Smallcleugh Mine,Nenthead - August 2008

[Lithium]

Smallcleugh is one of the most well known lead mines in the North. It was started around the 1770s and mined by the London Lead Co. Operations ceased around the early 1900s.

This is the Ballroom Flats. It is said there was a dinner party held here for the local masonic lodge

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture001.jpg


Heading toward the Longcleugh Vein, the bright shiny stuff on the ceiling is actually water droplets. The entire roof is covered in condensation at this point:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture003.jpg


Looking past a shaft towards a fall:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture005.jpg


Some nice stoping. Forget which part this was now:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture009.jpg


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture010.jpg


Original 19th century miner's graffiti, I. Archer, August 23rd 1855:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture011.jpg


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture018.jpg


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture020.jpg


Nice archwork:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture021.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture024.jpg


Ore hopper:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture029.jpg


One of those lovely "crawl on yer belly" sections. Kneepads definitely required!:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture033.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture039.jpg


Note the different colour of the arch. The lighter stone is sandstone taken from the nearby Flinty Fell quarry:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture042.jpg


Ore hopper and airdoor:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture054.jpg


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture057.jpg


Junction between the Hard Crosscut and the Smallcleugh Cross Vein:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture058.jpg


Heading through the Hard Crosscut:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture070.jpg


Dangerous shaft!

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee31/solaraphex/Smallcleugh%20Mine%20-%20August%202008/Picture071.jpg