Ive been looking for some of the infamous Norwich chalk mines for several years and managed to track down an entrance to my first one a few months ago! Morant, the City Surveyor in 1873. The chalk here is of the same which makes up our famous southern cliffs, with the chalk going deep underground after Dover, resurfacing next in the Northwood Hills area. Rosary Road Chalk Mine. Rosary Road in this area was once known as Chalk Hill and near the Chalk Hill works on the rise of the hill some older excavations were found. http://www.norwich.gov.uk/services/Pages/ChalkWorkings.aspx, http://www.heritagecity.org/research-centre/subterranean-norwich/geological-norwich.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hneVwuDdu-E. Early workings took the form of surface pits and quarries, with later working of underground mines. ︎ Subscribe for more weekly uploads every Thursday at 4pm. Tunnels created during mining for flint and chalk, at least as far back as the 13th century, certainly exist under Norwich, but mostly around the outskirts of the medieval city. You can combine all inputs, e.g. A disused chalk mine in Norwich: Norfolk is well-known for its miles of disused chalk mines, reservoirs, Grimes Graves and a nuclear bunker - all underground. There are two entrances to the mine within a few yards of each other. But thought i'd post it here in a more organised manner. Notable events. The grid reference given for the location on the Defence of Britain website is more than one kilometre off the mark. ... You could smell it coming out of the entrance but once you were inside there was none at all. There is some interesting information on the geology of Norwich here: http://www.heritagecity.org/research-centre/subterranean-norwich/geological-norwich.htm. 10 . Norwich was mined for chalk and flint from the middle ages until the start of World War 2. The ancient workings vary in size from six to 16 feet in height and six to 12 feet in width. They said: “The majority of chalk mines in Norwich are blocked up and the remainder are inaccessible as they are on private land. The oldest mines are located closest to the centre of Norwich and more mines were dug further out as the city grew. The first 20ft or so inside are a bricks & mortar tunnel, beyond which lie the raw hewn chalk tunnels. The main tunnel is about 50m long. Here are a few photos. The entrance is deep within Danby Wood. The Plantation Garden is a restored Victorian town garden, maintained by volunteers, located in a former chalk mine in Norwich. ... A new entrance shaft was created and the leaders were taught how to safely take groups in and out. The chalk excavated from these workings was transported away by water and another tunnel existed under Rosary Road to a tip by the side of the river. Post-medieval chalk mines comprising abandoned tunnels with an extant lime kiln on the site (NHER 9613). Norwich City Council also advise that the public refrain from seeking out the mines. Can’t find it anywhere! It used to be easy to find. Mine entry shaft, South Oxhey, Hertfordshire. The extensive chalk mines to the west of Wickham Lane, Plumstead were dug in the 19 th and early 20 th centuries to support brick and tile making operations. 85% Upvoted. The flints that can be seen embedded in layers in the chalk were used to build the city's walls and some of Norwich's finest buildings such as the Guildhall. Where is the entrance located? J.W. On 3 March 1988, Earlham Road was the scene of the bizarre sinking of a double-decker bus.The cause of the event was found to be the collapse of a Medieval chalk mine discovered under the road. Hello Everyone This is my first post here :) I actually did this in january and have posted on another site. from the 12th century. Thompson & Sons, for instance, used the caves and tunnels when they occupied the Chalk Hill Works site as a natural storehouse for iron, zinc and tin, erecting two stout doors at the entrances to the main tunnels. In the 19th century Coleman’s Brewery Company occupied the site and used the tunnels for extensive storage. Sign Up The entrance is deep within Danby Wood. Sources: 1. Chalk mines. Hayes, from which about 25,000 yards of material had been taken for lime burning. The chalk was used for liming in agriculture and in building mortar. See more: All chalk mines in United Kingdom (TG) All chalk mines in United Kingdom. The entrance is on Rosary road, it was until recently visible from the road but now behind some new flats. Chalk mines. Eventually the land was built over and in the 1940s and 1950s began to show signs of great instability resulting in many collapses and one death. ... lime burning, and chalk mining. All inputs are optional, use as many or as few as you wish. The easiest to enter is simply a doorless doorway in the side of a hill. The leather industry was particularly important in Norwich in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, first with the skinners and later the tanners. Norwich City Councils website was the source of some of my information, it goes into more depth about Norwich’s mining history http://www.norwich.gov.uk/services/Pages/ChalkWorkings.aspx, There is some interesting information on the geology of Norwich here: http://www.heritagecity.org/research-centre/subterranean-norwich/geological-norwich.htm, Norfolk Uncovered made a good video about the mine, they even created a map of the tunnels. This mine was actually used as an air raid shelter during the war. Norwich was mined for chalk and flints from the Middle Ages until the beginning of WWII and the last mine to close was at Harford Hills, to the south of Norwich. Enter the Chalk Mines of Pinner. Chalk mine labyrinth was once a hive of industry. The tunnels were 10 feet high and 8-10 feet wide. The mining tunnels, which can be found between 12 and 90 feet under the surface, are known to exist all around medieval Norwich and its outskirts. In the early 19th century the lime-kilns and chalk workings around this area were fully exploited but by the end of the century housing and industrial development had made access to the pits and tunnels difficult and they eventually were abandoned. Chalkangles date from the 1800s and represent a localised variant of the chalkwell. 2. Chalk Mines and Lime Kilns Norwich was mined for chalk and flint from the middle ages until the start of World War 2. Norwich City Council also advise that the public refrain from seeking out the mines. Enter the Chalk Mines of Pinner. (Image source: Peter Brett Associates) (d) Chalkangles. The oldest mines are located closest to the centre of Norwich and more mines were dug further out as the city grew. 6. About a hundred years ago extensive tunnels of chalk were discovered under the hill by the Rev. The latter, often several hundred years old, are liable to collapse, and may reach the ground surface. The chalk was used for liming in agriculture and in building mortar. Initially brick lined, the tunnels are left unsupported the further in they go. Engineering Geologists | Planners & Developers | Finance & Insurance | Member of the Public : Fault Reactivation Hazard The chalk workings around the site -from which Lollards’ Pit was formed led to the chalk tunnels, it is said, have been worked since the 11th century. Norwich has been mined for chalk and flints since at least the 12th century for building and agricultural purposes. Use the tools below to search for mines, quarries & sites. Mine name 'Sounds like search' Only with content Country. The grid reference given for the location on the Defence of Britain website is more than one kilometre off the mark. What remains are a labyrinth of tunnels, some intersecting at different levels but typically with the same upturned flower pot profile. 2 comments . Here is some history by Geoffrey Goreham, who I believe was a Norwich historian taken from a website about Thorpe Hamlet. Sep 24, 2018 - High quality images of abandoned things and places. The mine entrance is being kept sealed by Norwich City Council. From the middle ages, through to the beginning of Second World War, Norwich was mined for chalk and flint and today many of the mines, believed to have been dug between the 12th and 18th centuries, still remain underneath the city. save hide report. Norwich Chalk Mines. Posted by 1 month ago. The Coal Authority works to resolve the impacts of mining. It was located at the castle entrance, on the route leading thence to the market. Solid information isn't required, we're happy to investigate even the slightest rumours. 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