Smallcleugh mine Nenthead, Xmas 2012

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

mistericeman

Active member
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
44
Reaction score
139
Today after A hearty breakfast from "The moody bakers" in Alston (Top scran with a heavy veggie bent ...Spicy lentil pasties and CBW (Chilli bean wraps) were the order of the day ) The Mrs and I headed orfe underground in the Minez of Nenthead after a walk with the Houndz ....
Doubly epic for me as after taking my old man in there earlier in the week (he spent the week up at Mains farm with us ) We headed back after i had to buy another tripod in Penrith as i'd forgotten mine Grrrrr !!!!

A potted history courtesy of "T'interweb"

Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Cumbria, OS Ref: NY788430.

Smallcleugh Mine started in around 1770, looking for the continuation of Hanginshaw's West of Nent Vein, but this was soon abandoned. In 1787 the work was restarted by an agent for the London Lead Company along the Smallcleugh Cross Vein which produced an immense quantity of ore. There where also many other rich veins worked from Smallcleugh - Middlecleugh (and 1st and 2nd Sun Veins), Longcleugh, and Great Cross. The mine over the years was also worked by the Nenthead and Tynedale Lead and Zinc Company and Vieille Montagne Zinc Company. Most of the operations in Smallcleugh had come to an end around the 1900's. In 1963 the mine was briefly reopened in pursuit of new ore reserves, but little large scale mining took place. A famous occurrence at the mine was the dinner party held down it. On September 2nd 1901, 28 members of the local Masonic branch held a dinner down the mine in a large stope know today as the Ballroom Flat.

It is often assumed that Smallcleugh Mine extends all the way to Bogg Shaft and beyond, as these are reached via the Smallcleugh portal, however Smallcleugh originally only went as far as the Longcleugh Vein past the Ballroom, and the beginnings of the Middlecleugh Vein and Middlecleugh Second Sun Vein. The area past this which covers Carr's Cross Vein, Cow Hill Cross Vein, Barron's Sump Chamber and beyond are is in fact a separate mine called Longcleugh Mine, which was originally worked by shafts.

Nice chat with a old bloke who's Dad had worked in Smallcleugh years ago ...on the way back down and was telling us of hopes of development in the strata deeper down which could kickstart mining again in the area ...which would be very gratefully received by the locals :thumbs: :thumbs:

DSCF0779.jpg


DSCF0781.jpg


DSCF0783.jpg


DSCF0785.jpg


DSCF0789.jpg


DSCF0790.jpg


DSCF0792.jpg


DSCF0798.jpg


DSCF0799.jpg


DSCF0800.jpg


DSCF0801.jpg


DSCF0803.jpg


DSCF0820.jpg


DSCF0809.jpg


DSCF0823.jpg


DSCF0820.jpg


DSCF0837.jpg


DSCF0849.jpg


DSCF0853.jpg


DSCF0856.jpg


DSCF0858.jpg


DSCF0859.jpg


DSCF0860.jpg


DSCF0863.jpg


DSCF0866.jpg


DSCF0868.jpg


DSCF0876.jpg


DSCF0880.jpg


DSCF0884.jpg


DSCF0886.jpg


DSCF0883.jpg


DSCF0823.jpg


2012_1228XmasKirkoswald20120055.jpg


2012_1228XmasKirkoswald20120051.jpg


2012_1228XmasKirkoswald20120045.jpg


2012_1228XmasKirkoswald20120052.jpg


2012_1228XmasKirkoswald20120057.jpg
 
Minco plc that operate lead and zinc mines in Eire have been drilling to prove the ore reserves around Nenthead, they will continue exploratory drilling well into 2013. The geology suggests that there are substantial amounts of high-grade ore 400/500 M lower than the existing mined areas, only drilling will prove this and the results may not be known until 2014/2015.
 
Minco plc that operate lead and zinc mines in Eire have been drilling to prove the ore reserves around Nenthead, they will continue exploratory drilling well into 2013. The geology suggests that there are substantial amounts of high-grade ore 400/500 M lower than the existing mined areas, only drilling will prove this and the results may not be known until 2014/2015.

The locals were asking at the meeting in Nenthead "When/how many jobs will be created " A tad previous perhaps considering the timescales involved ...
We walked past the drilling rig cabin over towards where the disused ariel ropeway balances are last week ...

I hope that they do find decent reserves that are worthwhile extracting as the area is more than desperate for employment opportunities ....
The old chap we spoke to was telling us how his dad/grand dad had worked in the mines and had said that there were mahoosive reserves still to be won ....Though they would say that wouldn't they :mrgreen:
 
Some damn fine shots there!

Gotta love a good mine :)
 
Scared the hell out of me! You are both far braver than me, and hats off to you both! Magnificent. Love the colours of the rocks down there!
 
Interesting thread, hopefully they reopen the mines and keep the industry alive…

I hope the stope in the second last photo wasn't too deep, wouldn't fancy trying to cross it using a scaffolding pole and wearing wellies!
 
Interesting thread, hopefully they reopen the mines and keep the industry alive…

I hope the stope in the second last photo wasn't too deep, wouldn't fancy trying to cross it using a scaffolding pole and wearing wellies!

More a collapsed sole (subsidence under the rails) than a stope mate ...Though as with most of places like this ...you "never know" .

A spot in a certain mid Welsh copper mine looks very similar BUT is actually a blockage about 60' down a 160 fathom shaft .

Besides they were old rails not scaff poles AND I sent the Mrs across first to check em :mrgreen:
 
Back
Top