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In response to some questions posed by rikj: The small side opening into the culvert contained steps up to the surface and before landscaping had a small stream running into it. The culvert was built when the mine was opened about 1875 to allow the mine buildings to be developed on the bed of the former stream as space was so restricted in the valley bottom. The culvert first collapsed in 1927 and caused the mine to be flooded. The rebuilt section is now indicated by the steel supports. Collapses have occurred at least twice since causing water to flood into the mine again; one was about 1970 near the concrete shale hopper on the surface, now marked by a manhole where Cleveland Potash dug it out.
posted by Simon Chapman on 27/10/2007
