A FORMER copper mine nestled in the hills connecting the Staffordshire Moorlands and Peak District has been brought back to life in a documentary.
The film, called “Blood, Sweat and Stone: A History of Mining in the Peak District”, has been written, presented, filmed and directed by Byron Machin (pictured), a fulltime geography teacher and parttime mining history enthusiast from the district.
He published his first documentary “The Prehistory of the Peak District” in 2004, and has since written almost a dozen books on archaeology and local history.
He said: “Since I was a young boy I have had a passion for all aspects of Staffordshire Moorlands history.
In addition to mining history, my interests include landscape detection, entomology, archaeology, botany and folklore.
“It has something of a dramatic title for a factual documentary I know, but after many years of research and caving experience it is a fitting one. “
“There is no padding, continuous re-caps or exploitive scenes that have becomes so commonplace in many modern documentaries.”
Recalling some of his jaunts in the mines he scaled for the 119- minute film, Mr Machin recalled some of his more hair-raising experiences.
He said: “I have had numerous vivid experiences, such as falling down small shafts, having a roof collapse next to me and almost being gassed in a deep mine, but by far the scariest thing in mines is not the darkness but the sounds.
“I was exploring a mine on the moors near where I live when, about 50 metres in, I heard strange sounds in the distance.
“As I focused on the sounds I began to filter out the separate streams. It was the sound of a man with his head being forced under the water, screaming and thrashing for his life.
“This description does not do it justice. It was horrific. As I listened intently, I could make out a woman’s voice in with it, herself having the life torn from her.”
The documentary sets out to uncover the full history of mining in the area.
Featuring mining locations above and below ground, the study covers the history of the industry from Bronze Age Copper Workings on Ecton Hill, through the lead mines of the 18th century, to the modern extraction of minerals such as Flurospar and Calcite.
Along with filmed footage, underground photographs give glimpses into dozens of mines throughout Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire.
The DVD is designed to be watched as a whole feature and as a reference guide.
Chapter selections are provided for each key location and time period allowing individual access.
It is available at Picture Book in Stanley Street, Leek, priced £10 and online from the website www.sevenstonespublishing.blogspot.com.
A trailer can be viewed online at YouTube.
