warmfire
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14 years ago
Hi,
I don't often come on here. I am still trying to navigate my way around this 'mine' of information.

I have found some references to the above, but I have not been able to pin-point where exactly a processing site would have been in Bonsall. I have found out that the Cheadle Brass Company did transport Calamine from Whitelow Mine.

Many thanks in anticipation.
Paul
mikehiggins
14 years ago
I believe that there was a calamine mill belonging to the Cheadle Brass Company at Puddle Hill in the 18th C, also one at Clatterway owned by a George Evans in the same period. Apparently a watercolour of the Puddle Hill mill exists, the Bonsall History Project may have some more info on this.

Hope this is helpful.
warmfire
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14 years ago
Hi Mike,

The information you supplied was usefull, I was just wondering if you have some connection with Bonsall ?

Paul

mikehiggins
14 years ago
No connection, other than poking in and around the mines in the area over the past 30-odd years.
toadstone
14 years ago
In the late 60's I helped a research graduate in the collection of geological data from water courses around the base of Chrome Hill near Hollinsclough in the North Staffs Moorlands area. At the time I lived at Moorside Farm at the top of the Rake.

From this data it was deduced that one of the springs remained constant summer or winter. The location as I remember never looked "natural" so the decision was made to dig a little further up from the spring outfall. After about half a days digging all of a sudden our spades disappeared into a void. It was very exciting as to the best of our knowledge although it was known that farmers in the area had in times past supplemented their income with trial mining, no real mine evidence was forthcoming.

We had found an adit stretching some 50-100yds into the hill. We explored its full length as I remember wading up to our waists in water. There were no shafts or side adits. It is also known that the area was mined for calamine which went to the Cheadle Brass Company.

I did take pictures but sadly they have been lost over time.

I may well have told this before for give me if I have :confused:
AR
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14 years ago
Calamine working in the Peak hasn't been very well researched as far as I'm aware, I don't think anyone's every tried to collate the historical records and physical remains. I've seen a lot of references made in passing, but as the Barmote court's jurisdiction only covers the working of lead, records of the extraction and sale of other minerals are patchy.

I'm not sure what processing calamine would need beyond washing and grinding, so I suspect any buildings associated with its working would be quite small and have few (if any) characteristic features. I will however ask a few people who might know more.
Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!
historytrog
14 years ago
A few years ago, I talked over with Jim Rieuwerts about us doing a joint article on calamine working in Derbyshire but we kept putting it off because of the limited amount of information available even for determined and experienced researchers (at least so far as we know). Assuming that the Brass Company records do not give production, then the only hope of finding such details would be in the archives of the landowning family, such as the Dury family at Bonsall, if they were to survive. Many mines were worked for both lead and calamine and it is impossible to determine the relative importance.

I have to deal with the subject in my forthcoming Matlock book but production figures are sadly lacking. What is obvious though, is that it was of considerable importance.
staffordshirechina
14 years ago
In 1977 we explored some shafts at Thorswood on the Weaver Hills in North Staffordshire that were supposed to have mined calamine as well as lead. The shafts were in poor condition though still quite deep. We winched down them and only found loads of farm rubbish. Of course, the farmer had no idea how that had got there........
So we never actually got to see a lump? dollop? clod? bucket? of calamine and to this day I only imagine some sort of pink stuff like they used to smear on you for almost everything when we were kids?

Les
RJV
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14 years ago
"staffordshirechina" wrote:


So we never actually got to see a lump? dollop? clod? bucket? of calamine and to this day I only imagine some sort of pink stuff like they used to smear on you for almost everything when we were kids?

Les



White loose stuff I think, at least it was at Pikedaw/Malham further up the Pennines.
sougher
14 years ago
When I lived in Bonsall and a contributor to the Bonsall Map Project and then the Bonsall Village History book, the Cheadle Brass Company got me very intrigued. As Historytrog says there is very limited information about the history of calamine working in Derbyshire but I did discover a small amount of information about the Company in Bonsall, unfortunately my notes are not to hand at present. However, I have looked up for you on my photocopy of the Bonsall Tithe Schedule (1846) and Tithe Map (1848), and found that the Cheadle Calamine Company (as the Cheadle Brass Company was then described) owned land in Bonsall, namely (Tithe Schedule numbers) No.537 [described as a house and garden]; No. 601 [described as Ferry Barn Close]; Nos. 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, & 1305 [described as Oxen Side Allotments - these fields are out on the Moor and on the line of the Whitelow Rake); Nos. 1146, 1377, 1378, & 1379 [described as "Allotment" pasture - these fields overlook the Via Gellia and are on the south of the lane leading westwards from Slaley to the right angle bend to Bonsall Leys on the Moor). Finally on Puddle Hill (to the west of the lane from the Barley Mow up Puddle Hill) No. 526 is a small piece of land described as "waste" - unoccupied, and No. 532 is described as "calamine works - unoccupied.

Have you lived in Bonsall long? If not, the best person to approach for information is Peter Fellows of the Bonsall History Group, as both the Tithe Schedule and Map have been scanned by the Group and I know that there is in existance a complete map shewing field numbers and field names. Tell him Tim's mum has told you to contact him - he'll know who you mean. Alternatively you can always visit the Derbyshire Record Office at Matlock and view the original Tithe Schedule and Map yourself, but remember it's advisable to phone in advance and book an appointment, also to make a request for the two items so that there is no delay or disappointment.

If you browse the internet you can find quite a bit of information about the history of the Cheadle Brass Company, but nothing on Bonsall. I would guess that a visit to the Stafford Record Office could reveal a lot of information about the company.

Regarding the water colour earlier referred to about the Mill, from memory I think Lyn Willies (of Peak District Mines Historical Society) bought it. I have seen a copy of it.

There are seventeen Barmaster's books recording the lead mines of the Bonsall mining liberty, but again they will only mention lead, no other mineral that was found as a gangue material in the vein when the lead was mined. They can be consulted at Chatsworth House where the Barmote Court Records were deposited a few years ago for safe keeping. However, a fee is charged.

The works seem to be mainly in the 18th century, and some references to the Company were included in John Robey and Lindsey Porter's articles on copper mining in the earlier Peak District Mines Historical Society's Bulletins. The index to all articles can be found on the PDMHS website.

Trust this helps to pinpoint the location of the calamine works in Bonsall.
Brakeman
14 years ago
"staffordshirechina" wrote:

In 1977 we explored some shafts at Thorswood on the Weaver Hills in North Staffordshire that were supposed to have mined calamine as well as lead. The shafts were in poor condition though still quite deep. We winched down them and only found loads of farm rubbish. Of course, the farmer had no idea how that had got there........
So we never actually got to see a lump? dollop? clod? bucket? of calamine and to this day I only imagine some sort of pink stuff like they used to smear on you for almost everything when we were kids?

Les



There is one large shaft at Thorswood around 350' that is open to several levels, with some remains of old timber ladders tools etc. My self and some lads from the DCC abseiled the three shafts in the late 1980's, two as you rightly say were full of tipped rubbish. The big shaft really warrants more attention as we did not fully explore the workings at the time.


The management thanks you for your co operation.
owd git
14 years ago
Thanks 'Tims' Mum'! :thumbup
Shhh! you know who I am.
P.S. your records are vast.
Do you still have contact with Margaret Beresford?
I lent her the break through @ Tearsall filmed by D Webbe on DVD. will post it to you on return, if you want to see it?
(e. Mail a post code etc.)

Ric'
AR
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14 years ago
Going off at a slight tangent, there's a workshop being held at the Peak District Mining Museum on Sunday 10th April on the archaeology of lead, zinc and gangue minerals as part of the current NAMHO research project, if anyone's interested.
Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!
sougher
14 years ago
Warmfire - if you've got a copy of the Bonsall History Project book "Bonsall A Village and It's History", look up Chapter 11 (Other Extractive Industries, Calamine, Paint and Colour Manufacture, Limemaking and Stoneworking), pages 255-257, and you will find a brief write-up Geoff and me did about the Cheadle Brass and Wire Company. Included in these pages are an extract from the Tithe Map shewing Puddle Hill and the whereabouts of one of the calamine mills in Bonsall, and a copy of the painting by John Glover (1767-1849) of the mill in Bonsall Dale previously mentioned by Mike Higgins, which somehow doesn't tie in with the Tithe Schedule and Map!
warmfire
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14 years ago
Thanks to all the leads, information and help.

Once I have come up with some information. I will get around to publishing it.

Cheers, Paul

PS Owd-git I think I have seen you in the BM
PS AR, I am sure I have seen you on some PDMHS meets
owd git
14 years ago
Was i loud and drinking ale?
or racing hens.
A good pal Jon and i often land late fri eve after our mine/ cave .introduce yourself if you don't feel too shy. I need a second to really explore Clatterway. :lol: :lol:
Ric' (Owd Git.)
warmfire
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14 years ago
"owd git" wrote:

Was i loud and drinking ale?
or racing hens.
A good pal Jon and i often land late fri eve after our mine/ cave .introduce yourself if you don't feel too shy. I need a second to really explore Clatterway. :lol: :lol:
Ric' (Owd Git.)



Hi Ric,

I have seen you about in the BM, and I am sure you would recognise me since I live next door. I have found a hole up the Via Gelia that you may be interested in.

Paul
AR
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14 years ago
If I've been recognised I think I need to change my disguise, or force Steve Thompson to stop putting pictures of me in the PDMHS newsletter.....
Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!
owd git
14 years ago
"AR" wrote:

If I've been recognised I think I need to change my disguise, or force Steve Thompson to stop putting pictures of me in the PDMHS newsletter.....



yep !When?
owd git
14 years ago

Hi Ric,

I have seen you about in the BM, and I am sure you would recognise me since I live next door. I have found a hole up the Via Gelia that you may be interested in.

Paul


Yep! When? :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Ric'

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