Prior to the
discovery of the Hudgill Burn Veins, the area had attracted the attention of
prospectors due to the fact that it lied in the same line as the High Raise and
Nentsberry Veins to the North East and the Nattrass Redgroves, Fairhill,
Flowedge, Dowpot Syke and Crag Green Veins to the South West side of Middle
Fell. The London Lead Company started a trial level in 1770, driving below the
Firestone Sill. It tested 460m of ground, but missed the most important veins
due to running in the clay.
John Walton, James Pearson and Partners
drove the Hudgill Burn Level in around 1800, they trialled around 1000m,
driving what is now known as the North Waggon Way and the Hudgill Burn Waggon
Way Levels. They also sank two shafts from the surface for ventilation and a
trail shaft from the level to the Four Fathom Limestone. Only two poor veins
were cut and 1808 saw the partners abandon their trials. In 1812 John and Jacob
Wilson took over the mine and with their experienced miners revamped the
original levels and continued driving the level in a new heading bearing
towards the south east. In April 1814, they cut a vein 60cm wide and a little
further south another. A rise was driven into the low flat horizon of the Great
Limestone and the veins where found to be filled almost completely with
cerrusite. To the west both veins became poorer, but to the east they converged
and became one of the richest veins on Alston Moor - Hudgill Burn Vein. The
vein was worked to the east for another 200m, before it spit up again and
became poorer.
Driving a further 100m south, the level cut into the
Hudgill Burn Sun Vein in about 1816. The vein was poor in the west and to the
east much richer. It is with the discovery of this vein that a rise driven into
the Great Limestone revealed the network of natural caverns Hudgill Burn Mine
is famous for. Over the next years driving further south, the Hudgill Burn 2nd,
3rd and 4th Sun Veins were discovered. In July 1830, whilst working the 4th Sun
Vein, the miners broke into the Galligill Syke Workings and a dispute started
between the Hudgill Burn and Galligill Well companies. In 1820, attention was
once more brought to the North Waggon Way Level that was started by Walton and
Pearson and this was extended a further 200m to the west. It cut three minor
veins, but no mining was carried out.
Hudgill Burn Mine worked from
1814 to 1870, producing a total of 55520 tonnes of lead concentrates. The ore
was richer in silver than other mines around Nenthead and yielded 370g of
silver per tonne of lead. The grade of lead concentrates averaged out at 71.5%.
The Eden Braes Level was driven in 1820 from the side of the river Nent
and intended to try the veins at lower horizons than previously possible. The
level was driven in the plate under the Natrass Gill Hazle and cut the Hudgill
Burn Cross Vein at 270m. The cross vein was trialled for 260m as well as having
a sump sunk to the Three Yard Limestone, but ultimately proved to be
unsuccessful. The drive continued in until it cut Jacob Teasdale's Cross Vein
at 460m from the portal. Extensive trials were made to the north and south
totalling around 580m. A further 740m of workings were driven past Jacob
Teasdale's Cross Vein, which eventually connected with the Hudgill Burn,
Hudgill Burn Sun and Hudgill Burn 3rd Sun Veins. There are no records of
production but the veins encountered must have been encouraging to justify the
amount of work carried out.
The Firestone Level that was driven cut the
North Vein, Hudgill Burn and 1st Sun Veins, with a total drive length of around
650m. The distance and lack of workings possibly indicate a failure in locating
any ore bodies at that horizon.
In the 1850's, the Coal Pit Level was
driven to try the ground between the North Waggon Way and main levels but only
one minor vein was encountered. The level only extended for
230m.
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Surface
Features
Surface Features around the mine site.
Updated
02/12/13 |
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Photography
Trip
Our (apart from Pete's) first visit to the mine that was
opened up by CATMHS.
(Karli, Mark, Mike, Pete and Sal), 1st December
2013. |
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