The Cupola Flue

A monochrome shot of the Cupola Flue on Grassington moor lead mines. At 1600 metres long, small sections of it have collapsed but you can still get in it, if you are brave enough. But it is pretty mucky! It links the now destroyed Cupola smelt mill to the chimney on top of the moor. … Continue reading The Cupola Flue

Grassington Lead Mines from High Up

Yesterday was a fine day with good visibility and no wind, so I decided I would go up to the lead mines at Grassington Moor for a fly around with the drone. I know this area well, it isn't too far from home and I have explored the area since I was about 16. The … Continue reading Grassington Lead Mines from High Up

Barden Lead Mine

I have a bit of a 'thing' when it comes to the old lead mines that are on the moors. I think it probably started when I was about 12 or 13. I had joined the Scouts and we had gone on an overnight camp to Bewerley Mines, a few miles away. On the way … Continue reading Barden Lead Mine

Mongo Gill

Almost everywhere you go in the Dales you find remains of the lead mining industry. There are the big mining areas, such as Grassington and Gunnerside, but many of the mines were just owned by a few miners, trying their best to eke out a living in the hard earth. Most haven't either kept records, … Continue reading Mongo Gill

Coalgrove Beck

This little stream, winding through a dark hemmed in valley, is Coalgrove Beck. It is at Yarnbury in the Yorkshire Dales National Park - and the valley was the site of the Yarnbury lead mines. It is all but hidden from view and most people have no idea about this area or it's history. The … Continue reading Coalgrove Beck

Yarnbury

This is Yarnbury in the late afternoon sun. I took my grandson Dominic for a drone fly up there yesterday. Unfortunately he lost his (it was only a cheap Chinese one from Temu). We walked 10 miles and were both a bit tired when we got home. But the gorgeous landscape made up for it. … Continue reading Yarnbury

The Ruined Mine Building

Grassington Lead Mines This old lead mine building on Grassington moor is now sadly nothing more than a ruin. Set amongst the spoil heaps, this was once a proud industry employing hundreds or men, women and children. Now the last of the ore is gone and the mines stand silent.

The Grassington Moor Shell

Grassington Moor Lead Mines During the second world war, the British Army marched up onto the old lead mines on Grassington moor and proceeded to practice their artillery by shelling some of the mine buildings that were still standing. Unfortunately not all of the shells exploded and occasionally one of these unexploded shells turns up. … Continue reading The Grassington Moor Shell

Cupola

The Cupola Flue on Grassington Moor Anyone who has been on Grassington moor will know of the old reconstructed chimney that dominates the landscape. Lead was mined here for hundreds of years, but by the late 1800s the mines had all but finished - partly due to the cheap import of Spanish lead. The remains … Continue reading Cupola

Grassington Moor

This is Grassington moor in late afternoon. The miners road, with dry stone walls on either side, lead down to the old mine building in the valley bottom. The moors in the distance take us to where some of the shafts are, a lot of them are uncovered. It is hard to think that 150 … Continue reading Grassington Moor