User:Rupert Clayton/Alderley Edge Mines sources

Diss Express, Friday 2 January 1920

COPPER MINES CLOSED.

At Alderley (Cheshire) the copper mines have been closed. These ancient workings run under Alderley Edge, a famous landmark and resort the estates Lord Sheffield. The mines hav* been in existence for several centuries, slid are locally said to the oldest in England. They are believed still to contain large quantities of copper ore and other minerals.

The Scotsman, Wednesday 11 September 1929

MUMMIFIED BODIES DANGER OF OLD ' MINES

An inquest was held at Alderley, Cheshire , yesterday afternoon on the mummified ; bodies of George Etchells and. Arthur Hadfield, who were found in the old ' eopper mines at Alderley after they had been " missing for four months . ¦ ¦ • • ' . The police had a most dangerous undertaking in recovering the bodies from the mines . , V Death ; was due to cold , hunger , and exposure , it was stated . ' . ' - ; \ :- • ¦ ' - ' ,. ' .. ¦ ' :, ¦ ' - • .. • '; . ' -, # A : verdict of-accidental'deathwasrecprdedj and it-, was - urged ; that : the ¦ mines should / be closed to -i * fl . rrinlorQ.

Dundee Evening Telegraph, Monday 9 September 1929

BODIES RECOVERED FROM COPPER MINE.

Solution to Four Months' Mystery. Two young men, who had been missing from their homes since Whit Sunday, were found early yesterday morning in one of the least known aaid most difficult workings of old copper mine at Alderloy Edge, Cheshire. They are Alfred Hadfield (24), of Stockport, and George Etchell's, also of Stockport. When they left their homes on May 19 they said they were going to visit the Alderlcy Edge copper mines. The Cheshire police abandoned the search, however, because they iiad no evidence that the men visited Alderley. Four men, led by William Brown, of Lime Street, 'limperley, entered the west mine with ropes and lamps at six o'clock on baturday, and after penetrating to one of the least known workings found the body of a man. A couple of yards away they found a second body. The difficulties which had to be faced were such that it was not until 12.30 yesterday morning that the Bodies were brought out of the mine. Only an experienced climber could possibly scale the rocks which lead to the place where the men were found.

Framlingham Weekly News, Saturday 20 April 1935 and reprinted in Framlingham Weekly News, Saturday 27 August 1938

FORGOTTEN MINES.

Everybody knows at least somethin:' about (he Hritish cnal-miti' ;I»it many of have forgotten that there were also copper and gold mines in this country. were reminded of the existence of the copper some time ago when those at Alderley lodge, in Cheshire, were d off prevent n sidents. The mines were worked during the War, and there still copper in them; but at pro eat prices it would not pay to extract it. Copper was at one time finite an important metal in llritain. Just years ago half the world's copper was Iliitish, and even in IMtiO itill held second place among enpper-prodneim: countries, with an output greater than that of the nited States, from which most the world copper now conics. Gold has never born so important as copper iu national economy, hut there are gold mines near Pumpsaint, South Wales, which were worked by the Homans, and have been started at various times since then.

MEN, Friday 13 October 1939

Moving Mountain: Alderley Edge’s mountain at the old copper mine is disappearing as thousands of tons of sand are removed. (With photo.0

MEN, Tuesday 14 November 1939

READY-MADE SHELTER

IF the suggestion to make air-raid shelters of the disused Alderley Edge copper mines is not carried out, the new owner may reopen them to sightseers. Pictured here is a section of the mines, which he thinks are well worth a visit. (With photo.)

MEN, Monday 13 May 1940

Boy Who Fell 30ft. Improves

George Brown (15), of Princess Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, who fell 30ft down a disused lead mine at Alderley Edge, is to-day making good progress at Manchester Royal Infirmary. He received head and leg injuries. With a storm lamp tied to his chest. Police-constable Moores was lowered down the shaft to rescue the boy.

MEN, Monday 10 April 1944

LET DOWN ON ROPE BY TROOP

By a Staff Reporter

LEADING three friends through a pitch-black disused copper mine at Alderley Edge, Jean Rigby, aged 17, shorthand - typist, Wilbraham Road, Fallowfield, tripped on a plank and dropped 90 feet down a shaft, lying an hour unconjscious before she was rescued, j Jean knew nothing mote until | she awoke in Manchester Royal Infirmary to-day. I must have been unconscious before I hit the •bottom, ; because I never felt a thing," she told her father. She fell on soft sand, wduch almost buried her. . Scouts of the Adswood Senior Troop rescued Jean, and to-day they took me a mile into the copper mine near where they are camping out, to show how they brought up the injured girl from the botom of the 90-feet shaft. Scout Master George Amos said: had just finished dinner when Scout from some other troop and an A.T.C. member rushed and asked us for a rope. They told us the story, and we set off at once into the mine with torches and a thick rope Nearly Slipped Out The A.T.C. boy and the scout 1 volunteered to so down the shaft as they had an idea where the £?irl was lying. We let them both down by rope, and 1 directed operations. . ■ “I told them to examine tne, girl for any obvious fractures, but they shouted back shej i seems all right.’ I told them to make a seatnooss and put her in it. e hauled on the rope and got her half way up the shaft, when she : almost slipped out of the noose, i Carefully we lowered her to ithe bottom of the shaft again, j and the A.T.C. bov said he | would come ud with her and keep her secure. This time, after 10 minutes hauling on the rope, we got the-m both to the top of the shaft, and we took the girl to a nearby first '“ The' A.T.C. boy and the scout meanwhile left without giving their names.’ i The Adswood scouts may down the shaft to-day .° 0 f they can recover the inside Ithe girl’s wristlet watch, 'was lost when she fell.