Monument record 1446/7/9 - West Mine Adit 'Scout Hole'

An inclined cutting to the adit called 'Scout hole' is also mentioned in (1). It was possibly the original level into the south east end of West Mine (opencast) but was disused and possibly infilled by 1872 and so its function is uncertain. Prior to 1872 this incline was re-used as an access to some sort of furnace (possibly linked with the Cobalt Works and tower, known to have been in operation before 1863). A number of tools were found around the site which appear to have been made on site (ladle, poker, scraper etc) and used for extracting a refractory product from the furnace such as Cobalt-nickel speiss. The actual position of the Tower is unknown as no foundations have ever been found but a square building or chimney is seen on the 1872 map. Beneath the incline cutting is an even earlier working possibly on a cobalt bearing fault dating approximately to the 1806 - 1820 period.

<1> 1998, Alderley Edge Landscape Project Archive, 148 (Unpublished Report). SCH4334.

<2> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description) (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<2> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment) (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.