Report - Force Crag Mine, Cumbria - July 2009

[parkus.]

Operating from 1839 until 1991, Force Crag is situated in the Coledale Valley and mined a combination of lead, zinc and barytes throughout the years. Ownership changed many times through it's lifetime, each experiencing various levels of success. Tours of the crushing mill are put on a few times a year by the National Trust, meaning the buildings are locked up tight.

Force Crag used both 1ft 10in and 2ft 0in gauge railways, originally connecting the mine to a nearby town intil it's later years when lorries were used. The Marsden jaw crusher, located near No.1 adit, is capable of processing 32-tons of ore and passing it onto the 50ft conveyor to the 1909-built crushing mill. Both adits are (as far as I can see) blocked so many feet in, but both have streams running out of them and on into the Coledale Beck, since water power was utilised until the mid-20th century.



No.1 level adit

Marsden jaw crusher

Crushing mill

Force Crag, now with onsite toilet facilities..

Loading dock

No.0 level adit

Thanks

 

[parkus.]

no access into the adits?

Bricked up about 10ft in

 

[doubleboost]

Last year acces was still possible in to the No 2 levell it was then possible to accend the incline to the top levell and exit there .The incline is an amazing place it cuts the mountain in two.