Friday 5 April 2013

Geocaching around Baddesley Common

Following our last visit a few weeks ago to Baddesley Ensor we decided to return last weekend and do some more Geocaching in the area. Baddesley Common is located adjacent to the village of Baddesley Ensor and for centuries was the site of a colliery and to this day there is still evidence of the mining activities around the common.

Geocaching around Baddesley Common
Geocaching around Baddesley Common


On arriving at the common we saw two stone benches and a bird bath, each one was beautifully carved giving evidence of the mining history for the area.

Baddesley Common stone bench
Baddesley Common stone bench


Baddesley Common still has a huge amount of evidence from its industrial past and it is a shame to see quite a lot of it being consumed by nature and neglected. This was the main entrance to the colliery, now sealed up with a concrete slab. It is such a shame that the tunnel is not maintained and maybe opened for special guided tours.

Baddesley Colliery entrance
Baddesley Colliery entrance


I managed to get a photograph through the small opening within the doorway and it looks beautiful inside with the red brick archway of the tunnel. It is a shame this has to be hidden away behind a concrete slab.

Baddesley Colliery entrance tunnel
Baddesley Colliery entrance tunnel


Next to the old entrance to Baddesley Colliery we found one of our first Geocaches on the common. Quite fittingly the location was marked by an old rusty Miners lamp.

Baddesley Common miners lamp
Baddesley Common miners lamp


Further along we discovered this beautiful bridge that was built to pass over the Baddesley colliery railway. We stopped for quite a long time here whilst having a picnic.

Baddesley Colliery railway bridge
Baddesley Colliery railway bridge


I spent quite some time admiring the workmanship that had gone into the brickwork of the bridge. A fantastic relic of our industrial past and it is quite sad to see it being left to ruin.

Baddesley Colliery railway bridge brickwork
Baddesley Colliery railway bridge brickwork


We had a great day walking around Baddesley Common and look forward to returning one day. The common is only 15 minutes away from where we live and I don’t think we would have ever visited it if it wasn’t for Geocaching.

Mick

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