Chapter 5 Phase 2
Shoring the down shaft
Cut 3 pieces of plywood that are the same width and height of the shaft. Cut a further piece that will be the same width but half the height of the shaft. Then cut 4 pieces of 2" by 2" or 3" by 3" timber that are the same height as the shaft. Now with assistance position each piece of plywood on each wall. So that on the surface all 4 pieces of plywood are flush with each other and the surface. Position each piece of 2" by 2" or 3" by 3" timber in each corner then nail into position (See below).
The entrance will see a great deal of activity so in time reinforce the walls as much as possible. It's a good idea to put a small slatted raised platform (ie a pallet) resting around 3 to 4 inches from the bottom of the shaft to prevent mud accumulating. A small tent or bender ( A waterproof semi permanent erection that uses bent branches to form the frame) above the shaft should be constructed as soon as its completed. As well providing protection from the weather it will prove useful for storing tools etc. Though it is far easier to dig a down shaft straight down from the surface. The tunnel construction on the Arthurs wood site at Manchester in 1999 had a down shaft behind 8 feet of tunnel and 2 steel doors. As the two doors prior to the down shaft were concreted with Granite dust and cement (see ch14-Concrete ) the bailiffs had great difficulty removing them. They thus wanted to by-pass the doors and head directly for the tunnel. But where was the downshaft?. They only discovered its location by observing protesters popping up and down to talk to them. The Bailiffs spent five days digging a new tunnel directly to the downshaft. Had they not known the downshafts location they they would have likely dug a new tunnel in the wrong direction.
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