Lead mining - a photographic collection
A collection of contemporary and historical photographs and images that illustrate the mines and miners and the legacy they had on the landscape of Swaledale.
Helen Guy
1: Adelaide Level ( Dave Harper) 2: Arngill mine shop (Helen Guy) 3: Beldi Hill ore hearth (Helen Guy) 4 & 5: Beldi Hill level (Simon Lowe) 6: Beldi Hill smelt mill (Helen Guy) 7: Blakethwaite peat store (Helen Guy) 8: Lowanthwaite mine (Helen Guy) 9: Sir Francis dressing floor (Helen Guy) 10: Gunnerside Gill hush (Helen Guy) 11: Old Gang (Helen Guy) 12: Sir Francis workings (Dave Harper) 13: Spence level, Old Gang (Helen Guy) 14: Sir Francis (Dave Harper) 15: Surrender mill flues (Helen Guy) 16: Merryfield (Helen Guy) 17: Setting charges ( Beamish Museum Collection) 18: Miners at Faggergill Mine (Beamish Museum Collection) 19: Mine Shop (Beamish Museum Collection)
A History of Lead Mining in Swaledale
Written version of the Heritage Open Day public talk from the 10th September 2016
Helen Guy
R.Fieldhouse & B. Jennings: A History of Richmond and Swaledale: Phillimore Classics 1978 Alan Mills: Mining & Miners in Swaledale & Arkengarthdale 2011. Les Turnbull: History of Lead Mining in NE of England 1975, John Morrison: Lead Mining in the Yorkshire Dales 1999. Images copyright 2016 Beamish Museum). Keith Sweetmore: Out of Court: the Battle for Beldi Hill. British Mining #92, Northern Mine Research Society 2011.C.Hallas (1999): Rural Response to Industrialisation,
Farewell
A poignant poem by John Hardy that beautifully captures the spirit, hardships, life and times of the Swaledale miners
Helen Guy
Hardy, J (1998) – Swaledale Portrait of a North Yorkshire Mining Community 1998, Frank Peters Publishing.
Beldi Hill Trials Press Coverage
1771 national press coverage of the Beldi Hill dispute in Swaledale.
Helen Guy
Sourced with kind permission from www.dalesgeneology.com)
Memories of a Lead Miner
A personal account of what life was like as a lead miner by John Rutter, who was the last lead miner in Gunnerside
Helen Guy
Gunnerside 2000 Collection. Reproduced with kind permission of David Crapper
Beldi Hill Trial - A Personal Account
Extracts from John Parke's journal from 1769 - 1772 describing the events in Swaledale during the disputes and trials between Lord Pomfret and Thomas Smith. John Parkes and Company had leased mining ground from Thomas Smith and this ground was the subject of the dispute.
Helen Guy
Fawcett, E (circa 1939) Lead Mining MS, North Yorkshire County Records Office.
The Smelting Process
Information on the smelting techniques used by the mining companies to convert the mined galena ore into the final lead bars ready for sale
Helen Guy
Raistrick, A. (1975) The Smelting Mills, Gill, M. (1993) Swaledale Mines & Smelt Mills, Mills, A (2011) Miners and Mining in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, Friends of Reeth Museum
Dressing the Ore
The processes used to prepare the extracted ore ready for smelting. This process was called 'dressing' the ore.
Helen Guy
Gill, M. (1993) Swaledale Mines & Smelt Mills. Landmark Publishing. Mills, A. (2011) Mining & Miners in Swaledale, Friends of the Swaledale Museum.
Methods of Mining
Information on the various methods used to extract led ore from the ground
Helen Guy
Raistrick, A. (1975) The Smelting Mills. Gill, M. (1993) Swaledale Mines & Smelt Mills. Mills, A (2011) Miners and Mining in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, Friends of Reeth Museum.
Swaledale Mining Families
Profiles of two Swaledale mining families
Helen Guy
. M.Hartley & J,Ingilby (1982) A Dales Heritage. Dalesman Publication. Hartley, M (1950) Yorkshire Heritage: A Memoir to Ella Pontefract, Dent Publishers
Working Conditions & Health of Lead Miners
Information on the typical working conditions for lead miners and the subsequent impact on their health
Helen Guy
Mills, A (2011) Mining & Miners in Swaledale & Arkengarthdale. Turnbull, L (1975) History of Lead Mining in NE of England, Morrison, J (1998) Lead Mining in the Yorkshire Dales. Images copyright 2016 Beamish, The Living Museum)
The Life of a Lead Miner
Information on what life was like for a lead miner including living conditions, religion and leisure pursuits.
Helen Guy
Raistrick, A (1975) Lead Industry of Wensleydale & Swaledale Vol 1. Moorland Publishing. Hardy, J (1998) Swaledale, Portrait of a North Yorkshire Mining Community, Frank Peters Publishing
Lane End & Keldside Mines
Historical information on the Lane End and Keldside mines in Upper Swaledale
Helen Guy
Raistrick, A (1975): Lead Industry of Wensleydale & Swaledale: Vol 1: Moorland Publishing. Fawcett, E (circa 1939): Lead Mines in Swaledale MS, North Yorkshire County Records Office.
Spout Gill lead mines
Historical information relating to the Spout Gill lead mines in Swaledale
Helen Guy
E. Fawcett (1939) Lead Mines in Swaledale MS, North Yorkshire County Records Office.
Old Gang and Surrender Mines
Historical information on the Old Gang and Surrender mines in Swaledale
Helen Guy
Raistrick, A (1975) Lead Industry of Wensleydale & Swaledale: Vol 1, Moorland Publishing. Fawcett, E (1939) Lead Mines in Swaledale MS, North Yorkshire County Records Office
Gunnerside Gill Lead Mines
Historical information on the lead mines of Gunnerside Gill.
Helen Guy
Raistrick, A (1975): Lead Industry of Wensleydale & Swaledale: Vol 1: Moorland Publishing. Fawcett, E (circa 1939): Lead Mines in Swaledale MS, North Yorkshire County Records Office.
Beldi Hill & Swinnergill Mines
Historical information relating to the Beldi Hill & Swinnergill mining complex in Upper Swaledale.
Helen Guy
Raistrick, A (1975) Lead Industry of Wensleydale & Swaledale: Vol 1: Moorland Publishing. Fawcett, E (1939) Lead Mines in Swaledale MS, Gill, M (1993) Swaledale It’s Mines and Smelt Mills, Landmark Publishing.
Arngill & West Stonesdale Mines
Information regarding two small mining sites in Upper Swaledale
Helen Guy
Mike Gill: Swaledale Mines & Smelt Mills 1993 and Edward Fawcett: Lead Mines in Swaledale MS 1939.
Beldi Hill Trial
An account of the famous Beldi Hill Trial between Lord Pomfret and Thomas Smith over mining and land ownership rights. The trials ran from 1769 - 1772
Helen Guy
Raistrick, A (1975): Lead Industry of Wensleydale & Swaledale Vol 1, Moorland Publishing
Gill, M (1993): Swaledale Mines & Smelt Mills, Landmark Publishing
Lead Mining in the 18th Century
How the lead industry developed in Swaledale throughout the 18th century, including the bitter disputes between rival companies that resulted in the Beldi Hill trials.
Helen Guy
Rastrick, A (1975) Lead Industry of Wensleydale & Swaledale Vol 1, Moorland Publishing. Fawcett, E (circa 1939): Lead Mines in Swaledale MS, North Yorkshire County Records Office. Gill, M (1993): Swaledale Mines & Smelt Mills, Landmark Publishing