Two mines, Gategill and Woodend, together usually called the Threkeld mine, on the slopes of Blencathra, which is on the southern side of the Northern Fell group in the Lake District.
They were worked between 1661 and 1928, the older (higher) one Gategill mainly for lead and the lower one, Woodend, for both lead and zinc as well as some barytes.
The plan and photo below come from the Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum which has a lot more information.
I only looked at the Gategill levels.
The Woodend High (Smithy) Level is currently blocked, and although Low (Horse) Level is accessible it also has one of the most polluting runoffs in the country.
Wading around in there stirring up all the gunk is not a good idea.
Like most mines, ore processing was originally water-powered, but all that remains now are a weir and a dam.
Starting at the top this little hole seems to have been a trial and doesn’t go far.
View across the valley from a bit further down showing the path of a tramway heading towards the Gategill Middle Level where the vein crosses over at an angle.
A bit of rail sticking out at the bottom of the opencut section.
Looking back up the entertaining entrance slide…
… being careful not to slither on down through a hole in the floor at the bottom.
Standard old lead mine for a while until a ramp leading up to a rockfall.
Looking back across the valley from above the Middle Level, with the top of a shaft which connects to the Low Level just visible on the other side (I think the High Level is part way down this shaft).
Low level.
Shaft coming down from above.
Going left at a junction past some tall worked out spaces it eventually fizzles out.
Going right is more of the same.
And that was it for the underground bits.
Minralz on the waste tips outside.
The remains of the smithy (but also said to be a powder house).
Looking back up at the dressing floors and smithy.
There was an incline coming down from the Gategill levels but it’s mostly been washed away.
The dam.
The lower Woodend Level - extremely orange in there.
View of the valley from the museum.
Like all local museums this is well worth a look.
For the modest price of an entry ticket you can indulge your inner 10 year old and go for a ride on a little steam train and ogle rusty diggers and rock crushers.
They were worked between 1661 and 1928, the older (higher) one Gategill mainly for lead and the lower one, Woodend, for both lead and zinc as well as some barytes.
The plan and photo below come from the Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum which has a lot more information.
I only looked at the Gategill levels.
The Woodend High (Smithy) Level is currently blocked, and although Low (Horse) Level is accessible it also has one of the most polluting runoffs in the country.
Wading around in there stirring up all the gunk is not a good idea.
Like most mines, ore processing was originally water-powered, but all that remains now are a weir and a dam.
Starting at the top this little hole seems to have been a trial and doesn’t go far.
View across the valley from a bit further down showing the path of a tramway heading towards the Gategill Middle Level where the vein crosses over at an angle.
A bit of rail sticking out at the bottom of the opencut section.
Looking back up the entertaining entrance slide…
… being careful not to slither on down through a hole in the floor at the bottom.
Standard old lead mine for a while until a ramp leading up to a rockfall.
Looking back across the valley from above the Middle Level, with the top of a shaft which connects to the Low Level just visible on the other side (I think the High Level is part way down this shaft).
Low level.
Shaft coming down from above.
Going left at a junction past some tall worked out spaces it eventually fizzles out.
Going right is more of the same.
And that was it for the underground bits.
Minralz on the waste tips outside.
The remains of the smithy (but also said to be a powder house).
Looking back up at the dressing floors and smithy.
There was an incline coming down from the Gategill levels but it’s mostly been washed away.
The dam.
The lower Woodend Level - extremely orange in there.
View of the valley from the museum.
Like all local museums this is well worth a look.
For the modest price of an entry ticket you can indulge your inner 10 year old and go for a ride on a little steam train and ogle rusty diggers and rock crushers.
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