The Workings
The number of old relatively small shafts along the vein at Clive suggests that the area was divided up into a series of different mines, each probably worked by a separate group of miners. These early shafts were sunk onto the copper vein, then small passageways driven to follow it. Sandstone is relatively easy to break down with picks, hammers and chisels and the remains of the old shafts still show pick marks and their squared shape testifies to the pride and skill of the old miners. Old tools dating from the 17th Century were found in the mine during the last period of working but these have now all disappeared.

In these early workings the only means of lighting was tallow candles or grease lamps, (soot stains and remains of tallow candles can still be found in the mine) this would mean that the air in the workings would rapidly become too foul to work in. When the workings became unworkable due to lack of ventilation, unstable, or the vein was lost, then another shaft would be sunk further along the line of the vein and a new mine started.

It is often thought that early shafts (such as those at Clive) were linked underground but evidence suggests that this was not the case. As it was common for adjacent mines to be worked by different groups they would jealously guard their workings. Any connection would allow the neighbouring miners to sneak in and steal their copper! A number of these old shafts can still be seen in the roof of the currently accessible workings but they have been undercut by the later 18th century workings rather than being connected earlier.

At the start of the 18th century, attempts were made to replace the old piecemeal working methods. In 1703 Thomas Spendiloves bequeathed a copper mine at Clive to his son John. He then leased it to Roger Atcherley in 1711. There is also a reference to a Drepewood or Threapwood Mine in the area which was worked in 1710 by Thomas Oswin. This suggests that there may actually have been two separate mines working the same deposit, reflecting land in different ownerships.

A letter dated 19th January 1739 from John Spendiloves to a Mr Bresner of Droitwich supports this suggestion. In it, Spendiloves says:

"There is on Vernon's land at Clive part of a copper mine which I will help to sell. I would also like to see a mine lease that Mr John Payne has ...".

There is also a separate reference to an eminent copper prospector from Ireland who had mentioned this one yard wide vein of copper "green and gritty", containing gold, which was proposed for development by Roger Atcherley in 1711.

Well Shaft
In 1868, the main drawing shaft was deepened to below the lower tramming level, a depth of 183ft, and a borehole continued from its base. This then became a well that supplied water to the estate and it is still in use today (although the three-throw pump powered by an oil engine was superseded by electric pumps in the 1980's).

Up to the end of the 18th century, the "old men" had only removed the solid deposits of copper ore since they didn't have the ability to separate the copper where it was intermingled with sandstone. The 19th Century miners possessed better technology and not only re-worked the areas mined previously but also took a greater proportion of the ore out. This has left large voids called "stopes" in the upper level which have destroyed most of the earlier workings. They have also truncated the old hand made shafts, which can be seen entering at roof level.

This secondary working included the use of modern techniques such as drilling and blasting, as well as wagons and tramways to transport the ore. Remains of sleepers and powder barrels were found when the mine was re-discovered in the 1980's. Underhand stoping methods were also used, where ore was mined from below the haulage level. This was labour intensive and meant that the miners had to overcome gravity, as opposed to overhand stoping where ore was mined above and gravity used to bring it down to the haulage level.

The lower levels contain no mineralisation but there is evidence of the use of rails, tubs and blasting. It is likely that they were developed at the same time as the underhand stopes mentioned above and that ore was thrown down to the lower levels to be transported to the shaft. The upper and lower levels were connected by internal shafts called winzes but there are no remains of the ore chutes which must have been installed in these to control the loading of tubs some 25m below.

The Well Shaft
Inside the Well Building, this gives access to the lower workings of the mine (with the sump being used as a water supply to surrounding houses). The shaft is complete with pump rods, raising main and a ladderway. When the Club first gained access to the mine in the mid 1980's this was our only way in.

The lower workings primarily consist of a long tramming level fed with ore from the higher workings via a number of ore chutes or winzes. Despite several digs along this level we have not been able to "push" any of the potential headings - which appear to be back-filled headings.

Upper Workings
To reach the upper workings the Club constructed a Maypole (a series of scaffold tubes clamped together with an electron ladder fixed to the top), this was repeatedly extended until we could climb up it, some 25 metres to the upper workings.

From the upper workings the bases of several shafts were discovered and one, that was filled with rubbish was pushed to surface. This now forms the Rubbish shaft and has been fitted with a secure collar and lid for safety reasons.

The upper workings are the most interesting part of the Mine. The large stopes of the 19th Century workings contrasting with the truncated remains of the early hand worked levels and shafts which are visible in the walls and roof of the stopes - some of them still complete with soot stains from old candles.

The Copper vein has been worked along a fault line, which is interesting for the Slicken-sides (polished rock caused by the two sides of the fault rubbing together).

A collapse zone in the mine corresponds to the point where the workings pass under the Tarporley Siltstones, due to the proximity to the road this section has been stabilised by the County Council.