Gudhamgill Mine, Nenthead,
Cumbria, OS Ref: Brownley Hill Low Level NY77624465, Gudamgill Level
NY78084499, Gudhamgill Firestone Level NY?.
Gudhamgill Mine follows the Gudhamgill Moss Vein and this is where it
was worked. There are three levels which access the mine workings, the Horse
Level via the Brownley Hill Low Level (Bloomsberry) portal, the Gudhamgill
Level (also known as the Gudhamgill Burn Top Level or Gudhamgill Shop Level)
and the Firestone Level. The mine has connections to Scraithole Mine and the
Dod Level, but these are not accessable now.
The
earliest records indicate that the vein was worked by a series of shafts along
the valley. In the early 18th century the London Lead Company started to drive
the Gudhamgill Level. At the beginning of the 19th century the LLC drove the
Gudhamgill Horse Level as a crosscut from the Brownley Hill Low Level, this was
carried out in an attempt to reach the Great Limestone. The Gudhamgill Horse
Level connected with the Gudhamgill Level via a borehole, known as the Borehole
Sump on plans. The LLC continued to develop the mine sinking a sump into the
Three Yard Limestone where only small quantities of ore where found. Eventually
the lease was sold to other companies and in the end ended up belonging to the
Vielle Montagne Zinc Company, which worked the mine until the
1930's.
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Gudhamgill
Horse Level and Stopes - Our first trip to the horse level, looking at the
stopes above.
(Jim, Karli, Mark and Mike), 25th March
2006. |
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Gudhamgill
Surface Explore - Having got excited about the last trip, we followed the
surface remains along the Gudhamgill Moss Vein.
(Aubrey, Karli, and Mike),
26th March 2006. |
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Gudhamgill
Level Explore - A first exploration of this level, windy, cold and ochrish.
(Mike and Pete), 29th September 2006. |
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