| Location: |
Near Coleford, Gloucestershire.
Forest of Dean.
2km south of Colford, follow B4228 towards St Briavels/Chepstow.
After 1,5km turn right for Clearwell.
Signposted.
 Location by UK Streetmap
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| Open: | 09-FEB to OCT daily 10-17. Other times, tours only by prior arrangement. |
| Fee: |
Self guided/normal tour: Adults £3.80, Children (5-16) £2.40, Seniors £3.20, Students £3.20, Family (2+2) £11. Semi-deep level visit: per Person £6 Deep level visit: per Person £10 |
| Classification: | ochre mines, limestone cave in Carboniferous limestone known locally as Crease limestone. |
| Light: | electric. |
| Dimension: | Total area 245 hectares, VR=180m. |
| Guided tours: |
Self guided/normal tour: D=2h, L=820m. Semi-deep level visit: D=2h. Deep level visit: D=3h. |
| Bibliography: |
R. Fell, T. Grevatt (1989):
A Visitor's Guide to Underground Britain,
pp 65-66 Peter Naylor (1981): Discovering Lost Mines, 63 pp illus. Description and survey pp 21-23. Tony Oldham (2002): The Mines of the Forest of Dean and the Surrounding Area, pp 20-22 Ray Wright, Jonathan Wright (1990): Clearwell Caves, Ancient Iron Mines, 16 pp illus surveys. On sale at the caves. |
| Address: |
Clearwell Caves, The Rocks, Clearwell, Nr Coleford, Gloucestershire GL16 8JR, Tel: +44-1594-832535, Fax: +44-1594-833362,
E-mail: |
| Last update: | $Date: 2008/10/20 20:52:04 $ |
| ~500 B.C. | mining began in the Iron Age. | |
| 1930 | commercial iron mining ended. | |
| 1968 | opened as Show Mine. |
Clearwell Cave are a series of natural karst caves in Carboniferous Limestone, which is known locally as the Crease Limestone.
200 Million years ago, the caves were filled with iron deposits, an extremely pure form of haematite containing more than 80% iron. Most of the mines in the area closed between 1890 and 1900 because mining became uneconomic due to the thinning of the ore with depth, and the increase in competition from cheaper Spanish ore.
The iron ore is intermingled with ochre, a mixture of iron oxides produced by the oxidation of the ore. It is located in pockets both in the ore and the rock.
The bulk of the iron ore was mined in Roman times. It was used to make tools, weapons and later in the manufacture of machinery. Today the ore is still mined, but not for the iron any more. The main reason for todays mining is ochre. Ochre is a mixture of iron oxides, producing many different colours ranging through browns and reds to yellow and deep purple.
Ochre is used as pigment for various paints and for cosmetics:
Clearwell Caves is the only working ochre mine in Britain. It produces 3-4 tonnes a year, which is collected by scraping the ochre from the walls by hand. The ochre is sold in the shop on the premises, The colours of the ochre are not blended, which produces a large variety of colours, varying from pocket to pocket.
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The underground tour is unaccompanied and takes the visitor through nine well-lit caverns or churns as they are known locally. Some artificial pools and plenty of flowstone of various colours including white, red and green makes the mine appear like a natural cave. Other features include Barbecue Churn complete with toilets and barbecues. The show section includes only a fraction of a complex which covers 245 hectares and comprises of hundreds of kilometres of passages which zig zag up and down the strata of the limestone from east to west at an angle of 15°. It has been mined to a depth of 180 metre below the surface. Since the mine closed the water level has returned to its normal level of around 120 metres. There are displays of minerals, mining tools and machinery. Traces of older mining techniques such as fire-setting and use of picks may be seen on the walls. Stout footwear is recommended, however the mine is unsuitable for the less mobile. A fine two storey surface building of local stone, in typical Forest of Dean style, houses several vintage engines and a compressor. It also contains a tea room which sells snacks and refreshments, a Museum of mining relics and a Gift Shop which even sells caving lamps. Parking is free and there is a large picnic area. Deep Level Visits can be arranged for the more adventurous groups (about 10 people). They involve some climbing, crawling and getting dirty. Experienced guides ensure that the trips are educational and interesting. Helmets and lamps are supplied. Telephone for details. Text by Tony Oldham (2001). With kind permission. |
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