History

My involvement with Greenlaws began in 1979 on a windswept fell at Drygill. A collector friend was trapped underground, and we dug him out. Many years later, we met again, and Les in his typical effusive fashion, wanted to thank me for helping get him out of the collapsed workings. He'd spent a few days in hospital after a helicopter journey off the fell, but was none the worse for wear!  "I've got a Project!" he exclaimed, "You're the only one can make it work".. and with that, arranged to introduce me to the owners of the mine, the Pattinsons.  

I had no idea at that time just how big Greenlaws was - nor of the years of digging that had already taken place.  I knew that some other collectors had briefly gained entry and sold some specimens in the 1990's, but was largely ignorant of the state of the mine.  I had a good look at the place with Les, and shook hands with the farmers on an agreement to allow us to have a poke at the place.  So, on the 12th September 2009, I organised a group of mining enthusiasts and we started to open the place up.  The level was full of water, and the opencut jammed with thousands of tons of rubble.  We dug, we drained, and I hired excavators.  Over time, we cleared the level, found the old tub, and found ourselves walking down a long, open tunnel which led to a shaft.  Les was excited - he pointed down the shaft, which was blocked where it turned at an angle "It's just blocked there" he grumbled - "We just need to clear that plug of rubbish and we'll be in - look at all the water running down - it must be open"  A torrent of water was indeed pouring down the shaft.  We stopped the water, and had a 'poke'... Nothing happened.  I gingerly jumped on the rubbish - it was solid.  

There was an interlude - we kept getting bogged down - so I had to build a road up to the mine.  There were two dumps at the entrance - now there's one.  The other dump is the track.  I spent 2 or three weeks solid on a big excavator with a team of hired locals, driving that track through peat bogs.  We did it, and now you can damn near drive a car to the entrance. If you look at the google maps photo of the area for 2009, you'll see it snapped us on the first day we were there - the 12th September 2009. You can see our vehicles in a line, all bogged to the axles!

For the next 3 years, an ever changing group of enthusiasts tuned up for a weekend of digging - and every weekend, we put yet another set of timber in the hole, and every weekend I measured the depth, and related it to the geology.  One character stood out - Ian is a giant of a chap in every way - and was my brother in arms down that hole.  We dug, and dug - we endured collapses, false hopes, holes that looked like breakthroughs - but in the end, the whole damn shaft had collapsed and had to be dug out - all 250 foot of it. Ian was there with me when we found the first workings.  I passed the first specimen out to him from the flats.  It took 4 years to get to that point, and cost well over £100,000.  The instant we reached our goal, greed and jealousy reared their ugly heads and friends became bitter enemies. It was like Treasure of the Sierra Madre - they wanted to take over, to make money.  We never did it for money - it was a challenge - the biggest that Ian or myself have ever had, I'm sure he will agree.  I take my hat off to the guy.  I miss him.

The years passed, dissenters are gone, and we dig on.  We are opening up the rest of the flats now - there's 15 years of collecting fluorite, and a helluva lot of academic research to be done.  We've friends from the Natural History Museum in London helping.  We'll get there - but for now, enjoy the specimens we have found.  There may never be any more - or there may be a bonanza. We have no idea until we go down, break through, make connections, and look down those dark tunnels that nobody has seen for 150 years...

The farm think we are mad - Mike, Neil, Dave, Mark, Richard and their families - I'm sure they have come to the conclusion that we are completely bonkers, but they are the most genuine, funny, honest, straight talking bunch of people I've ever had the privilege to meet.  Sadly, in 2023, we lost Mike after a short illness. I was with him shortly before he died, and he was still his usual self - cracking daft jokes, and laughing at the absurdity of his situation. We all miss you Mike - your candour, humour, honesty and straight talking. Thank you for believing in us, and supporting the project through thick and thin.

Richard and Mark are running the farm now - one day, I swear I'll manage to get them to climb down the shaft ladders and join us in the flats below their fields..!