"..When St. Aldhelm first came to Purbeck, he bound the old Pagan gods under a ban deep in these passages, but that the worst of all the crew was a certain demon called the Mandrive, who watched over the best of the black marble. And that was why such marble might only be used in churches or for graves, for if it were not for this holy purpose, the Mandrive would have power to strangle the man that hewed it."
Extract from Moonfleet - J. Meade Falkner
A while ago I was sent a copy of an old survey, headed 'Mandrive Complex' and labeled only in Latin the map gave a rough layout of a little visited mine, or Quarr in the local dialect.
The mine, or mines as this was in fact several quarrs where the workings have connected, was used to collect stone for London's paving slabs and a shell rich limestone which polished like the marbles of Italy.
This was one of the sketchiest mines i have been into, lots of crawls and the roof blocks are small and thin with lots of hanging death. The shaft was steep and at the top you can see the crab stones, which would have held a capstan operated by a donkey to pull out the stone.
Extract from Moonfleet - J. Meade Falkner
A while ago I was sent a copy of an old survey, headed 'Mandrive Complex' and labeled only in Latin the map gave a rough layout of a little visited mine, or Quarr in the local dialect.
The mine, or mines as this was in fact several quarrs where the workings have connected, was used to collect stone for London's paving slabs and a shell rich limestone which polished like the marbles of Italy.
This was one of the sketchiest mines i have been into, lots of crawls and the roof blocks are small and thin with lots of hanging death. The shaft was steep and at the top you can see the crab stones, which would have held a capstan operated by a donkey to pull out the stone.
