thumb|Equipment inside the now preserved Clearwell Mine.

thumb|Pool of water within the mine. Note the [[red ochre colour of the roof]]

Clearwell Caves, at Clearwell in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, is a natural cave system which has been extensively mined for iron ore. It now operates primarily as a working mining museum.

The caves are part of a Natural England designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Wye Valley Special Area of Conservation; the notification is due to the large number of lesser horseshoe bats. The designation includes parts of Clearwell, along with Old Bow, Lambsquay and Old Ham mine complexes.

Mining

Clearwell Caves are a collection of five mines: Clearwell, Old Ham, Lambsquay, Old Bow and New Dun, covering approximately 230 acres. The interconnected cave systems were formed by underground streams from around 180 million years ago. Since the late Stone Age they were mined originally for ochre, then for iron ore from Iron Age times Circa 100BC increasing from Roman times and many reported sightings of an old miner, the sound of footsteps and pick axes working.

The caves were used as the interior for the Sycorax spaceship in the Doctor Who Christmas special, The Christmas Invasion in 2005.

See also

  • Old Bow And Old Ham Mines

References

  • www.clearwellcaves.com/
  • BBC archive film of Clearwell Caves from 1977