The Time Tunnels of Pennine Lead
Ann Hills explores the impact on various eras of history of the mines of the Nenthead area.
In 1365 Windsor Castle was roofed in lead from the North Pennines – perhaps from the Nenthead area of Alston Moor where mixing was well established. With lead came minute amounts of silver, thought to account for the founding of the Royal Mint at Carlisle in 1137.
The Romans might have been here, but concrete evidence – clay pipes, clogs, candles, lamps, latrine boxes and the remaining amazing structures through hundreds of miles of levels – comes from later centuries. The North Pennines became to lead what the Klondike was to gold. Miners were still active at Nenthead until a quarter of a century ago – lately in search of fluorspar and barytes. Unfortunately the 1960s were unkind to Alston Moor where buildings and machinery dating back to lead mining's busiest periods in the eighteenth and nineteenth century were damaged as commercial interests disappeared.
The Romans might have been here, but concrete evidence – clay pipes, clogs, candles, lamps, latrine boxes and the remaining amazing structures through hundreds of miles of levels – comes from later centuries. The North Pennines became to lead what the Klondike was to gold. Miners were still active at Nenthead until a quarter of a century ago – lately in search of fluorspar and barytes. Unfortunately the 1960s were unkind to Alston Moor where buildings and machinery dating back to lead mining's busiest periods in the eighteenth and nineteenth century were damaged as commercial interests disappeared.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.