Box Mine, Box, Wiltshire, England, UKi

Regional Level Types
Box Mine	Mine (Inactive)
Box	Civil Parish
Wiltshire	County
England	Constituent Country
UK	Country

Stretching between Box Hill and the end of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Box railway tunnel, is the largest stone mine in Britain. Building stone had been quarried from Box Hill since medieval times using open pits (initially these were started during the Roman occupation of Britain), but the extent of the stone was unknown until Brunel built his tunnel through the hill, which was completed in 1841. During construction of the tunnel, as crews blasted their way through the hill, they became aware of the vast quantities of good quality Bath Stone (an oolitic limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate) which was ideal for use as building stone. Soon after building the tunnel several local companies started to mine the stone commercially; these companies were Pictors, Nobles, and Stones. Building stone output reached its peak in the 19th century and then steadily declined until 1968 when it ceased altogether. Many impressive features still exist inside the mine, including tools, work benches, cranes, wells, large timber supports, to name but a few.

The mine areas evolved in a haphazard manner and pass over the top of Box Tunnel. Many of the workings ran in to each other underground causing the huge labyrinth of tunnels that have been left behind today. The total quarried area is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide in an oval shape. The total passage length of Box is estimated at 15 miles (24 km), if not more. There were numerous air shafts leading up to the surface, but most have now been filled in. The quarry has a light rail system and a railway siding on the main Great Western Railway line at the Corsham end of the Box Tunnel.

There used to be ten entrances to the Box mine site, and originally they were probably all for separate quarries which eventually joined underground. These entrances were known as Eastgate, Westgate, Northgate, Bridgegate, Lady Hamilton’s Hole I; and the five which still remain open today are Lady Hamilton’s Hole II, Hazelbury, Clift, Backdoor and Jack’s Workings, named after a stone quarryman. All these entrances were adits, meaning they open to the side of the hill.

Eastgate was once the biggest entrance, but it was blocked in 1906. Westgate, Northgate, and Bridgegate were also blocked around the same time. The easiest entrance into the mine nowadays is by Jack's workings. This is in the most southern region of the mine area known as the Lower Hill Series. The entrance is found in the woods on Quarry Hill near the west portal of Box Tunnel. Another entrance still accessible is the Backdoor, this entrance was at the front of a large cliff face near the top of Love Lane, and was roughly rectangular before being blocked up. However a small gated hole remains. This entrance is somewhat more difficult than Jacks Workings, but it does provide direct access into the Cathedral and the central region of the mines.

In the centre of the complex is an area known as the Cathedral, so called because of its sheer size. It is a spectacular area of the quarry, measuring 190 ft (58 m) long, 100 ft (30 m) high and 25 ft (8 m) wide in the middle. In the roof of this chamber there is a large hole about 6 ft (1.8 m) across. All the stone removed from this chamber was hauled through this hole to the surface between 1830 and 1850. Stone was quarried through on three levels creating a huge bell shaped cavern underground. The roof above the Cathedral is only 15 ft (4.5 m) thick and a row of cottages are partially sited on this.

As added interest, an area of the mine was taken over by the Ministry of Defence in the early 20th century to be used as a giant air intake for the underground “top secret” cold war complex next door which was assembled as an emergency relocation site for the British government if the threat of nuclear war ever became reality. The MOD bunker boasts some impressive areas (now scheduled monuments relating to Cold War history), such as the Prime Minister's rooms and operations rooms, GPO telephone exchange, a radio broadcasting suite, Lamson terminus station and associated fan rooms, kitchen, canteen with Olga Lehmann murals, laundry, dining and washroom facilities, even a hospital, slope shaft (emergency exit), all accessible via 10 miles (16 km) of underground “road”.

The site's chief biological interest lies in its roosting bats. Although the site is used year-round, it is mainly a site used for hibernation, breeding, and post-breeding dispersal. It is thought that the mines provide stable humidity and even temperatures when compared to smaller sites, and this encourages use by bats, particularly outside the breeding season. Up to 10% of the total British population of greater horseshoe bat uses the mine at times; a maximum of 230 individuals of this species have been counted at the site. Lesser horseshoe bats also uses the mine, as do four mouse-eared bat species; whiskered, Brandt’s, Natterer’s, and Daubenton’s.

2017 UPDATE: There is now NO access to Box Mine as quarry owners Hanson U.K. have installed gates/grills on all entrances. According to Hanson, “There is no prospect of us entertaining access for anyone, I’m afraid. Nor should any experienced caver consider entering the mine… last year we ceased all underground inspections on safety grounds.”

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Mine
Wikidata ID:	Q4951551

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References