Caplecleugh Mine - Low or Horse Level, Nenthead, Cumbria, OS Ref: NY781435.
The earliest workings along the Caplecleugh Vein and its branches were via shafts which gave access to the Firestone Sill. The adit for the Caplecleugh Horse Level originally gave access to a set of different mines, Peatstack, Brigal Burn and Dowgang.
At the beginning of the 19th century the London Lead Company leased the Caplecleugh series of veins and between 1819 and 1825 began driving the current level along the Brigal Burn Vein, then south along the Black Ashgill Cross Vein (also know as the Caplecleugh Cross Vein on LLC plans). At the end of this drive the Caplecleugh Vein was reached. This is the level known today that gives access to the Caplecleugh Mine complex which reaches Whitesike in the west and Smallcleugh in the east.
After the LLC in the late 1800's Caplecleugh was worked by the Nenthead and Tynedale Lead and Zinc Company. Then it was finally taken over and reworked by the Vieille Montagne Zinc Company for zinc.
Mr Mike.