This mine forms part of the Roughton gill sett. the mine was started by the Roughton gill silver, lead and copper mining co who took up the lease for the whole sett in 1849 and began driving 3 levels at mexico mine. the mine was not a success with very little ore produced. the caldbeck fells consolidated lead and copper mining company spent so much money driving levels at mexico mine it was a major cause of the company later going bankrupt. mexico mine was abandonded around 1868