Infilling and stabilising the underground galleries was needed at Wren’s Nest and we are fortunate to be able to display a photographic record of some of the work undertaken in the early 2000s. Tony Mellor of Forkers Ltd was involved with several stabilisation contracts and has kindly provided these photos with permission of Forkers Ltd.
Survey work to map the pillars at Seven Sisters in 2001. Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Survey work to map the pillars at Seven Sisters in 2001. Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Drill rig working in the NNR at Mons Hill (c.2001). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Mons Hill Site Compound on Priory Road (c.2001). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - Northern Gallery (c.2004). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest Seven Sisters - filling the upper gallery with stone (c.2004). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - infill works carried out in c.2004. Wrekin had the grouting contract to fill the underground galleries. Forkers were subcontracted to install the stone that supports the Seven Sisters pillars to prevent further collapse and degradation. Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest Northern Gallery (c.2004). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - infill works carried out in c.2004. Wrekin had the grouting contract to fill the underground galleries. Forkers were subcontracted to install the stone that supports the Seven Sisters pillars to prevent further collapse and degradation. Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest Northern Gallery - two bats roosting on the steel supports in the access tunnel (c.2004). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - infill works carried out in c.2004. Wrekin had the grouting contract to fill the underground galleries. Forkers were subcontracted to install the stone that supports the Seven Sisters pillars to prevent further collapse and degradation. Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - canal basin (c.2007). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Left to right - Roger Morgan (Dudley Council Civil Engineering Dept), Penny Russell (Tourism Development officer for DMBC working on the 2007 Big Lottery bid for the Limestone Mines Tourist Attraction) and Graham Worton (Keeper of Geology, Dudley Museum & Art Gallery) in the Minstrel Gallery (c.2007). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest Minstrel Gallery (c.2008). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - surveying the Cathedral Gallery at Step Shaft (c.2008). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - fossils in the canal basin (c.2009). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - canal basin (c.2009). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
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Wren's Nest - Graham Worton in the canal basin (c.2009). Photo with kind permission from Forkers Ltd.
See Newsletter 266, April 2021 for an article by Tony Mellor: BCGS Newsletter 266
