Snippet 42: The Crown Nail Company

A few weeks before they closed in December 2004, Bev Parker of the Wolverhampton History and Heritage Society asked us to record The Crown Nail Company in Commercial Road, Wolverhampton. They were the last tack manufacturer in the country and one of the last cut nail and tack makers in Europe, with world-wide exports particularly of their well-known blued cut tacks.

Starting beside a basin of the Birmingham Canal Navigation about 1850 they gained their reputation by constantly innovating and building their own machines in-house with a highly skilled workforce, and using the finest quality steel. Despite this leading role in a competitive market, there was a very pleasant family firm atmosphere and the closure forced by competition from cheaper labour abroad was regretted by all. Examples of their nail and tack making machinery are now preserved in the Black Country Living Museum.

This snippet is just a few highlights without commentary from the full 46 minute DVD "The Crown Nail Company" with commentary by the Works Manager and Deputy Manager.

Recorded 2004, 720 x 576 SD

Snippet 41: Selby Coalfield North Selby mine

This was the last of the three visits organised by Dr. Ivor Brown to pits of the Selby coalfield in October 2000.

As part of the UK government 1974 Plan for Coal the Selby "superpit" was planned to mine the 2,000 million tonne reserves of the Barnsley Seam. Peak output was 12 million tonnes per year. However by the late 1990s the pit was being closed down.

This is an excerpt from footage recorded at North Selby mine which had closed in 1997. It shows work on filling the 1,000m deep downcast shaft, the disused downcast winder and the main ventilation fan.

Thanks to the men and management of RJB Mining for their help during these visits.

Recorded 2000, 720 x 576 SD

Snippet 40: Selby Coalfield, Gascoigne Wood mine

This was the second of the three visits organised by Dr. Ivor Brown to pits of the Selby coalfield in October 2000.

As part of the UK government 1974 Plan for Coal the Selby "superpit" was planned to mine the 2,000 million tonne reserves of the Barnsley Seam. All the coal was brought to surface by 25km of conveyor belts to Gascoigne Wood. The mine buildings were tastefully designed for minimum impact on the rural environment. Peak output was 12 million tonnes per year.

This is an excerpt from footage recorded at Gascoigne Wood, showing the computer control room, the massive conveyor belt drive equipment, and the tops of the North and South drifts. We then visit the Selby Mines Rescue station to learn a little about their heroic work.

Thanks to the men and management of RJB Mining and Selby Mines Rescue station.

Recorded 2000, 720 x 576 SD

Snippet 39: Tanker barge Rix Merlin

The J.R. Rix tanker barge Rix Merlin left Immingham on a sunny August morning in 2000 and travelled up the Humber to Kingston upon Hull to bunker three ships. First the seagoing tanker Rix Harrier which regularly took heavy oil to ships around the coast to places like Dundee and Scapa Flow; then the Harrix and Lerrix, large Rix Shipping cargo vessels both bringing timber to unload in Alexandra Dock.

The Merlin then left Hull and crossed back to the Lincolnshire side of the estuary to see the impressive industrial landscape on the Lincolnshire side, including Immingham Oil Terminal. Entering Grimsby Royal Dock we see the beautiful Armstrong hydraulic accumulator tower and jiggers closing the lock gates.

For the full DVD "Rix Merlin" with running commentary by captain and crew, see the Rix Merlin page

Snippet 38: Selby Coalfield Stillingfleet Mine

Dr. Ivor Brown organised visits to three pits of the Selby coalfield on a rainy day in October 2000.

The UK government 1974 Plan for Coal included a Selby "superpit" to mine the 2,000 million tonne reserves of the Barnsley Seam. It was to be the largest deep mine coal project in the world. Five pits were sunk and equipped with the latest technology and all coal was brought to surface by 25km of conveyor belts to Gascoigne Wood. The mine buildings were tastefully designed for minimum impact on the rural environment. Peak output was 12 million tonnes per year.

This is an excerpt from footage recorded at Stillingfleet mine, showing both winders at work. Stillingfleet continued until July 2004.

Thanks to the men and management of RJB Mining for their help.

Recorded 2000, 720 x 576 SD

Snippet 37: Steam Tug Mayflower

One of the sailings of the restored Severn Trow "Spry" we recorded in 1996 was accompanied by the steam Tug "Mayflower", the oldest surviving tug in the world.

She towed the Spry out of Avonmouth docks to an open reach of the Severn estuary where the trow could demonstrate her sailing qualities for the benefit of the camera. After the tow was re-connected she steamed into Sharpness docks and along the Gloucester & Sharpness Ship Canal to Gloucester docks where a fanfare of ship sirens greeted the historic visitors.

This snippet is an excerpt from about 37 minutes of our footage which concentrated on the Mayflower herself. It shows that the vessel built by G. K. Stothert and Co in Bristol in 1861 was still easily able to do a full day of hard towing work on the very waterways she was built for.

It features the 120ihp Sisson inverted vertical compound condensing engine with surface condenser and the coal fired Scotch two-flue marine boiler.

For the story of the restoration and sailings of the Severn Trow Spry, see "Spry - the last Severn Trow"

Recorded 1996, 698 x 570 SD

Snippet 36: Whittlesey Shale Planer

Our second visit of the day organised by Dr. Ivor Brown to former London Brick Company brickworks sites at Stewartby and Whittlesey in 2001 was to Kings Dyke, Whittlesey.

This is an excerpt from a few minutes of the footage recorded of their wonderful shale planer at work excavating the Jurassic Lower Oxford clay, which was taken by conveyor belt to the nearby brickworks. The shale planer built in 1926 has gone, but the works is still thriving and the adjacent clay pit has become a popular nature reserve.

Thanks go to the management and staff of Kings Dyke brickworks - still making bricks to help build our future.

Recorded 2001, 720 x 576 SD

Snippet 35: Stewartby Dragline

Dr. Ivor Brown organised visits for us to former London Brick Company brickworks at Stewartby and Whittlesey on the same day in 2001.

This is an excerpt from about 80 minutes of footage recorded at Stewartby, Bedford where amongst other things we were shown all over their Ransomes & Rapier W150 walking dragline. It was excavating Jurassic Lower Oxford clay, which was taken by conveyor belt to the nearby brickworks. Sadly the 164 ton dragline built in 1948 has now gone and the works, reputed to be the largest in terms of output in the world, closed in 2008.

Thanks go to the management and staff of Stewartby brickworks for their help during this visit.

Recorded 2001, 720 x 576 SD

Snippet 34: Parkins Mill

Parkins Mill in Derbyshire processed ore from the nearby Gregory lead mine between 1945 and 1984. Unusually, it was left intact and became a time capsule of small-scale mid-20th century mineral dressing technology. In the late '90s, the Peak District Mining Museum got permission to document the mill then transfer the machinery to long-term storage. We were asked to make a video record of the mill in 1999 before anything was touched, and this is a short excerpt from that recording.

Ore was moved from the Gregory (aka White Hills) mine by tractor and water piped down to the mill which was electrically powered. The steel log washer replaced a wooden one in the 1970s. Inside the mill, material from the washer ran over a vibrating screen and the over-size was returned by a bucket elevator. A Patent Lightning Crusher Co. hammer mill reduced the screened material. Fines were treated in a Denver jig which was better able to recover zinc and lead. The rest was piped to a set of wooden jigs. The output was moved in wheelbarrows.

Recorded 1999, 702 x 576 SD

Snippet 33: Monckton Coking Plant

The coke works of Monckton Coke and Chemical Co. Ltd. near Royston in South Yorkshire worked for 130 years from 1884 until 2014. The coke was mainly used for metal production and was of such high quality that it was even exported to coal-rich South Africa for steel making.

Our visit in 1999 was organised by Dr. Ivor Brown and these are highlights from 25 minutes of recording.

Recorded 1999, 720 x 576 SD

Snippet 32: Bickley Foundries

Bickley Foundries at Glebe Works in Walsall made Iron, steel and non-ferrous metal products. When we recorded in 1987 they were casting door furniture such as hinges, hasps and handles.

This snippet taken from several minutes of footage, shows the cupola furnace being tapped into crucible-like ladles which are carried to sand moulds, then the taphole is plugged with refractory clay. A peep sight in a tuyere shows the molten metal inside. The slag hole is opened and when the slag has run off is closed with a fistful of clay.

Recorded 1987, 688 x 568 SD

Snippet 31: Cavendish Mill

In 1999 not long before closure, we recorded Laporte Minerals Cavendish Mill in Derbyshire which was producing Fluorspar, Baryte, Lead and aggregates for British industry.

Over two hours of recordings followed the flow sheet from crude ore to finished product including crushing, washing, dense media separation, grinding, froth flotation and filtration.

This tiny excerpt can only show a few highlights. We would like to thank the Laporte Minerals management and staff who helped us unstintingly during one very busy day!

Recorded 1999, 702 x 576 SD

Snippet 30: Barton Swing Aqueduct

Barton Swing aqueduct carrying the Bridgewater canal over the Manchester Ship Canal is the only swing aqueduct in the world.

In 2001 National Waterways Museum commissioned us to record examples of hydraulic power on canals in the UK and abroad. During our visit to Barton, the aqueduct and Barton Road bridge were opened for a cargo ship from Manchester and then the Ship Canal Company kindly swung the aqueduct several more times for us to record details of the mechanisms.

This clip includes some highlights from the 90 minutes of recordings on a sweltering July day. It was so hot that the road swing bridge expanded and jammed open, but that's another story.

Recorded 2001, 702 x 576 SD

Snippet 29: Littleton Shaft Descent

When we visited Littleton Colliery in Staffordshire shortly before closure in 1994, the shaft inspector very kindly offered to take our camera and recorder on top of the cage to film a descent for us.

Of course we jumped at the chance!

This is No.3 shaft which was 460m (1,500 ft) deep and the journey just over half way took 4½ minutes at shaft inspection speed. It was a very rainy day!

Recorded 1994, 698 x 570 SD

Snippet 28: Glencar Aerial Ropeway

Gleniff baryte mine worked from 1858 to 1979 and has substantial remains of an aerial ropeway dating from 1942.

It is on private land in the beautiful and windy Benbulben-Glencar mountains and we were very grateful for the special arrangement made to allow us access in 2003.

This snippet taken from about an hour of footage concentrates on the dramatic remains of the "Ropeways Ltd." ropeway conveyor.

Recorded 2003, 720 x 576 SD

Snippet 27: Working Boat Glimpses

When we recorded the last run of narrowboats carrying coal on the Birmingham Canals from Anglesey basin to Tipton in 1999, we were privileged to see many boating skills and techniques still in use. That was the main aim of all the Sightseen Partnerships (SSP) recordings.

This two minute clip is an evocative collection of excerpts and outtakes from the start of shooting for the the SSP DVD 'Last Run from Anglesey' and includes hanging a helm on a BCN Joey boat and 'scoping out' water before the three boats were loaded with coal.

See 'Last Run from Anglesey' for the full-feature DVD Production, which has an expertly written and narrated commentary.

Recorded 1999, 702 x 576 SD

Snippet 26: Smith Edge Tools

Smith Edge Tools designed and made a wide variety of metal tools in Oldbury.

This recording was commissioned in 2003 when they were using belt-operated stamps to drop forge '12lb' (5kg) sledgehammer heads.

After they closed, the drop hammers were donated to the Black Country Living Museum who had funded our recording project. This excerpt is from nearly 2 hours of original footage.

Recorded 2003, 702 x 576 SD

Snippet 25: Caulking Saturn

The wooden narrowboat "Saturn" is the last surviving 'Shroppie Fly' boat.

Built by the SUR&CCo in 1906 in Chester, the Saturn took perishable goods such as cheese as quickly as possible from Shropshire and Cheshire to the markets in Manchester.

Fly boats had priority over all other traffic and ran day and night. They were probably the apotheosis of narrowboat building as they combined sleek lines and strength with light weight enabling horses to tow them at reasonably high speed for hours at a time.

This is a short excerpt from an 11 minute recording of part of the restoration work in 2004 - volunteers caulking the seams of the oak sides and elm bottoms of the hull at a boatyard on the Trent and Mersey canal.

Visit the Saturn Project website: saturnflyboat.org.uk

Recorded 2004, 702 x 576 SD

Snippet 24: Mountain Mine

In 2012 we were asked to make an HD documentary record underground in the beautiful and famous Mountain Mine at Allihies in County Cork, Ireland.

This is a very short excerpt which shows the main adit, Man Engine shaft, Old Bucket shaft, Engine shaft, the crosscut to Commanmore lode plus boating around the main stope!

Recorded 2012, 1920 x 1080 HD

Snippet: 23 Brewery Shaft

Exploration of the water power equipment at the bottom of Brewery shaft, Nenthead lead & zinc mine in 2009.

A 'Hydrautomat' trompe system provided compressed air via a 4m high air receiver & separator. Nearby a twin 36cm diameter Gilkes Pelton wheel drove an electrical generator and a 1m Gilkes Pelton wheel in a large arched chamber with a workshop powered two compressors.

In another rock chamber, a 4m x 60cm iron waterwheel probably drove pumps in a nearby shaft, now flooded.

Recorded 2009, 1920 x 1080 HD

London to London by Canal (silent)

Inspired by the famous 1953 BBC timelapse film of a train journey from London to Brighton in 4 minutes, we thought we ought to try the same for a canal! So here is London to London in 5 minutes 20 seconds, filmed in 1979 - best watched full-screen.

Starting below City Road locks on the Regent's canal, we travel via Little Venice to Bull's Bridge junction, down the locks to Brentford, back to Bull's Bridge junction, visit Slough, return to Cowley Peachey junction, then head north up the main line. Passing Kings Langley and Berkhamstead we reach Marsworth junction and make the return journey to Aylesbury. Back on the main line many locks and bridges bring us to Stoke Bruerne and through Blisworth tunnel. Another 14 miles takes us to Norton junction and we reach the bottom Watford lock on the Leicester section before winding and retracing most of our journey, finally mooring in Uxbridge.

Bridges are passed in the blink of an eye and locks only take a few frames. A great deal has changed in 40 years. Almost every industrial building we see in central London has since been demolished or converted to flats!

Snippet 22: Bratch Pumping Station

The 1895 Bratch pumping station, Staffordshire was built by Bilston Urban District Council to supply water to Goldthorn Hill reservoir, Wolverhampton. The grade 2* listed building has exuberant gothic fantasy castle pinnacles and Moorish brickwork decoration showing the justifiable civic pride of the time. It houses 2 large inverted vertical triple expansion steam engines 'Alexandra' and 'Victoria', both had Corliss valves with their trips driven by eccentrics.

Building of the engines was started by James Watt & Co. but completed by Messrs Thornewill & Warham of Burton on Trent. They operated for 65 years raising water from 50m deep boreholes in the Bunter sandstone aquifer until replaced by electric pumps in 1960. In 1991 a team lead by Len Crane restored 'Victoria' for Severn Trent Water. 'Alexandra' is still in situ but minus many fittings and is displayed painted in red oxide.

This Snippet shows 'Victoria' in steam for the first time since restoration during an open day in December 1995.

Recorded 1995, 696 x 566 SD

Snippet 21: Elsecar Newcomen Engine

The 1795 'Great Engine' is the only Newcomen-type atmospheric beam engine in the world still in its original location. It pumped water from Elsecar New Colliery from 1795 until 1923. In 1836 a new beam was cast and parallel motions fitted at both ends.

In 1972 it was scheduled as an ancient monument and thanks to Barnsley Museums and the Heritage Lottery Fund the engine was restored to working order in 2014, it is now operated hydraulically in a very subtle way.

Recorded 2016, 1920 x 1080 HD

Snippet 20: IEEC1

The first International Early Engines Conference IEEC1 was held at The Ironworks, Elsecar Heritage Centre in 2017. The theme was "Thomas Newcomen and colleagues’ achievements untainted by the smokescreens of Watt”.

There were several visits to relevant local sites during the conference including Elsecar Heritage Railway, the preserved 1795 Newcomen-type atmospheric beam engine, Hemingfield Colliery and Wortley Top Forge where some 'late' engines were seen!

This Snippet shows some of the highlights of the visits.

Recorded 2017, 1920 x 1080 HD

Snippet 19: BCLM Newcomen Engine

The world's only full-size working replica Newcomen atmospheric steam engine is at the Black Country Living Museum in the English Midlands.

We made a very detailed HD recording of the beam engine, starting with setting and lighting the fire in a cold boiler, and thoroughly checking all the equipment. Then when steam was raised, the engine was operated manually as must have been done with the earliest prototypes.

Technical details of mechanisms, the hot and cold water circuits and the techniques and tricks needed to work with it safely and efficiently were seen, including how to shut down the engine quickly in the event of low water in the boiler!

This Snippet is a short edited excerpt from the introduction section of our 46 minute DVD "On Mighty Arms"

Recorded 2009, 1920 x 1080 HD

Snippet 18: Ironbridge Stone

In 2000 the stone abutments of the world-famous 1779 Iron Bridge in Ironbridge, Shropshire needed restoration. It was decided to use exactly the same stone as the original, which had been quarried very near by - high up on the south side of the gorge.

We were asked to record the work, and this excerpt is a glimpse of the specialist masons in the quarry and under the bridge, using a clever mixture of traditional and modern techniques.

Recorded 2000, 702 x 576

Snippet 17: Watson Shaft Exploration

In 1997 the Shropshire Caving and Mining Club winch built by Club President Alan Taylor was used for the 44m descent of Watson's Shaft at Tankerville lead mine. We got off the winch on a pile of debris next to a level which we explored.

When we checked the shaft 15 years later, what we had stood on had dropped into the rest of the shaft and revealed the water table! Using an underwater camera housing also built by Alan Taylor, we found what was below the surface.

Recorded 1997, 698 x 566

Snippet 16: Ramsden Shaft Descent

The I.A.Recordings MineCam followed the first winch descent by the Shropshire Caving and Mining Club of the 120m deep Ramsden shaft at Bog baryte mine in 2007.

At 74m depth, dangerous protruding timbers had to be removed before exploration could continue to reach stopes and levels connected to the Boat Level (a deep drainage level for several mines in the area).

This is a short edited excerpt from the DVD "Ramsden Shaft (MineCam No.6)"

Recorded 2007, 700 x 572

Snippet 15: Röhrigschacht copper slate mine

Röhrigschacht in Wettelrode, Saxony-Anhalt is in the middle of the historic mining landscape of the southeastern Harz. Copper slate and schist was mined in this area from 1200 to 1990, with over 1,000 shafts in the Mansfeld depression and 270 shafts in the Sangerhausen district around the mine.

A mining museum since 1987, an extensive underground tour was added in 1991. Visitors are taken down a 283m deep shaft, then ride an old mine train for a 1,000m to see mining tools in operation and a variety of workings.

The 1888 mine headframe is one of the oldest in Europe still operating.

Find out more about Röhrigschacht Wettelrode mine on their website.

This is a short edited excerpt from just the Röhrigschacht section of our 115 minute long DVD "Historic Mines of the Harz" based on visits to many sites in 2003

Recorded 2003, 720 x 576

Snippet 14: Isle of Man Railways

In the Isle of Man, one cheap ticket lets you use four different historic railways in series!

We board a steam train in Port Erin and change to a horsedrawn tram in Douglas which links to the Isle of Man Electric Railway to Laxey. We continue to Ramsey, then return to Laxey to take the Snaefell Mountain Railway to the summit and back.

There's a surprise peek at the second Laxey waterwheel (Lady Evelyn) on the way. This wheel also known as the Snaefell Wheel is on the washing floors in Laxey Glen Gardens, near the famous Laxey wheel.

Recorded 2006, 1920 x 1080

Snippet 13: Rammelsberg Mining Museum

Rammelsberg silver, copper and lead mine worked continuously for over 1000 years.

This is a short edited excerpt from just the Rammelsberg section of our 115 minute long DVD "Historic Mines of the Harz" based on visits to many sites in 2003

Recorded 2003, 720 x 576
[Snippet taken from "Historic Mines of the Harz"]

Snippet 12: Two Ruhr Blast Furnaces

On a visit to the Ruhr, Germany, in 2002 we were privileged to see two working blast furnaces beside the Rhine in Duisburg.

This Snippet shows just a few of the highlights, including skips being hauled up to charge a furnace, work around the casting floor to prepare it for casting - including warming the channels with small fires, and views around the works.

Recorded 2002

 InterNAMHO April 2020  - if like us you were disappointed at the cancellation of the Conference in Cornwall due to Covid-19 and missed your mining fix we've make a few snippets of Cornish mining activity from some of our productions and compilations. Hope you enjoy them.

Snippet 11: Wheal Jane Processing Mill

During the excellent InterNAMHO mining history conference in 2000, we visited the famous Wheal Jane mine for a tour of the site and the intact processing mill. The highlight was a demonstration of tin smelting in the assay office.

This is just a tiny edited highlight from the Wheal Jane section of our 4½ hour 3-DVD set 'Mongst Mines and Mine Explorers. There is a great deal more about the mill and the rest of the Wheal Jane site.

Recorded 2000, 704 x 566
[Snippet taken from Disc 2: "Machinery - mine equipment"]

Snippet 10: Geevor Mill

In 1987 we visited Geevor tin mine in Cornwall while it was still working and had a normal guided tour which included the processing mill.

It wasn't a planned visit so we only had a Hi-8 camcorder, but the result is a historic recording of the site as it was over 30 years ago.

This is just a tiny edited highlight from the Geevor section of our 4½ hour 3-DVD set 'Mongst Mines and Mine Explorers.

Recorded 1987, 704 x 566
[Snippet taken from Disc 2: "Machinery - mine equipment"]

Snippet 9: South Crofty deep mining

In 1993 during our visit to South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall we were lucky to see the mine still working at depth (following an exciting descent in the cage - see Snippet 7, below).

This snippet includes rocker shovels working at the 400 fathom level 730m below adit, and a ride on the conveyor belt back to the 380 fathom level.

This is just a tiny highlight from the 4½ hour 3-DVD set 'Mongst Mines and Mine Explorers.

Recorded 1993, 704 x 566
[Snippet taken from Disc 1 "Underground Mine Tours"]

Snippet 8: Blue Hills Tin Streams

Blue Hills Tin Streams in Cornwall gathers alluvial tin ore from the Cornish coast and uses a mixture of ancient and modern techniques to dress, smelt and refine the tin to make Cornish jewellery. We last visited the site in 2007.

This is an excerpt from the Blue Hills section of the 126 minute DVD 'Mongst more Mines.

Recorded 2007, 720 x 576 (16:9 anamorphic widescreen)

Snippet 7: Decending 700 metres below South Crofty

In 1993 we visited South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall and were able to descend the shaft to see some of the underground operations. This snippet shows part of the exciting 3 minute descent in the double-deck cage to the 380 fathom level and is a tiny highlight from the 4½ hour 3-DVD set 'Mongst Mines and Mine Explorers. You can find out more about this prodcution on the 'Mongst Mines and Mine Explorers webpage.

Recorded 1993, 702 x 566

[Snippet taken from Disc 1 "Underground Mine Tours"]

Snippet 6: Babbacombe Cliff Railway

A seaside funicular railway linking Oddicombe beach to Babbacombe, operating since 1926. Recorded in 1993 just before track upgrades.

Since we recorded the Cliff Railway it has undergone a couple of refurbishments with new cars, track, doors and control gear. It now has a different livery and works daily (Coronavirus permitting!).

Recorded 1993, 698 x 570

Snippet 5: Tydd Gote pumping station

Crossley-Premier KO4 heavy oil engines powered the Gwynnes axial-flow pumps at Tydd Gote in Lincolnshire from 1938. They lifted water from the North Level Main Drain into the River Nene to help keep the Fenlands dry.

Before the station was converted to electricity, we recorded the remaining three engines in 2007 driving their pumps at full load. One of the engines has since been dismantled and taken for preservation to the Internal Fire Museum of Power in Ceredigion.

Thanks to John Clifton, Paul Sharman, Andy Rutter, The North Level Internal Drainage Board and www.internalfire.com

Recorded 2007, 1440 x 1080 HDV [Snippet taken from 58 minute version]

Snippet 4: Sentinel steam wagon centenary run

Views of the final stage of the run of Sentinel steam wagons from Glasgow to Shrewsbury to celebrate the centenary of Sentinel in August 2005.

Alley & MacLellan (founded 1875 in Glasgow) began making steam powered road vehicles in 1905. Their chain driven 5 ton vertical-boiler wagon with a 2-cylinder undertype engine similar to those seen in this Snippet was first produced in 1906. In 1915 they opened a new factory in Shrewsbury, Shropshire where steam wagons were made under a new company name "Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd".

At the end of the run the steam wagons and drivers posed in the archway at the Shrewsbury Sentinel works for photographs - just as the wagons did when they first left the factory.

Recorded 2005, 1440 x 1080 HDV [Snippet taken from 9 minute version]

Snippet 3: Filling a coal mine from inside a house!

What do you do when your house is suffering from mining subsidence due to shallow coal workings and the drilling team can't reach them?

Answer: Simply bring the drilling rig into the hall, then drill and grout the workings from there!

Recorded 1991, 690 x 570 4:3 SD [Snippet taken from 26 minute version]

Snippet 2: Casting a Roman lead pig

Following research by members of the Shropshire Mines Trust a project was devised to cast a reproduction Roman lead ingot (a pig) based on the dimensions and weights of Roman ingots found in Shropshire over the years.

Recorded 2003, 720 x 576 4:3 SD [Snippet taken from 28 minute version]

Ingot details:

118mm x 550mm x 175mm (4.6 x 21.6 x 6.9 inches)
Weight: 190lb (86kg)

Inscribed: "IMP HADRIANI AVG."
Emperor Hadrian (Reigned 10 August 117 – 10 July 138)

Snippet 1: Riveting a steam roller boiler

In 2010 the Aveling & Porter 10 ton "BS" model steam roller dating from 1914 needed some refurbishment work. Part of the work undertaken by owner Ian Cooper was to replace the boiler barrel with a new one.

We were lucky to be able to go along and record some of the hot riveting during the fitting of the new boiler barrel to the firebox. To complete the restoration over 150 rivets had to be fitted to attach the boiler barrel, tubeplate, cylinder saddle, the boss for the injector check valve and the strengthening plate around the manhole!

Recorded 2010, 1920 x 1080 16:9 HD [Snippet taken from 16 minute version]