Force Crag Mine was the last working metal mine in the Lake District, prior to its final abandonment in 1991. The site was mined for lead from 1839 until 1865, and for zinc and barytes from 1867. The job of the mill was to separate these minerals from each other, and from any other minerals and the country rock.
The mill buildings that are now there were built in 1908-9. The mill contains the ore-refining machinery that was in use during the 1980s and until is closed, along with some earlier equipment. It is the only former mineral mining site in the country that has retained its processing equipment in something approaching complete order.
A view of Force Crag mine, while descending Grisedale Pike.
The main building, where the ore was processed.
The tramway would come through here on its way to be processed.
This is the 'Grizzly hopper' it would crush the ore, so it could be processed.
The 'Grizzly hopper'.
The tramway that would transport ore from the 'Grizzly hopper'.
One of the mine entrances.
A collapsed mine entrance.
This is the force crag mine water treatment plant and is treating the metal-rich water of Coledale beck to improve the aquatic environment and water quality down stream.
The mill buildings that are now there were built in 1908-9. The mill contains the ore-refining machinery that was in use during the 1980s and until is closed, along with some earlier equipment. It is the only former mineral mining site in the country that has retained its processing equipment in something approaching complete order.
A view of Force Crag mine, while descending Grisedale Pike.
The main building, where the ore was processed.
This is the 'Grizzly hopper' it would crush the ore, so it could be processed.
The 'Grizzly hopper'.
The tramway that would transport ore from the 'Grizzly hopper'.
One of the mine entrances.
A collapsed mine entrance.
This is the force crag mine water treatment plant and is treating the metal-rich water of Coledale beck to improve the aquatic environment and water quality down stream.
