A repost from the forum outage.
Another long report on Swaledale mines, this one dealing with the eastern section of the Old Gang mine network - the western (Gunnerside) portion was covered in the previous effort (#6).
Open entrances to the mine levels (adits/tunnels) are the red dots on either side of Barney Beck, the middle blue line in the map below.
Lead was mined in this area from at least the 1500s, originally by shafts, hauling the ore out by hand or by horse-powered winches.
The vein would be followed some distance underground in both directions then other shafts sunk nearby and the process repeated.
The result is that the main ore veins - Fryerfold and Old Rake - are easily seen in the satellite image above as a line of shafts and spoil heaps running across the top of the valley.
Later on horizontal tunnels (levels) were driven from the sides of the hills to get the ore out more easily and help drain the workings.
These tunnels required maintenance even when they were in use, particularly the sections through the softer strata, so after 100+ years of abandonment most are in pretty poor shape.
Local underground types probably know how much is actually accessible but I’m guessing much of the network has collapsed - as a mine tourist I just went as far as seemed sensible at the time.
The map above is an edited version of one in Gill’s book on Swaledale lead mines, and is a good summary of what’s still there - much of the information below also comes from this book.
I originally found the less obvious levels with old OS maps, but constant development of the mine means that these are not always reliable.
Of the 11 levels shown on the map 8 were accessible - a couple (Long Brea and Roger) had spoil heaps but seem to have been filled in and I could find no sign of Wiseman’s Level.
Pictures are the product of several walks, some a couple of years ago - phone for above ground and camera or phone for below.
Old Gang Smelt Mill. Starting with the main area of surface remains, this is actually two mills, with an older one (c. 1797) behind the larger one (c. 1846 - 1888) nearer the stream.
Smelting slag in front of what may have been a lead refining house (with chimney).
Several flues combine into one leading to the remains of a chimney on top of the hill behind.
The only equipment dates from when the building was being used to recover barytes from mining wastes in the 1940s and 1950s - James tables were developed in about 1912.
Both mills had water wheel-powered bellows for the hearths - the water for the upper mill may have come in along this shelf (green bit) from the Spence Level further up the valley.
Storage bins and wheel pit for a crusher next to an ore processing area.
As for other nearby mills (Blakethwaite, Surrender) peat was the main fuel for smelting, stored in a building up on the hill behind.
This originally had wooden roof beams with a heather thatch and was open at the sides to allow the peat to dry - strange light because the sun was setting.
The following levels are ordered from south to north.
Knotts. There are two Knotts Levels almost opposite the mill - the lower one was driven in in 1857 with a higher one nearby in 1862, following a vein crossing from the other side of the valley.
Some ore was found but these seem to have been trials.
The low one goes a long way, with a few roof falls to negotiate.
Storage for something.
Going left…
…you eventually come to an up-and-over with a smallish hole beyond - I stopped here although it seems to carry on.
Back to the junction going right there are some shaley passages…
…and then the end.
The high level nearby is much smaller and ends in a collapse almost immediately.
Spence. Driven in the late 1700s and reopened in 1876 this worked the same vein as Knotts but on the other side of the valley.
It doesn’t go very far, ending in a mud ramp leading to a little worked-out space.
continued
Another long report on Swaledale mines, this one dealing with the eastern section of the Old Gang mine network - the western (Gunnerside) portion was covered in the previous effort (#6).
Open entrances to the mine levels (adits/tunnels) are the red dots on either side of Barney Beck, the middle blue line in the map below.
Lead was mined in this area from at least the 1500s, originally by shafts, hauling the ore out by hand or by horse-powered winches.
The vein would be followed some distance underground in both directions then other shafts sunk nearby and the process repeated.
The result is that the main ore veins - Fryerfold and Old Rake - are easily seen in the satellite image above as a line of shafts and spoil heaps running across the top of the valley.
Later on horizontal tunnels (levels) were driven from the sides of the hills to get the ore out more easily and help drain the workings.
These tunnels required maintenance even when they were in use, particularly the sections through the softer strata, so after 100+ years of abandonment most are in pretty poor shape.
Local underground types probably know how much is actually accessible but I’m guessing much of the network has collapsed - as a mine tourist I just went as far as seemed sensible at the time.
The map above is an edited version of one in Gill’s book on Swaledale lead mines, and is a good summary of what’s still there - much of the information below also comes from this book.
I originally found the less obvious levels with old OS maps, but constant development of the mine means that these are not always reliable.
Of the 11 levels shown on the map 8 were accessible - a couple (Long Brea and Roger) had spoil heaps but seem to have been filled in and I could find no sign of Wiseman’s Level.
Pictures are the product of several walks, some a couple of years ago - phone for above ground and camera or phone for below.
Old Gang Smelt Mill. Starting with the main area of surface remains, this is actually two mills, with an older one (c. 1797) behind the larger one (c. 1846 - 1888) nearer the stream.
Smelting slag in front of what may have been a lead refining house (with chimney).
Several flues combine into one leading to the remains of a chimney on top of the hill behind.
The only equipment dates from when the building was being used to recover barytes from mining wastes in the 1940s and 1950s - James tables were developed in about 1912.
Both mills had water wheel-powered bellows for the hearths - the water for the upper mill may have come in along this shelf (green bit) from the Spence Level further up the valley.
Storage bins and wheel pit for a crusher next to an ore processing area.
As for other nearby mills (Blakethwaite, Surrender) peat was the main fuel for smelting, stored in a building up on the hill behind.
This originally had wooden roof beams with a heather thatch and was open at the sides to allow the peat to dry - strange light because the sun was setting.
The following levels are ordered from south to north.
Knotts. There are two Knotts Levels almost opposite the mill - the lower one was driven in in 1857 with a higher one nearby in 1862, following a vein crossing from the other side of the valley.
Some ore was found but these seem to have been trials.
The low one goes a long way, with a few roof falls to negotiate.
Storage for something.
Going left…
…you eventually come to an up-and-over with a smallish hole beyond - I stopped here although it seems to carry on.
Back to the junction going right there are some shaley passages…
…and then the end.
The high level nearby is much smaller and ends in a collapse almost immediately.
Spence. Driven in the late 1700s and reopened in 1876 this worked the same vein as Knotts but on the other side of the valley.
It doesn’t go very far, ending in a mud ramp leading to a little worked-out space.
continued
