech House Hotel. Several shafts were sunk along its course, the most easterly being No. 7 Shaft, located about 600 yards from the adit mouth. This shaft intersected several seams: the Twenty Inch seam (2 ft 9 in thick) at a depth of 22 feet, the Little Delf seam (1 ft thick) at 82 feet, and the Upper Lowery seam (1 ft 7 in thick) at 108 feet.



Best access is on foot through the woodland trails south of the ponds. The shaft line runs eastwards from the pond and can still be traced by careful observation of shallow hollows in the terrain.


Publications (3)

  • Naylor, Peter J. (2008); PDMHS (Peak District Mines Historical Society) 17-1 Sum - Mines and Forges of the Lower Derwent Valley, The; 34 pages (18-51)
  • Oldham, Tony (1998); Mines of the Forest of Dean; 86 pages
  • Trotter p 56





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