Lead Mine, Ingleborough

[Lankyman]

Yesterday, on a walk up Ingleborough we passed the small working that is shown on the OS map on Lead Mine Moss. I've been there a few times and it's obviously never been productive since the spoil heaps are relatively small. I did once find a small chunk of galena. Does anyone have any knowledge of the history?

 

[alanw]

Lead Mine Moss, near Tatham Wife

Side by side georeferenced maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

maps.nls.uk

There's also Leadmine Hole and a level near Southerscales

Side by side georeferenced maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

maps.nls.uk

 

[Lankyman]

Lead Mine Moss, near Tatham Wife

Side by side georeferenced maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

maps.nls.uk

There's also Leadmine Hole and a level near Southerscales

Side by side georeferenced maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

maps.nls.uk

Thanks, Alan. If I've used the map layers correctly it would seem that the mine was there at least in the middle of the 19th century (shown on the 6 inch 1830s to 1880s). That would tie in with what was going on further north on a far larger scale at a similar period.

 

[RobinGriffiths]

NMRS gives 1703 to 1867 with a certain John Blackburn & Co owning in 1703. Known as Ingleton Lead Mine.

 

[Lankyman]

Thanks, Robin. I don't know what NMRS is. Would that date spread be the start and end of mining at the site? There doesn't look (to me) anywhere near enough spoil for it to have operated over that length of time.

 

[pwhole]

If they were mostly unmineralised deads in a convenient size, they might have been robbed for drystone walling?

 

[Lankyman]

If they were mostly unmineralised deads in a convenient size, they might have been robbed for drystone walling?

That's an interesting thought and there is a rather strange length of isolated tumbled wall some way to the north near Green Edge

Old structure and wall near Green Edge -... © Karl and Ali

What may be an old sheepfold has been constructed close to the western end of the rather mysterious wall which runs for about 400m across the plateau. Neither wall end connects with any other walls so it could not enclose anything. It may be much older than the drystone walls enclosing the...

www.geograph.org.uk

What would seem a bit odd is that there is lots of readily available stone literally just lying around on the ground without having to carry it over from the lead mine. That would be even more true for the intake walls further down the valley side.

 

[Pitlamp]

Thanks, Robin. I don't know what NMRS is. Would that date spread be the start and end of mining at the site? There doesn't look (to me) anywhere near enough spoil for it to have operated over that length of time.

Northern Mines Research Society. Loads of fantastic publications over a number of decades and still going strong.
Originally the Northern Cavern and Mine; they made some very significant natural cave discoveries back in the day, before focussing mainly on our mining heritage.
In some ways the NMRS is the north's answer to the Peak District Mines Historical Society; another fine institution.

 

[JAA]

Those walls linked to above might well be “bield walls” they’re shelters walls for sheep to get in behind when the weathers a bit rough and are usually parallel to the prevailing wind, no idea if those above are.

 

[Lankyman]

Those walls linked to above might well be “bield walls” they’re shelters walls for sheep to get in behind when the weathers a bit rough and are usually parallel to the prevailing wind, no idea if those above are.

If you mean the long isolated wall by Green Edge then that's a logical conclusion. It does seem exceptionally long for a shelter wall though? I've seen lots of examples but they're all much shorter. There is actually a structure at the west end that might be a bield which you can see in the photo. Whatever its original purpose it's pretty much defunct now.