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Devil's GraveSRT in Engine VeinNorth Boundary Fault, Wood MineThe Laundry Chute in West MineMain Chamber Engine VeinHistoric artefacts1930s visitors at BrynlowWorkings on the vein, Engine VeinTom's Shaft in the Cobalt MineWest MineBlue ShaftT'owd man in Wood MineFinlow MineDoc MineThe Beacon before demolitionKey Chamber, Wood MineWood MineRoman coins
Colonnades: Lancaster HoleBull Pot of the WitchesOgof Dydd Byraf, North WalesMagpie Mine, DerbyshireGiants Hole, DerbyshireAlum Pot, Yorkshire DalesStockport air raid sheltersConiston Copper Mine, LakesRampgill Mine, NentheadLennies Cave, MatienzoNettle Pot, DerbyshireOld Ing Cave, Yorkshire DalesAven d'Orgnac, FranceCarrs Mine, NentheadWartling Bunker, KentFirst Pitch, P8 DerbyshireCoventosa, SpainBagshawe Cavern, DerbyshireSnailbeach Mine, ShropshireGaping Gill, YorkshireMoel Fferna slate mine, N Wales
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West Mine is the largest mine under Alderley Edge, and the main chamber, not far in from the entrance, is the largest single open space underground at Alderley. Nevertheless, it is small by comparison with mine chambers elsewhere in the UK. The chamber was excavated by using hand drills and gunpowder and probably took a couple of years to get as large as it is now.
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In the past, one could almost literally walk into a new cave in Great Britain but these days almost all the open cave entrances have been explored. Now, it is necessary to dig one's way into unexplored cave passage. Sometimes, this means removing loose boulders, at other times it means shovelling out clay and sand. If there is a strong probability of a cave, then cavers will even resort to using explosives to enlarge a passage. This dig, reinforced with scaffolding, is at the end of Pooles Cavern in Derbyshire.

The next public event at the Alderley Edge mines is an evening trip at Wood Mine on Wednesday 18/03/2026.To find out if there is still space available, go to the booking page.

In case of emergency at Alderley Edge, call POLICE 999 and ask for DERBYSHIRE CAVE RESCUE.   They will call out local team members.  Do NOT call for the Fire Brigade.