More mines on the western escarpment of the North Pennines.
These are two minor sites on a mineralised vein which runs through the scar above Melmerby - the red dots are levels (tunnels, adits) marked on old maps.
Lead has been extracted here since at least the early 1700s although apparently not in a big way, with output of a few tonnes recorded in 1862 and 1863.
While there is some historical information available, as usual there weren’t any underground pictures or indications if there was anything much to explore.
In the event the lower level of Knapside proved to be open above a spoil heap.
It winds in for a bit with occasional hangers in the ceiling…
…before ending in a collapse of soft muddy stuff.
The hole at the back was too small to get through without digging, but from what I could see the space beyond didn’t look promising so back out.
The entrance to next level up has collapsed completely - nearby is a flattish area that looks like a dressing floor.
Further up are indistinct workings with some blocked shafts near the top of the hill.
Carrying on over the hill, the higher of the Foxfold levels had too little headroom to be doable in waders.
A phone picture seems to show it carrying on beyond a minor collapse not far from the entrance.
Below this is a former mine shop, and the waste heap of the lower level.
The small brown cliff in front of the waste is part of a peat slide, common in this area.
This one goes in for a bit, hand excavated through soft strata with pick marks on the walls…
… before ending in a crumbly collapse.
On the various waste tips were galena and quartz, with some chunks containing unidentified pointy black crystals.
Finally back over the hill as the sun was setting with the view over to the Lake District, a stretch of Ullswater just visible in the distance.
These are two minor sites on a mineralised vein which runs through the scar above Melmerby - the red dots are levels (tunnels, adits) marked on old maps.
Lead has been extracted here since at least the early 1700s although apparently not in a big way, with output of a few tonnes recorded in 1862 and 1863.
While there is some historical information available, as usual there weren’t any underground pictures or indications if there was anything much to explore.
In the event the lower level of Knapside proved to be open above a spoil heap.
It winds in for a bit with occasional hangers in the ceiling…
…before ending in a collapse of soft muddy stuff.
The hole at the back was too small to get through without digging, but from what I could see the space beyond didn’t look promising so back out.
The entrance to next level up has collapsed completely - nearby is a flattish area that looks like a dressing floor.
Further up are indistinct workings with some blocked shafts near the top of the hill.
Carrying on over the hill, the higher of the Foxfold levels had too little headroom to be doable in waders.
A phone picture seems to show it carrying on beyond a minor collapse not far from the entrance.
Below this is a former mine shop, and the waste heap of the lower level.
The small brown cliff in front of the waste is part of a peat slide, common in this area.
This one goes in for a bit, hand excavated through soft strata with pick marks on the walls…
… before ending in a crumbly collapse.
On the various waste tips were galena and quartz, with some chunks containing unidentified pointy black crystals.
Finally back over the hill as the sun was setting with the view over to the Lake District, a stretch of Ullswater just visible in the distance.
