Findall's Chimney-Forest of Dean Iron Mines No2. Traditional Cache
Findall's Chimney-Forest of Dean Iron Mines No2.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The cache site can be approached from many directions. This area is particularly lovely in the spring when bluebells abound.
Findall’s Chimney, standing about 100m to the east of the cache site, was part of the ventilation system for the Perseverance and Findall Iron Mine complex. It was built around 1800, and was extensively restored by members of the Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club in the 1970’s. It is the only surviving complete (almost) iron mine chimney in the Forest today. A fire would be lit at the base of the chimney which was connected to the mine workings by a masonry flue. The fumes rising up the chimney would cause fresh air to be drawn into the workings through shafts and adits lower down the hill.
Perseverance and Findall Iron Mines were worked from the Findall Level, Perseverance Shaft and quite possibly Shakemantle Shaft as well. The Findall Level is collapsed, and Perseverance Shaft is filled. Shakemantle Shaft has a concrete cap on it, but it is possible to drop small stones through a ventilation tube and hear them whistle down the shaft before hitting the water hundreds of feet below.
Today cavers enter the mine through an opening in the small cliff just to the south of the base of the chimney.
Old mines can be dangerous, and it is generally illegal to enter abandoned mines without the landowners consent. If you would like to learn more about the mines of the Forest of Dean, or have a look underground, contact the Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club (www.rfdcc.org.uk).
The cache is a small “Lock N Lock” box and contains a log-book, some polished pebbles and a few trinkets.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va gur boivbhf cvyr bs ynetr fgbarf.
Treasures
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