Just copied this from CPAT
Grand Turk at SJ26305170, where a chimney base and stonework remains of the winding engine house are hidden in the underegrowth.

Also been in that area today and came across two shafts. Pics 1&2 are the same shaft at sj26275168 and pic 3 is at Sj26345160

DaveT wrote:
So, it was a long time ago and I was there with Mike Smith and some Wessex. I don't recall the route, it is quite mazy, but I know our "guide" ended up back at Cabin Shaft, so we had to go around again.
I found the route to Grand Turk, but I do remember stepping across a stope to get in to the passage with a run in. I don't remember the details though. We dug through the run in to get to the chamber that led to the pitch down to the crawl into Grand Turk
DaveT wrote:
The exit (because it was opened from the inside) was vertical, up through some mud and roots. Whilst we were down in Grand Turk those that stayed behind noticed a skeleton that one of our members (a vet) identified as a dog, this suggested that there must be an old entrance nearby. A look around identified what appeared to be a slope of earth that might have come down from above. Apparently they dug it away with their hands and more fell down, eventually they had opened a short shaft up against a rock edge, to a root and earth blockage. They inserted Mike Smith up into it upside down, and he kicked his way through the roots to make a hole out into the woods. They then sat in the chamber waited until we returned when they spoofed us that we had to return all the way to Cabin Shaft, through all the squalor of the run in that we had dug through. We were muddy and wet and lacking humour so were very pleased to discover they had managed to open an exit. We popped out in the woods and it was like the film, The Great Escape, as we came out of the "tunnel" one at a time.

Thanks LesW & Stones,

It sounds like it may be quite tricky to locate the shaft Les came up as its likely to collapse - but a potter around above the kiln with some string to mark areas covered may be worthwhile. I did have a wander around a while ago and came across the shaft (Marked Open Pit) covered with mesh as reported by Stones. I think this is too far away to link directly underground - but it would provide a useful data point mapping the old plan to the OS grid if it is definitively Grand Turk.

Mick phoned me up and explained in detail about the shaft he descended with Bob Sheppard - this is very close to the main path (old railway track) just to the right of the gate in a copse of trees. It is covered by a lid and probably leaves, soil whatever. It was a straight drop of about 80' and a passage leads to a rock bridge above the diesel stopes. I guess if we went down this we could work our way over and probably find the escape route used by Les. Once we know where the hole is I think we should get a bit of 500m twinwall tube and stabilise it - not sure NWCC would approve - but sod it

Dave

Where I came out was subsequently "claimed" by NWCC and gated. Pretty sure it's still accessible

LesW wrote: Well if the upper area is that close to the surface I am sure UCET could dig a parallel shaft and claim that to avoid any issues - unless NWCC want to play the GCC games

Dave

DaveT wrote:
But you know NWCC own all of Minera...

Me and Tom went down a shaft the other week about 100m to the left from g t and there was a dead dog at the bottom of that wonder if this is the same one. We crawled around some of the holes and went down one squeeze and we could definitely feel a draft.

Stevekennedy wrote: Do you mean 100m from the 'blue plastic pipe' entrance or the Grand Turk shaft mentioned by Stones...

Dave

I have dug some but it’s 600mm

No. It’s concrete capped but has a triangle hole in the top. It’s about 60 feet I think.
I don’t have any pictures of the top.

Stevekennedy wrote:
Here's some pictures of it

Stones wrote: Thanks for that. I think this is footway shaft - I don't think it connects anywhere interesting without some digging and there are more interesting areas to dig in Minera

Dave

Hi, Been reading the treads on this topic. Me and my brother are the ones who put the ladder up the shaft at the end of the Grand Turk passage. Loss my bottle to go any further up as had no protection at the time.It was quite a while before we returned and by that time someone had climbed it and put a rope down. We went up and had a hour digging the end of the passage, plenty of rocks falling down this rift passage. We went some months later and the rope had gone. Also did a through trip from Cabin Shaft to the Bear Pit entrance before it was dug out and it had branches across. Been down the Shaft with the dog down this weekend. Did you come across the streamway with the small white waterfall in? Got some photos of the passage where the white water fall is. We climb the rope climbs at the end of the white vain some years ago and it leads to a horrible boulder choke. My brother heard it joined to the mine passage at the end of the Grand Turk passage we were digging in but not to sure if it does.