MinesMine PlansLinksContactLinksHome

Rampgill and Scaleburn Mines, Nenthead, Cumbria.


Back to Mine Index


Rampgill Horse Level was started by the Greenwich Hospital in 1736 following the Scaleburn Moss Vein until it reached Fairhill Vein, this then followed into Rampgill Vein. Rampgill Vein may have been worked as early as 1690. There are references to other veins being worked from much earlier on which join into Rampgill Mine. In 1745 the lease was sold to the London Lead Company who developed the mine at an impressive rate and found the Rampgill Vein and others to be incredibly rich in ore. Altogether Rampgill with all its veins yielded 140,000 tons of lead ore between 1703 and 1886.

By the end of the 19th century most of Rampgill Vein above the water table had been worked out. Between 1899 and 1921 the Vieille Montagne Zinc Company reworked some of the veins in Rampgill Mine and Coalcleugh Mine for zinc ore, with the Rampgill Horse Level being used for access to Coalcleugh Mine. The Rampgill Horse Level was also used as a haulage way via the Hanginshaw Branch Level for the eastern workings of the Middlecleugh and Longcleugh Veins in Smallcleugh Mine.

One of major veins in Rampgill Mine, Scaleburn Vein is generally referred to as being part of Rampgill Mine, it is however a sperate mine in its own right and it only used the Rampgill portal as its access point.

Horse Gin Wheel

Trip to see the Horse Gin in Rampgill.

(Charlie, Karl, Mike, Pete), January 2004.

The Horse Gin

A revisit to the Low Borehole Sump, resting place of the Scaleburn Horse Gin.

(Ian and Mike), 9th January 2011.

Rampgill Level to bottom of Proud's Sump

(Eleanor, Karli, Mark), 30th December 2004.

Hangingshaw Branch Level - Proud's Sump Workings

Close inspection and photography of the workings below Proud's Sump and above Hangingshaw Branch Level.

(Karli, Mike and Sal), 11th February 2012.

Scaleburn and Brownley Hill Link

More exploration on the Scaleburn Vein and Top Sills.

(Charlie, Karli, Mark, Mike), 26th February 2005.

Rampgill Sun Vein Photograph Potter - Part 1

Taking a closer look at the Rampgill Sun Vein and Workings.

(Karli and Mike), 6th January 2013.

Hangingshaw Branch Level via Proud's Sump

Is the way to the bottom of the Hydraulic Shaft open?

(Karli and Mike), 24th March 2006.

Rampgill Sun Vein Photograph Potter - Part 2

Continuing the closer look at the Rampgill Sun Vein and Workings.

(Karli and Mike), 3rd February 2013.

Rampgill and Hardshins Veins

At last, a long overdue visit down Rampgill.

(Karli, Mike and Peter), 17th July 2006.

Rampgill Survey: Rampgill Shaft to East End and Hardshin's

Surveying from Rampgill Shaft to the final falls on the Rampgill and Hardshin Veins.

(Karli and Mike), 5th April 2013.

Along the Rampgill Vein to the Final Fall

Trip to see the final fall on the Rampgill Vein and some of the stopes above.

(Mike and Peter), 22nd June 2008.

Rampgill Sun Vein Stope

Maypole climb up into the Sun Vein

(Karli, Mike, Pete and Sal), 6th April 2013.

Rampgill Vein and one of the Boundary Stopes

A tour of Rampgill mine for some of Peter's friends from Sub Brit.

(Bob, Gavin, Mike, Richard, Peter and Steve), 10th August 2008.

Hangingshaw Level, Middlecleugh 2nd Sun Vein Stope - East End

Finally, a visit to the isolated stope above Hangingshaw Level on the East End of Middlecleugh 2nd Sun Vein.

(Karli, Mike and Pete), 6th July 2013.

Boundary Cross Vein - Southern Flats

Exploration of the Southern Boundary Flats and some other Rises from the Horse Level.

(Karli, Mike and Pete), 28th November 2009.

Hopper 29

An attempt to climb up one of the few open hoppers on the Rampgill Vein past the Hardshins junction.

(Karli, Mike, Pete and Sal), 30th November 2013.

Boundary Cross Vein - Northern Flats and the North String

Exploration of the Northern area of the Boundary Cross Vein.

(Karli, Mike and Pete), 30th January 2010.

Hopper 29 - Revisited

A return visit to this large hopper to look at the sublevels from it. There are still things to find in Rampgill !

(Karli, Mike, Pete and Sal), 8th November 2014

Hangingshaw Branch Level - Workings above the Horse Level

Exploration of the climbable rises, which give access to stopes and flats.

(Karli, Mike and Pete), 26th March 2010.

Cross Vein Bolting for the Mini Sun Vein Round Trip

A Sunday potter trip to put in to ring bolts for a pull through.

(Karli and Mike), 4th December 2016.

Rampgill Vein Potter

A potter with photos to the end of Rampgill Vein.

(Karli and Mike), 4th December 2021.