The Fauld Crater

After a day spent with Middle Brother and S-il, on our way back we fulfilled an ambition of Mr Flum to investigate the Fauld Crater, on the site of an old gypsum mine used to store 4,000 tons of bombs during the second World War.

Following Google satellite view rather than the established walks we crossed stiles, fields of cattle with their resultant emissions, a few wrong turns until we came across a sturdy chain link fence and repeated notices warning of 'unexploded bombs' and 'steep drop' should we venture through. Indeed, what view of the crater we could glean through the undergrowth, did not invite any attempt at access, suffice to say the crater is vast.
Finding ourselves now on well-established paths we arrived at the memorial itself, with information panel, copied below:

"At just after 1100 hours on the 27th NOVEMBER 1944, the largest explosion caused by conventional weapons in both the world wars took place at this spot when some 3,500 tons of high explosives accidently blew up. A crater some 300 feet deep and approximately a quarter of a mile in diameter was blown into the North Staffordshire countryside.
A total of seventy people lost their lives with eighteen bodies never being recovered.
The 21 MU RAF Fauld disaster is commemorated by this memorial which was dedicated on the 25th November 1990, some 46 years after the event. The stone, which is of fine white granite, was a gift, organised by the Commandante of the Italian Air Force Supply Depot at Novara, a sister depot of No 16 MU RAF Stafford, from the firm of CIRLA & Son, Graniti-Milano."

Now on a recognised route, it was an easier walk back to car in the village and we pootled home cross-country under a setting sun.

Having worn my old sandals for that walk, my first task was to wash my feet... !