Pegasus Caving Club
aka Pegasus Club Nottingham
Part 2
East From Raithe Mine & Yatestoop Sough
This article describes the currently accessible mine workings running in an easterly direction from the 233 foot level in Raithe Shaft to Stevens Shaft and descending the 100 foot winze that gives access along Yatestoop Sough at the 350 foot level, a total distance of some 2840 feet.
Fig. 1, A plan and side elevation of these workings in relation to the village of Elton and immediate surrounding area as per the 25 inch OS map published 1899.
Fig. 1. Plan and side elevation of workings in relation to the surface.
Notes on Fig. 1. Side elevation of workings
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The red lines indicates the accessible mine workings along Coast Rake (East to West) and part of Cowclose Mine.
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The vertical scale, i.e. 0 to 400ft is shown at the same scale as the 25 inch map.
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Both Smithy Shaft and Coast Rake Mine shafts have either run-in or have been filled.
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Stevens Shaft is open but covered by very large gritstone blocks and has never been used for access.
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Raithe Mine Shaft is accessible for access.
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Coast Rake survey is based on data obtained by North Staffs Mining Group and Pegasus Caving Club.
The 'Garlands'
When standing at the edge of the small working area at the 233 foot level in Raithe Shaft (as described in Part 1), on looking in an easterly direction, there is a narrow ledge on the south side approximately 18 inches in width which is the sole remaining part of the coffin level intersected during the sinking of Raithe Shaft.
The ledge may be traversed with great care, above the 55 foot continuation of the shaft in order to gain access to the eastern end of the coffin level that connects Raithe Shaft to Stevens Shaft and Cowclose Sough.
An indication that the shaft was sunk at a later date than the coffin level was driven is the existence of two ‘Garlands’ situated on the east wall of the shaft. Garlands were constructed by chiselling an inclined groove or channel into the shaft wall to collect accumulated water that runs down the walls and divert it away; in this case into the coffin level. This helps alleviates the need to pump water from the foot of a shaft during sinking.
An indication of the size of the Garlands is given in the following two photos and also shows how useful they were to a person on the winch to enable them to reach the safety of the ledge by pulling oneself sideways, the freely hanging winch seat being approximately 6 feet from the ledge and the bottom of the shaft 55 feet below.
Showing how the garlands are formed.
Photo: Nigel Burns
Using the garlands to swing across the shaft.
Photo: Nigel Burns
Looking east across the shaft at the garlands draining into the coffin level to Stevens Shaft.
Photo: Nigel Burns
The coffin level originates from a point near to the foot of Stevens Shaft where the Cowclose Sough passes through Coast Rake and was driven as a branch off Cowclose Sough in a westerly direction. The length of this section of the coffin level from Raithe Shaft to a point just before reaching Stevens shaft is 500 feet, and has been hand picked through solid limestone with virtually no indication of a vein present.
Fig. 2. shows the route of the coffin level initially being driven along the line of Coast Rake, but after a distance of XXX feet it suddenly take a southerly direction and forms a large loop before reaching Raithe Shaft. Had the coffin level been driven in a straight line instead of the large southerly loop it would have been 100 feet shorter.
Fig. 2. Showing the large southerly loop in the coffin level connecting Raithe Shaft
(shown here as Elton Shaft) to Stevens Shaft and the Cowclose Sough.
Taken from the survey by the North Staffs Mining Group
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