This report covers the surface remains and mine levels (tunnels) on the left of the map below, collectively known as the Lowenthwaite mine.
The area at the top around the Blakethwaite smelt mill including Blind Gill level was the subject of the previous post (Swaledale #4).
To keep things to a reasonable length, the area on the right of the stream, which is the western part of the Old Gang mine, will be done separately (#6).
All the mines worked the same set of broadly east-west oriented lead veins, although there are offshoots heading in other directions.
This same band of mineralization was mined at Beldi Hill (#1), Swinnergill (#2) and Arn Gill (#3) to the west and at Arkengathdale to the east.
The history of Lownathwaite is complicated and I won’t reproduce it here - the naming of levels and even ore veins varied over the years as owners changed.
More detail can be found in several books on the subject, the best one probably by Mike Gill, where the map came from.
According to Historic England, Lowenthwaite, together with the rest of Old Gang in the next valley over, “represent(s) an exceptionally well preserved lead mining landscape, containing a wide range of lead industry sites and individual features”.
The pictures below are the result of several walks and are basically a survey of what there is to see, without spending too much time exploring every little side tunnel.
There are surprisingly few underground pictures available, even for well known levels like Priscilla and Dolly, certainly nothing on here.
The main exception is the Sir Francis Level (off the bottom of the map), which was originally driven to serve both Lowenthwaite and Old Gang.
This is one of the best known mine levels in the country because it actually contains ‘stuff’ viz a water-powered pumping engine and you’ll find many pictures of this online.
It’s also the only one I haven’t done, being a bit dodgy to do solo due to sometimes low oxygen levels.
Pictures are phone for above ground and camera or phone for below.
Starting with the North Hush, this is a big ravine deliberately gouged by torrents of water released from dams above - the modern equivalent is power hoses.
As viewed from the other side of the valley.
Several levels are shown further up the hill in the hushed area but I couldn’t find any of them - the hush itself is a bit of moonscape of rubble and piles of dressing waste with no obvious source.
Further south Harriet and Silver Hill Levels are easily found at the heads of their respective spoil heaps.
The Silver Hill entrance was blocked, but Harriet was still open although flooded, hiding under a tuft of grass (the ‘floor’ is just a reflection of the roof).
Priscilla. A little to the north of the bottom of the North Hush is Priscilla Level - it can be seen in the first photo above.
Started in 1821 this was the last level in the area to be worked, operations finally ceasing c. 1906, with ore initially being smelted in the Blakethwaite mill.
It originally extended a long way north and west with connections to the Sir Francis and Blind Gill Levels.
The entrance must have been restored - someone should plant flowers in that tub.
The portal after I left, which is how I found it.
I don’t how long the currently accessible section is but I was in there for about an hour.
Tall worked-out space (photo taken looking back) with signs of a past dig.
It ends shortly after - I got the impression it once carried on under the rubble at the back.
Looking up at the end.
Back outside there’s a pair of what look like ore bins downhill at the end of a spoil heap, although they’re described as ‘wash kilns’ by Historic England.
Nearby is the water inlet pipe for the Sir Francis level engine, c. 40 yards below ground at this point.
The water came from a reservoir (Moss Dam) which also supplied the Blakethwaite mine.
Sun Hush. Just south of Priscilla is the Sun Hush Level, started at around the same time and extending at least 800 yards.
As viewed from across the valley, showing the large spoil heap with a building said to have housed storerooms, the mine office and miner's accommodation.
Further along is the remains of the wheel pit for a crushing mill.
The stone with the iron eye in it near the bottom of the picture may be one of the tensioning weights for the rollers.
This one is waist deep from the outset, and was a pleasant wade until I realised there was a tear in my waders and my left leg was filling up.
Must remember to avoid this on the way back.
Now a roof fall - easier over than round…
…but I’d had enough by this stage and stopped, although it seems to go on in the same fashion.
continued.
The area at the top around the Blakethwaite smelt mill including Blind Gill level was the subject of the previous post (Swaledale #4).
To keep things to a reasonable length, the area on the right of the stream, which is the western part of the Old Gang mine, will be done separately (#6).
All the mines worked the same set of broadly east-west oriented lead veins, although there are offshoots heading in other directions.
This same band of mineralization was mined at Beldi Hill (#1), Swinnergill (#2) and Arn Gill (#3) to the west and at Arkengathdale to the east.
The history of Lownathwaite is complicated and I won’t reproduce it here - the naming of levels and even ore veins varied over the years as owners changed.
More detail can be found in several books on the subject, the best one probably by Mike Gill, where the map came from.
According to Historic England, Lowenthwaite, together with the rest of Old Gang in the next valley over, “represent(s) an exceptionally well preserved lead mining landscape, containing a wide range of lead industry sites and individual features”.
The pictures below are the result of several walks and are basically a survey of what there is to see, without spending too much time exploring every little side tunnel.
There are surprisingly few underground pictures available, even for well known levels like Priscilla and Dolly, certainly nothing on here.
The main exception is the Sir Francis Level (off the bottom of the map), which was originally driven to serve both Lowenthwaite and Old Gang.
This is one of the best known mine levels in the country because it actually contains ‘stuff’ viz a water-powered pumping engine and you’ll find many pictures of this online.
It’s also the only one I haven’t done, being a bit dodgy to do solo due to sometimes low oxygen levels.
Pictures are phone for above ground and camera or phone for below.
Starting with the North Hush, this is a big ravine deliberately gouged by torrents of water released from dams above - the modern equivalent is power hoses.
As viewed from the other side of the valley.
Several levels are shown further up the hill in the hushed area but I couldn’t find any of them - the hush itself is a bit of moonscape of rubble and piles of dressing waste with no obvious source.
Further south Harriet and Silver Hill Levels are easily found at the heads of their respective spoil heaps.
The Silver Hill entrance was blocked, but Harriet was still open although flooded, hiding under a tuft of grass (the ‘floor’ is just a reflection of the roof).
Priscilla. A little to the north of the bottom of the North Hush is Priscilla Level - it can be seen in the first photo above.
Started in 1821 this was the last level in the area to be worked, operations finally ceasing c. 1906, with ore initially being smelted in the Blakethwaite mill.
It originally extended a long way north and west with connections to the Sir Francis and Blind Gill Levels.
The entrance must have been restored - someone should plant flowers in that tub.
The portal after I left, which is how I found it.
I don’t how long the currently accessible section is but I was in there for about an hour.
Tall worked-out space (photo taken looking back) with signs of a past dig.
It ends shortly after - I got the impression it once carried on under the rubble at the back.
Looking up at the end.
Back outside there’s a pair of what look like ore bins downhill at the end of a spoil heap, although they’re described as ‘wash kilns’ by Historic England.
Nearby is the water inlet pipe for the Sir Francis level engine, c. 40 yards below ground at this point.
The water came from a reservoir (Moss Dam) which also supplied the Blakethwaite mine.
Sun Hush. Just south of Priscilla is the Sun Hush Level, started at around the same time and extending at least 800 yards.
As viewed from across the valley, showing the large spoil heap with a building said to have housed storerooms, the mine office and miner's accommodation.
Further along is the remains of the wheel pit for a crushing mill.
The stone with the iron eye in it near the bottom of the picture may be one of the tensioning weights for the rollers.
This one is waist deep from the outset, and was a pleasant wade until I realised there was a tear in my waders and my left leg was filling up.
Must remember to avoid this on the way back.
Now a roof fall - easier over than round…
…but I’d had enough by this stage and stopped, although it seems to go on in the same fashion.
continued.
