Welcome to the MOLES Website.
The Mines Of Lakeland Exploration Society evolved in 1991 from a group of friends who shared a common passion in the mining history of Cumbria, amongst them was Ian Tyler the owner and curator of the Keswick Mining museum and local historian. The society held their first AGM at Priest Mill in Caldbeck in 1992, this being the original location of Ian & Jean Tyler's mining museum.
Our objective has always been the conservation & exploration of Cumbria's industrial and mining legacy, and to share our knowledge with others, for it was here in Lakeland in 1564 that the German miners first arrived at the request of Queen Elizabeth the 1st to mine copper and then teach us how it's done, Cumberland was the crucible of British mining long before tourism and two hundred and fifty five years before the birth of queen Victoria.
As you can see this is just about all there is at the moment what with employment and nice weather getting in the way of evenings spent in front of a computer.
Things are in progress just slowly, think hand chiseling an adit through granite and you'd be in the right speed range!
The forum is now up and running though you won't be able to see it without signing in to the site. So first off register so you can sign in to the site and then you will be able to see the forum, you won't be able to post anything immediately as I have to do something secret at the back of the room to give people access.
Once people are logged into the site we will be able to get things moving a bit, he says hopefully.
The forum will provide us all with an easy means of communication so that we can all keep in touch, share information and plan what we want to do. For example If you are planing a trip to Cumbria or want a dirty weekend, perhaps somebody is planing something and you may want to join in.