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Donkey Pond is a flooded whinstone quarry in woodland near Gribdale Gate.
Very little is know of the history of this site, such as whether it was linked with the underground workings of the Gribdale Mining Company about 1km west.
As the whinstone ridge head in that direction a large cutting is visible where the whinstone has been removed, and numerous tramways can be traced through the woods.
When I was a Kid growing up in Ayton,this was always noted for being very deep. We knew it as the bottomless pond! It was always supposed to be something to do with the mines,but this could have been our parents trying to scare us so we kept away. Fat chance!
I heard that it was connected underground with the workings at Quarry Lake, but if it ever was, it isn’t anymore as the two water levels are very different.
It it was mined within the whinstone dyke then I suppose its possible, but its an awfully long way.
That said the inside of Sil Howe would be a similar distance were it still accessable.
Yep, it’s not beyond the realms of fantasy. I think I looked for plans of the Whinstone workings a couple of years ago, but no joy.
I wonder if there is much in the way of accessible workings along the dyke.