Cambokeels Mine, Eastgate,
Weardale, Durham, OS Ref: Mine Site NY93483829, Incline NY93503831, Horse Level
NY93443831.
Cambokeels mine also know by its original older name of Cammock Eals
was first worked for lead by the Beaumont Company along the Slitt vein. The
horse level was started in 1847, this date is inscribed in the date stone for
the adit. The mine was worked until 1871 even though its lead production was
poor.
In 1906 the mine was reopened and worked for fluorspar with a
succession of different owners. By the late 1940's the mine was acquired by
Anglo-Austral Mines Ltd who worked the mine for spar, lead and zinc. The ore
was transported to the mill at Nenthead for processing.
The biggest
development of the mine started in the 1970's when Malcolm Brown and Madison
drove an incline below the horse level which discovered high grade fluoritic
ore. Shortly after this the mine changed hands and the Swiss Aluminium UK
Company took over operations, which drove the incline deeper, reaching the
Tynebottom Limestone, Whin Sill and Jew Limestone. In 1982 the mine was taken
over again, by a subsidiary of Minworth Ltd who developed the mine further by
driving the incline to deeper horizons.
The mine closed in 1989 and by
this time was the deepest mine in the region. At the peak of its operations,
output of spar was 1100 - 1700 tonnes per week. The incline is completely
flooded, and the horse level is partly accessible for a short
distance.
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