Report - Holwell Mine - Leicestershire - Jan 21

[Bikin Glynn]

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Holwell Iron Company, it was constructed in 1878 with the first iron being tapped in 1881.The site later expanded to include a foundry.

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Holwell was amalgamated with the Stanton Iron Works Company in 1918 but continued to operate seperately. It was subsequently taken over by the large producer of Iron & steel Stewart and Lloyds in 1947. The introduction of the Continuous Casting Process increased production significantly, however in the 1950s and 1960s there was a steady decline in the use of the blast furnaces at the site and a decline across the industry in general due to increasing international competition from import cheap pig iron.

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During the 1960s the installation of Kunkel-Wagner machinery made Holwell one of the most advanced foundries in Europe. but Holwell's internal Ironstone quarry closed in 1962.

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The mines are in a public nature res so access can be a bit dogey. the mines are home to Natterers, Daubenton's, Pipistrelle & Brown long eared bats... of which I saw no evidence whatsoever.
Iv been in here 3 times, all rather rushed visits, first was solo as someone couldn't contort the somewhat tight entrance
second was with my lad who wasn't keen so didn't get far in again, third was more successful with a non member friend but with torch issues still had to rush around a bit.

Its pretty unstable as signs on the roads above now warn you where not to park in case your car "disappears into a hole" but with the massive entrances there is no O2 issues normally associated with iron mines.
Its all a bit samey so here's the best of what I got.

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Thanks For Looking​

 

[Down and beyond]

Very nice report , the drive to the car park is exciting I love the signs don’t drive on grass major subsidence area ! Makes you feel like you will fall in the mine !

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Very nice report , the drive to the car park is exciting I love the signs don’t drive on grass major subsidence area ! Makes you feel like you will fall in the mine !

yeah it is surreal seeing them, not the most exciting mine Iv been in but there aint that many been in there so its quite cool

 

[HughieD]

Well captured mate. Guess it can get a bit samey, but you made it look really good. Deffo want to check this place out.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Well captured mate. Guess it can get a bit samey, but you made it look really good. Deffo want to check this place out.

Thanks dude Good luck getting in

 

[Down and beyond]

yeah it is surreal seeing them, not the most exciting mine Iv been in but there aint that many been in there so its quite cool

i don’t no any body that’s crossed under the “road” I certainly wouldn’t want to sneeze in their .

 

[Bikin Glynn]

i don’t no any body that’s crossed under the “road” I certainly wouldn’t want to sneeze in their .

I certainly went far enough on my last visit to of been under the roads, but couldn't say for certain what direction I went lol

 

[HughieD]

Thanks dude Good luck getting in

Do I need to go on a diet?

 

[Wally_urbex]

Nicely done. Wouldn't mind doing a mine actually

 

[Mikeymutt🐶]

That's a nice one. Does not seem too samey to me. Love that first shot.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Nicely done. Wouldn't mind doing a mine actually

Thanks, underground stuff does grab u once u have done some, go with someone who knows what their doing though

That's a nice one. Does not seem too samey to me. Love that first shot.

Thanks, there is not as many artifacts as a lot of mines tbh

 

[Down and beyond]

That's a nice one. Does not seem too samey to me. Love that first shot.

I love the second image it always makes me think of a old lorry has been loaded and it’s wooden side fell of , a miner picked it up from the quarry took it into the mine and wedged it in to pack the loose rock I believe it was advertising a company’s address ?

 

[Bikin Glynn]

I love the second image it always makes me think of a old lorry has been loaded and it’s wooden side fell of , a miner picked it up from the quarry took it into the mine and wedged it in to pack the loose rock I believe it was advertising a company’s address ?

Yeah I do wonder where that came from, its quite cool

 

[Mikeymutt🐶]

I love the second image it always makes me think of a old lorry has been loaded and it’s wooden side fell of , a miner picked it up from the quarry took it into the mine and wedged it in to pack the loose rock I believe it was advertising a company’s address ?

That sign is really nice.

 

[The Wombat]

Great photos
I have visited the outside a few times, but I'm probably too large to get in