Coal Cutter
Well-known member
Whiteheaps goes back to the 18th century, originally a London Lead Company mine, and whilst the lead yield was not great, there was quite a high silver content within the galena.
Later on opther comapnies suchs as the Derwent Mining Comapny, took over the plave in the 19th century, again mining lead but this seems to have ceased around the 1880s.
By the early 20th century, fluorite was being extracted by Hunstanworth Mines Ltd, and later by Blanchland Fluor Mines.
By the 1960s, British Steel were running the operation and put a lot of development into the site, but closed down in 1979.
Weardale Mining and Processing Ltd started up the place again in the early 80s and continued until the closure of the mine in 1987.
There is virtually no evidence now of the mine as the surface has been landscaped and access is only possible by a shaft.
Not many pics as I was very ill that day and had to get out of the mine. But here is a few I took:
One of the fluorite stopes. It is very big but does not show well in the photo:
This is very interesting...it is a hole from where a fossilised tree trunk has fallen out of the strata. This was common in coal mines and was very dangerous as they would fall out easily without warning:
Looking down one of the shafts which goes to a lower level:
Excellent miner's graffiti with names and the occupation:
Signal bell for shaftsman:
And shaft signal board:
Not the greatest day for photography due to illness but still a rather fascinating mine which requires further exploration to lower levels.
Thanks folks
Dean
Later on opther comapnies suchs as the Derwent Mining Comapny, took over the plave in the 19th century, again mining lead but this seems to have ceased around the 1880s.
By the early 20th century, fluorite was being extracted by Hunstanworth Mines Ltd, and later by Blanchland Fluor Mines.
By the 1960s, British Steel were running the operation and put a lot of development into the site, but closed down in 1979.
Weardale Mining and Processing Ltd started up the place again in the early 80s and continued until the closure of the mine in 1987.
There is virtually no evidence now of the mine as the surface has been landscaped and access is only possible by a shaft.
Not many pics as I was very ill that day and had to get out of the mine. But here is a few I took:
One of the fluorite stopes. It is very big but does not show well in the photo:
This is very interesting...it is a hole from where a fossilised tree trunk has fallen out of the strata. This was common in coal mines and was very dangerous as they would fall out easily without warning:
Looking down one of the shafts which goes to a lower level:
Excellent miner's graffiti with names and the occupation:
Signal bell for shaftsman:
And shaft signal board:
Not the greatest day for photography due to illness but still a rather fascinating mine which requires further exploration to lower levels.
Thanks folks
Dean
