Lead mine mystery - Wester Hall · AditNow Community

Mine exploration, photographs and mining history for mine explorers, industrial archaeologists, researchers and historians

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

dancingdog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

Hi All

I grew up in Humshaugh & was astounded to come across this report in the local paper [photo]99570[/photo]

Can anyone shed a little more light on the Wester Hall lead mine

Thanks

DD

Wanna join the discussion?! Login to your AditNow Community forum account or Register a new forum account

ebgb
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

none whatsoever.

but 80 years old and his wife up the duff??

how old was she!? :o

SOmething to so with being a shaft sinker perhaps :lol:

if anyone has any of his lifestyle or dietary tips I'd be the first to try them out (for purely scientific reasons of course)

http://bf494.co.uk

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Found a shorter report on the same incident that says he was only 30. I think the 80 is a typo.

Found this article from the sale of the mine in 1868

[photo]100464[/photo]

colin567
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Wester Hall is just south of Barrasford, on the West bank of the North Tyne, no sign of any mines in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd series 6 inch OS maps.
What was the date of the cutting?

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Accident 1865 I think, sale 1868.

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Did the estate cross the river? Dunham describes a Grottington or Pont Head Mine operating 1852-1856 & sunk to 120' with two or three levels.

The dates more or less match bearing in mind the sporadic nature of smaller mines and the equipment in the sale notice looks about right too.

The North Tyne would at a guess be a natural boundary however.

historytrog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

The chap's age was, of course, a misprint. Other accounts state that he was 30 years old.

colin567
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

On the Geological survey map, 2 short veins that meet and die out at about the Barrasford - Chollerton road. The more northerly branch runs along the south bank of the river, the southern one starts at around Haughton Castle. Probably associated with the Barrasford fault, though they do not quite reach it. I would expect the river to be the estate boundary and the mine to be west of the Tyne

Grumpytramp
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

In the NMRS British Mining No.65 Allendale, Tynedale and Derwent Lead Mines by R.A. Fairburn there is a specific reference to Wester Hall Mine. I am afraid it adds nothing to your investigation quoting I expect from the same source other than a grid reference (and Christwigg's contribution expands on that detail)

Quote:

WESTER HALL MINE NY916728

The only evidence for an attempt to mine lead in this unlikely location is an account of accident that took place around the beginning of Febrarut 1864. Ralph Borwn, a sinker from Leadgate near Shotley Bridge, had a set a shot in a shaft that failed to go off. He waited awhile and then descended the shaft and was thought to have started to drill when the shot went off, blasting him almost to pieces. Brown had been employed to replaceanother miner called Reed, who was also killed in the mine (*). No mine is marked on the 2nd Edition OS map and visit to the area failed to locate it

(*) Ref: Hexham Courant, February 8th 1864

I can't find any reference to the mine in any of the relevant BGS memoirs suggesting it was a bit of a failure!

dancingdog
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#10

Wow - thanks for the replies

I grew up within sight of Wester Hall so finding this out is a complete surprise.

There is a shaft on the North bank of the North Tyne know locally as "Harry's Cave" which I doubt is connected.

As a younger (about 13yrs) and more foolish person I explored this

The roof of the entrance had been blown but there was room to get past. The level continued for another 10M or so before ending in a water filled vertical shaft. I still remember the side of the shaft having iron rungs embedded in.