Drone reveals 1,000 years of lead mining remains in Pennines

Summarised from The Northern Echo's report · Updated 19 Oct, 20:38 · Archive

Drone footage shows the preserved lead-mining landscape at Nenthead in the North Pennines, spanning a thousand years of industrial history.

The Northern Echo reports that drone footage has revealed Nenthead in the North Pennines as the best preserved lead-mining landscape in the region, showing a thousand years of industrial processes. The aerial view displays how ore was cobbed, crushed, sorted, jigged and buddled on dressing floors before being smelted in furnaces. Flues, chimneys and condensers removed foul air whilst retaining precious materials.

The landscape also shows the extensive water infrastructure—channels, leats and dams—that was essential for powering the mines. Underground, water posed a major problem, but above ground it served as the principal power source, driving bellows and jiggers. For much of the 19th century, the London Lead Company, a Quaker concern, operated Nenthead and built a model village for its workers from 1825 onwards. The remote settlement became one of the highest and busiest industrial communities in the country, employing hundreds.

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• Drone reveals remarkable remains of 1,000 years of lead mining in the PenninesFOR today’s picture, our regular contributor Northern Perspectives has flown his drone from the top of Weardale over the border into Cumbria to highlight Nenthead, the best preserved lead-mining landscape in the North Pennines.The Northern Echo · 19 Oct, 20:24

In this story: Nenthead · North Pennines · London Lead Company · Alston · Weardale · Cumbria

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