why would there be another shaft so close to this,it must only be about 50 feet away,where did you get the information that it was a capped shaft from ?
kaz: I am a little surprised at your assertions that there are three levels in the system. I don't know what period of 20yrs you stayed in Olive Cres. but when at school, a good friend lived with his Mum at the end house in Frodsham St. ie. the vent shaft was within inches of his garden wall. We, and others went up & down the shafts at will. I've got to admit to not ever having climbed the shaft at the back of the Ice Cream "factory". Olive Mount (entry) and Frodsham St and the Holborn Hill quarry entrance were our 3 point entry/exit many, many times. Another classmate lived at the top of Holborn Hill. His garden fence was on the edge of the quarry. He and his Dad knew the tunnels far better than I. He was our initial guide.
The published plans are 99% correct. "As built" there are local modifications. Mostly blast wall locations are not exactly as shown on the plans.
Ignoring the intermediate platforms in the THREE shafts, sorry there are/were only three, there is only ONE level in the system. The datum is the Holborn Hill entrance. The drain (seepage-sewage combined) are obviously at the lowest level. They emerge from the Holborn Hill Quarry exit and went to a manhole in the middle of the quarry, thence to join up with the public sewer in Hinderton Rd.(?) Life would not be too pleasant on a level below this lot !!
Likewise, there are no levels above the datum whatsoever. I don't like pi**ing on folks bonfires, but your recollections don't tally with whats down there.
I've spent a lot of my life far from the light of day and know whats involved in driving levels - even through the easy medium of Middle Bunter and Keuper sandstone. The idea of tunnels to Mersey Park and St. Werburgs are a total myth. Vents shafts, ventilation arrangements, ruling gradient, spoil disposal. There are no records anywhere. I think one of us nosey, trespassing troglodytes would have spotted a branch/branches off the system, even if they had been "blind/trial headings" and not proceeded with.
Apologies for appearing a cantankerous old git, but I was there in the glorious late 50's, when it was mostly original and only minor damage had been done to the toilets, battery banks etc.
That's a great pity. I wondered if anyone was able to rescue that corner sandstone block with "Mine Cottage" engraved on it ?? Probably just smashed up by a JCB ! Sad.
Just been to save the stone, I could not find it then a total demolitions van turned up. He shouted me and I walked over and explained that I was looking for the stone and he said the original owner had moved to Australia and they sent there son to get the stone earlier oh well all ended happy.
