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.
|
