General Activities
General
Oct 2017
Additional information
There are several items that may improve the quality of your experience at Ecton:
Powerpoint presentation
The ECTONHILLPowerpointTemplate can be used as a "pre-visit" primer. It can easily be adapted to suit the needs of any particular group.
Historical Leaflet
The historical leaflet: Ecton Hill Copper Mines in the Manifold Valley provides a brief history of the activities at Ecton. It can be used as a "pre-visit" primer or handed to visitors, before during or after their visit.
Geological information
For those visitors who would benefit from a more detailed description of the geoligy of Ecton the following documents should be of assistance:
Some possibilities for activities by groups/organisations
are offered below depending on the interests of the visiting group.
The charge is £10 per person with a minimum
charge of £100 per group.
ACTIVITIES for Geological Societies
If you are organising a visit to the Manifold Valley with your own
leader, you can arrange an easy and level underground visit, led by one
of our Tutors, into the mine to see the main shaft and Ecton pipe,
lasting about one hour. You can eat your packed lunch at the Centre.
Afterwards, continue on your way.
If you would prefer an activity organised by our Tutors, spending a couple
of hours or most of the day around Ecton Hill and an underground visit
as above, this can be arranged. Evening or daytime activities are possible.
There is plenty of scope for geological observations at the superb fold
sequence at Apes Tor, a few hundred meters away from the Centre. Changes
in surface geology can be investigated in a walk over the hill and small
samples of the minerals can be found on the mine tips. More details
about the geology and the geological setting of Ecton Hill, aimed at
teachers of A Level geology, are posted on this website under Geology
Workshops.
After a recent activity at Ecton the Oxford Geology Group produced a written report and a video record that is available on YouTube.
ACTIVITIES for U3A and other organisations studying Geology or Technology/Science
A typical
activity includes an introductory talk on the geology and mineralisation.
This is followed by an underground visit, and, if time allows, a walk on
the Hill, to see evidence of mining in the past, or a walk along the
road to see some spectacular folding in the limestone.
Groups interested in the technology of mining and mineral
separation, as well as in the geology, can be accomodated.
Talks on the geology, mineralisation and technology are included, as
well as an underground visit. A walk over the hill includes the former
engine house, built for the installation of a Boulton and Watt steam
engine, as well as much evidence of former mining activities. Practical
activities related to mineral separation and chemical identification of
the metallic ions in the minerals, can be included, as well as a
demonstration of “black powder”, the explosive used to break the rock in
the mine.
ACTIVITIES for General Interest and Walking Groups
An activity day generally lasts from 10.00 or 10.30am until 3.30 or 4.00 pm).
Activity Days for adults or adults with children all include an easy and level
underground visit into the mine to see the main shaft and evidence of
mineral extraction and tour of Ecton Hill. In addition, participants may
collect mineral specimens from one of the mine waste tips. Depending on
the aptitude and interest of participants, options include: the chemical
testing of minerals, making “black powder” and the separation of
minerals by panning and other methods. The activities can be
selected, in advance, by discussion with the Tutors who will be in
charge of the programme.
Shorter ACTIVITIES
All activities normally include an underground visit into the mine to see the main mine shaft and evidence of mineral extraction, and a hill walk to see some of the evidence for mining activities. Some groups may include these in a walk from Hulme End, for instance. Activites are suitable for adults or adults with children.
Discuss your ACTIVITY
Contact Susan Wilkinsonto discuss your requirements on:
swilkin7999@gmail.com
01732 456997.
Other Visits booked via another organisationS
Visits for Local History Groups
It is possible to arrange a full day visit commencing with a tour of
Buxton, with a registered Derbyshire Blue Guide in the morning, followed
by lunch, and the afternoon at Ecton. The morning walk, starting about
10am -10.30am, would take in such historic features as The Crescent, The
Opera House and Devonshire Hospital, all built with money from the Ecton
mine. The afternoon activity includes an easy and level underground
visit into the mine to see the main shaft and Ecton pipe as well as a
surface tour of the Hill (moderately strenuous) where there is much
evidence of past mine workings.
Alternatively, a full day visit to the mine can be arranged, in which
participants can learn about the history of the mine, take an
underground visit into the mine as above with a more extensive tour of
the hill to see the evidence of past mine workings.
Booking your ACTIVITY
Step 1:
Choose a date for the visit by going to the Ecton Availability calendar. (Use the "back" button to return here.)
Step 2:
Complete theActivity Booking Request Form selecting General Activities (Includes Special Interest Visits) (Google Form). If you are unsure of the actual number in the group, an anticipated number is sufficient to enable your visit to be organised. Please enter whether the visit is a half or a full day and give an approximate arrival time. (If there are problems dealing with the form, please contact Susan Wilkinsonswilkin7999@gmail.com 01732 456997.)
Step 3:
If Tutors are available, your request will be entered in the booking system and you will be contacted shortly thereafter to confirm the booking and to give you the names and contact details of your Tutors/Guides.
Step 4:
Once your visit is confirmed, arrangmeents wil be made to pay for the visit.
Step 5:
Make sure you read the document: Essential Information for General/Special Interest Activities . This gives all the details you need to prepare for your visit.