Březové Hory Ore ground

This law was confirmed in Příbram by mortgage-bond of Jan Trčka of Vitenec, town-owner, on 5th December 1526. At the same time, there happened for allowance to fix mining village of Březové Hory as a community. In 1579, the town of Příbram was declared - by Emperor Rudolph II. – as a King mining (superior) town. Anyway, since 16th century, the number of bodies, interested in mining activity, increased. All this was written in details in preserved documents. Except of this, so called „Brothers´ Cash-offices“ started to be developped, where the miners contributed to small change from their salaries. Nevertheless, a break arrived in 1611, whe Passau troops invaded the country, and within following period of 30-years war, the number of population decreased. In 1772, took the position Jan Anthony Alis, master for mining and foundering. He introduced here many technical and organising providings and reforms. So, water economy, including mines-draining, became more successfull after introduction of new system of stratum opening, and after introduction of water-drawing from shafts.

Nevertheless, the biggest swing Březové Hory Ore Ground went through within 19th century. Not only the mining increased, but also record hollow - deepness there was reached, so, for example, in Vojtěch (Ethelbert) hollow, there was reached a depth of 1000 metres in 1875.

This depth was reached for the first time in a world. The ground made progress not only in hollow deeping, but also in mining technique, ore arrangement and its improvement. However, after 1st World War, there happened to be total decrease of mining production.

In the course of 2nd World War, there was employed in mines as well as in surface working places quite big quantity of people (otherwise, they had to leave for Nazi factories in Germany). After nationalization of Czechoslovak industry, there were established so called Příbram Ore Mines, State Enterprise, Příbram.

The term for final termination in ground (1971), was consequently prolonged several times. Nevertheless, mining activity in Březové Hory was ended on 30th June 1978. The termination was effected, except other aspects, from economical reasons. So, when the ground was closed, Mining  Nature Museum was established, including several objects of Březové Hory factories. Total production of the ground, especially of silver (3 837 tonns) was not, and probably will not be overcome, by any other Czechoslovak Ore Ground.

„At the end of 1980 there was finished a mining of Březové Hory and Bohutín strata. Both places present together world-famous ore ground of Březové Hory. So, with this fact, there was closed an important chapter of our ore mining“ (J. Bambas).

Mining place Mary

This hollow was open in 1822 as the fourth vertical  mine, in order to get the admission southern part of Březové Hory ground. The ore from this mine was transported for arrangment by means of  Marianska shaft, 532 metres long. This shaft  was renewed within 1994-1995, and open for public. In this hollow (ditch) there was intruduced (as on the first place of Březové Hory ground) heavy steam-engine in 1846, and shortly afterthat, in 1849 (as the first in Austria-Hungary monarchy) so called ascensive (Fahrkunst) engine. However, on 31st May 1892, there broke out a fire in mine, and 319 mining workers died. The mining here was terminated in 1915, at final depth of 1165 metres.

Mining place Prokopius

This hollow is divided into two mining and one climbing sections, and was open in 1832. For mining and for drive, there were used three-stage cages for two carriages (contents 0,6 A cubic meters or 18 persons). The speed of cage – for transport of persones – was stipulated to 6 m/sec., whereas for mining it was 9 m/sec. The carriages were exploited for shaft-stage (depth 23,6 metres), and transported from here by locomotive up to the shaft- mouth near to Mining place Anne. In 1966, the mine reached its free depth of 1597,6 metres below the surface. In 1978, there was carried out last carriage of this ore, and so the mining activity was closed. This mine is the deepest from all mines of Březové Hory.

Mining place Anne

This mining place was established by Jan Anthony Alis. Its deepening was started in 1789. This mine, with its final depth of 1455 metres, has two mining and one climbing section. Within deepening, and later, within mining, there were introduced  many technical reforms, such as installation of water engine (machine) for drawing of local mining waters (1797). The mining activity here was closed in 1978.

Mining tower of Anne mining place formed, with its height of 30,6 metres, local dominante, from view from Příbram to Březové Hory. However, this tower was dismounted and transported for coarse-grinding in 1979.

 In 1990, shaft-building was reconstructed and mining engine of 1914 repaired. Moreover, the reconstruction of Prokopius gallery was effected. All these objects are open for public now. Small electric trains regularly drives through Prokopius gallery.

Ševčínsky Mine

Ševčinsky mine, named after Ševčín vein, is one of most important veins of the whole Březové Hory ground. The works, during the time, when the shaft was stroke (a pump-shaft was located here 200 years ago), were started in 1813. At first, the shaft was named according to Emperor Frank, later took the name of Frank Joseph I. shaft. Since 1918, the shaft names Ševčínský důl (Ševčín Mine). The minng was stopped in 1910 for the first time. Anyway, in 1951, the mine was re-open again, and the works here were effected till 13th June 1979. The mine´s depth makes 1092,1 m.

Ševčín gallery served to water supply, flowing in through drainings from factory-ponds, and to ore-transport from Ševčín mines.

At present, the whole area of Ševčín mine serves as Mining Museum.

Vojtech (Ethelbert) shaft

Between Vojtech vein and God´s Mother vein (established by Jan Anthony Alis in 1779), there was created so called Vojtech (Ethelbert) shaft, as a first shaft in a ground, and also as the first vertical shaft , in order to open the strata in depths. The more deeper the hollow (ditch) was, the more difficult its deepening was (problems occured: falling in, water penetration, overflowing, owing to unsufficient water drawing and bad shaft-ventilation, etc.). All these circumstances came to death of fourteen miners. In 1782, ten persons were drown in a moment of water penetration, and in 1851, four miners died in soil fall. In spite of all difficult work, there was reached - in 1875 - for the first time in the world - a vertical dept of 1000 metres below earth surface. The mining was closed in 1978, and final mine-depth makes 1263 metres.

Mine Drkolnov  

The opening of Drkolnov shaft was effected in 1863. August Mine, this was its original name(according to August Longin of Lobkowitz, chairman of court chamber in mining affairs). Mining engine of this mine was driven by air from the very beginning, anyway, the air-force was changed for water-force later. The veins of this mine did not contain nearly any mining quantity of ore materials. In the course of all active mining period, there was obtained 276 kgs of silver and 638 kgs of lead. The works were closed- after 60 years of activity- when there was reached a depth of 425 m.

At present, you can find here the exposition with sightseeing tour into underground, where you see technical monument of international importance – water wheel of 12,4 m in diameter. This wheel was in operation since 1850, and drew a water from a mine till 1899. Later, in 1890, the wooden wheel was substituted with iron wheel, and this was used for drawing of drinking water for the town of Příbram. The visitors can also to slide into underground through a corridor of 51 metres length.

Text: Miloslava Kotápišová

Photo: Private property: "Spolek Prokop Příbram"