Barneycraig Level Carrshield, West Allendale, Northumberland. OS Ref:
NY80394672.
The
Barneycraig Level was started around 1760 by the Beaumont Company. The level
starts underneath the great limestone and runs straight for over 1Km, it then
branches towards the Low Coalcleugh Vein, the main branch carries on for a
further 990m reaching the Barneycraig Veins. These workings became active
between 1808 and 1823 and proved to be very rich in the belt of the great
limestone.
By 1880
the level was regarded as being exhausted for lead by the Beaumont Company.
However it was reopened by the Vieille Montagne Zinc Company and reworked for
zinc ore. The VMZC drove their workings from Rampgill Shaft in Rampgill Mine to
join the Barneycraig Level, some 16m below the Rampgill Horse level horizon.
The direct continuation of the Rampgill Vein in Nenthead is know as the
Woodhouse Vein of Barneycraig Level.
The level
today is blocked, though it does continue in for a considerable distance. There
have been attempts at digging to get through to the Rampgill side, but this has
been thwarted by bad air with reports of people passing out, even when
attempted by commercial bodies.
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