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 orginally 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.
Click on
each link below for full details and pictures of each trip.
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Caplecleugh
Low Horse Level Surface Features- Views of remains around the level.
Updated 13/10/07. |
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Caplecleugh to Smallcleugh -
An exploration turned into a through trip.
(Karli, Mark and Mike), 22nd
January 2005. |
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Middlecleugh
North Vein Stopes above Caplecleugh Horse Level - Return trip to these
stopes that we discovered via Smallcleugh.
(Alistair, Karli, Mike and
Peter), 18th November 2006. |
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Explore of the West
Side of Caplecleugh Horse Level - First exploration of the horse level
right up to the 'rail' flats before Caplecleugh Shaft.
(Karl, Karli, and
Mike), 24th February 2007. |
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West
Side Forehead Fall and Stopes - Return visit to the west side of
Caplecleugh Horse Level, reaching the forehead fall.
(Alistair and Mike),
8th August 2008. |
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