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On Saturday, 5 April 2008, ten intrepid explorers set off on a walking field trip around Reading led by international chalk mining expert and PBA Partner, Dr Clive Edmonds. An early start and a cold spring chill couldn't dampen spirits and, as the sun broke through the clouds, we were enlightened as Clive unravelled "The History of Subsidence, Brick Making and Chalk Mining at Coley and Katesgrove, Reading, Berkshire". The day included a walk through the history of clay quarrying and chalk mining and looked at some of interesting effects the brick-making process has had on Reading's urban landscape. These included sterilised areas of land due to poor ground conditions and undermining, over-steepened slopes and unusual topography, structurally unstable buildings and subsidence problems and some beautiful fancy brickwork on local buildings.
Clive also gave an in-depth discussion on the the chalk mine failures in Field Road, Reading in 2000/01, which resulted in the collapse of two houses and structural damage to several more when a long-forgotten chalk mine failed with disastrous consequences.
The field trip was attended by members of local groups of The Geological Society and The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. The event was sponsored by Peter Brett Associates in continuation of our support of local professional bodies and groups.
If you are interested in learning more about our work relating to mining, subsidence and related issues or wish to access our national (non-coal) mining cavities database (more than 14,000 records) and natural cavities database (more than 32,000 records) please contact Dr Clive Edmonds on 0118 950 0761 or cedmonds@pba.co.uk
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