-
- Lead - mining
was one of the most important industries in the Peak from Roman
times until it reached its zenith in the 18C. It helped develop
the fortunes of major landowners, in particular the Dukes
of Devonshire And
Rutland who built palaces with their lead
- mining income.
- Evidence of
the old lead mines is scattered over the peak limestone plateaux
with humps and hollows that dot the surrounding landscape. The
most complete and evocative remains of a mine are at Magpie Mine
near Bakewell, which was worked almost continuously for two centuries.
It dates from 1739 and issaid to be haunted. Water still drains
from the mineworkings through a man - made passage, or "sough"
and flows out into the river Wye 1 3/4 miles away to the north
below Great Shacklow Wood.
- Visitors can
explore the remains of the pumphouse, the horse - operated winding
systems and the round " Cornish chimney".
- Elsewhere on
the limestone plateau are other signs of lead - workings in the
form of " rakes" - a Derbyshire word referring to small
fault lines in the earth where lead and other minerals congregate.
- Near Arbor
Low stone - circle,
the road east passes Long Rake where fluorspa and other once
waste products from old lead mines are processed. Although the
fluorspa is worked out, the processing plant still functions
and the line of the rake is marked by a shelter belt of trees
along the roadside.
- Grassed over
spoil heaps near Mawstone Farm on the slopes above Bradford Dale
(near Middleton - by - Youlgreave ) mark the site of Mawstone
Mine. This is where the worst disaster in the history of Derbyshire
lead - mining occured in the 1800's, when firedamps - a form
of methane - exploded killing 8 miners.
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