Monument record 1446/22/1 - Canyon Opencast

Canyon Opencast. This is a partly water-filled open cut mine trench with spoil and disturbed ground either side. The trench extends 10 - 15 metres either side of the path crossing it. There is evidence of copper mineralsation. The earlier mine workings visible on the south wall, cut through by the later trenches. There is also one irregular hollow with crude pick work, which may be indicative of earlier, Medieval workings. Good sub-triangular pickwork can be observed on a narrow adit on the south wall, which resembles earlier levels on the Saddlebole, which is most likely to be post-Medieval. Shot holes on the sides of the Quarry indicate it was widened during its use. A line of shafts extends westwards along the main fault towards the footpath, similarly shafts on the north-south fault between the open cut and the path to Stormy Point. ‘Square shaft’ on the northern side of the open cut is thought to be one of the deepest on the edge, connecting to the Hough Level. It is believed locally to be the mine sunk to connect with Abbadine’s Level of 1708 but this is not known for certain. The name ‘Canyon Mine’ may well be recent and was possibly coined by the DCC (Derbyshire Cavers Club) (1).

<1> 1998, Alderley Edge Landscape Project Archive, 123 (Unpublished Report). SCH4334.

<2> Timberlake, S. and Prag, A.J.N.W., 2005, The Archaeology of Alderley Edge (Book). SCH4769.