Princess Louise Iron Mine (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Friday, September 27, 2013, 14:19 (4093 days ago) @ slowhands

I've just found a very interesting website "Derelict Places (Industrial)" which includes this posting discussing the recent history of the Princess Louise pit and other iron mines in that locality, it also contains some recent photographs.

A small part of the lengthy and informative text reads
"Princess Louise was part of a whole complex of Iron mines in this small area which included the China Bottom Mine (which my Great Granddad started work in as a 10 year old and which was always known as ‘Cheney Bottom’ by us kids growing up in the area and a favorite playing place), the Ebbw Vale Shaft (probably named after where its owners came from???), New Dunn Mine, Clearwell/Old Ham/Old Bow Mines (parts of which are known nowadays as Clearwell Caves and are open to the public), the Noxon Park Mines, Oakwood Mill Deep Level, Easter Mine, Sling Pit and British Pit.
……..
All of these mines were more or less closed by the First World War, then re-opened for the duration of that war, then most were closed again quickly afterwards…..
The exception was the Old Ham / New Dunn Mine complex which was re-opened yet again during the Second World War."

http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?p=89358

Thanks very much to the author "Smiffy" and to the excellent Derelict Places website. This mechanical engineer with a keen interest in industrial history found it a pleasure to read, albeit touched with sadness.