| RSPCA official trapped in "Hell Hole"
Then in 1966 - The dangers of walking in the Great Ayton countryside were vividly illustrated when an RSPCA Inspector found himself trapped at the foot of a 60 ft derelict ironstone mine shaft.
Inspector Stuart Fairlie had been lowered down the shaft to rescue a collie dog that had fallen into
what is known locally as “Hell Hole”. Fortunately the animal’s fall had been broken by soft sand and she was shocked but unhurt.
Mr Fairlie managed to get a rope around the animal and helpers hauled her safely to the surface. But when it was Inspector Fairlie’s turn they couldn’t pull him over the overhang. “I couldn’t get a foothold on the sides of the shaft, and spent half an hour trapped there until climbing tackle was brought in.” A parish council spokesman said it demonstrated how dangerous these shafts are. And to further prove the point, Insp. Fairlie found the remains of four other dogs that had been less fortunate than Lassie the collie
This article originally appeared in the March 2000 issue of Now
& Then Magazine |
