Detailed description
This is the "New Deep Tunnel" of the mine "Consolidated Sonnenberg" which was established in the late 19th century.
According to the "Description of the Mining District of Hamm an der Sieg" (1855), the mine was initially operated from the surface through shafts and later received two tunnels. One of the tunnels, the one described here, "brought in a depth of 80m underground." Iron, lead, and zinc were extracted. It wasn't until the beginning of the 19th century that "the Sonnenberg," having not seen a "real miner" for a long time, tried a local resident to cultivate mushrooms in the dark and damp corridors and even built a small material cable car across the Nister. However, the hopeful project had to be abandoned.
Since then, bats have returned to their traditional winter quarters.
A protective grid keeps unwanted guests out.
Rhein-Zeitung, No. 276 from 28.11.1995