A History and Gazetteer of the Lead Mines Within Bradwell Liberty, Derbyshire: 1216-1890

Mining History: The Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society. Volume 17, No. 5, Summer 2010 A HISTORY AND GAZETTEER OF THE LEAD MINES WITHIN BRADWELL LIBERTY, DERBYSHIRE: 1216-1890 Chris Heathcote Abstract: This paper, like the ones previously published concerning Peak Forest Liberty (Heathcote, 2001) and Castleton Liberty (Heathcote, 2007), details the mines and veins located within Bradwell Liberty in the northern area of the Derbyshire orefield. A series of Barmasters’ Books held at Chatsworth House covering the years 1752-1890 (Chats, Bar Coll) have been consulted together with archival material from a variety of other sources. The location of the mines and veins will be given along with any significant historical details. Introduction Three separate sub-sections within each main section will be Bradwell Liberty is bounded by the liberties of Castleton in the used to describe the three major veins that cross the liberty from west, Hope in the north, Brough in the northeast, Hazlebadge east to west (Long, Moss and Shuttle Rakes). Also throughout in the southeast, Tideswell in the south and Peak Forest in the the paper the known locations of any of the noted mines will be southwest. Stokes (1880) noted that it was the 14th largest liberty given. Unfortunately the exact location of the majority of named in the High Peak region of the King’s Field with a land area of mines remains unknown. 2270 acres. The liberty boundary corresponds with the parish boundary shown on modern maps of the area. Throughout this paper contemporary mining terms will be used, full definitions of which can be found in the Glossary of The liberty is one of diverse scenery, in the west the land is high Derbyshire Lead Mining Terms by J. H. Rieuwerts (1998a). relatively un-cultivated moorland while in the east around the All grid references given can be found on the Ordnance Survey village of Bradwell typical limestone dales are more evident. One 1:25000 Outdoor Leisure maps covering the Dark Peak (OL 1) of these dales is the visually striking Bradwell Dale with sheer and White Peak (OL 24) areas of Derbyshire. limestone cliffs towering above the B6049 road which follows the dale bottom to enter the village from the south. This dale as Geology: A brief overview been greatly altered because of extensive limestone extraction The limestone beds forming the high area of land of Bradwell and some lead mining activity. This will be noted, along with Moorwww.pdmhs.com dip gently towards the east and north east passing beneath others, in the paper. the Edale Shales in the wide Hope Valley and Bradwell Edge. The uppermost rocks belong to the Monsal Dale Beds with the Bee The former show cave, Bagshaw Cavern (SK 172 808), on the Low Bed lying beneath this formation. The two are separated by steep western flank of the village was discovered by lead miners the horizon of the Upper Millers Dale Lava. Reef limestones are in 1807 whilst working in the Mulespinner Mine (Evans, 1912). present around the perimeter of the Monsal Dale Beds. These reef More will be said concerning this cave, and others within the limestones are to be found within Bradwell Dale and the whole of liberty in due course. The water which emerges at fromBagshaw Hazlebadge Hill (Rieuwerts, 1998b). For a more comprehensive Resurgence, commonly known as the Yield, Heald or Yeld but account of the geology of Bradwell Liberty, see Stevenson and originally called Wallhead Lumb, is stated by Beck and Gill Gaunt (1971). (1991) to have a greater volume than the combined flow from both Russet Well and Peak Cavern at Castleton (SK 149 825). Two of the major veins, Moss Rake and Shuttle Rake, both terminate abruptly on contact with lava formations. Moss Rake Crossing the liberty in a generally east to west direction are a terminates on its western range, on contact with the Peak Forest series of mineral rakes with interconnecting smaller veins and dolerite sill near Stonebrack cottage. Likewise, Shuttle Rake scrins. Unfortunately many of the surface features on these terminates, on its western range, when it contacts the Upper veins, certainly the larger ones, have been completely obliterated Millers Dale lava near to Holmes farm. by later opencast mining and limestone quarrying activities. In fact, the mining remains in this liberty could possibly be the most Early history of the Mines: Pre-1752 devastated within the whole of the Derbyshire orefield. The whole Records for lead mining within Bradwell Liberty are scanty before of the area to the northwest of Bradwell (centred SK 155 815), the 1750s. This section relies mainly on the extensive research which contained numerous vein workings and surface features, undertaken by Jim Rieuwerts to compile an unpublished report has been removed by the massive Hope Cement Works limestone for the Peak Park Joint Planning Board (Rieuwerts, 1998b) and quarry. Likewise,Downloaded large tracts on the course of Moss Rake, Hell, his more recently published Lead Mining in Derbyshire Volume Hill or Hills Rake (named Earl on modern maps) and Shuttle Rake 1 (2007). I am greatly indebted to him for allowing the use of have been removed, by opencast mining or quarrying operations, his material in this section and throughout this paper. leaving virtually no trace of the former lead mining operations. On the other hand, and on a more positive note, small areas of lead The mines on Cop Rake (centred SK 135 799) at the western mining remains survive virtually untouched by modern industry. boundary of the liberty were in work during the period 1216 to These will be noted within this paper where appropriate. 1249. At this time the mines were known as the Wardlow Copp mines and during the noted period approximately 9300 loads Wherever possible, and for clarity, the veins/mines will be (2325 tons) of ore were raised. described in a north to south and east to west format. Again for clarity, the liberty will be divided and described in three separate The unlocated Rotherlowe mines at Bradwell were in work sections (NW, W and SW), these will include the locations and from 1242 until 1247 with about 580 loads (145 tons) of ore relevant information regarding the smaller veins in each area. being recorded. 55 Fig. 1: Bradwell Liberty showing geology and location of principalwww.pdmhs.com lead veins. Nothing is known concerning the mines within the liberty from John Hurler complainant against Robert Hallom for Carrying the above date until 1605 when Copp Rake was once again away Twenty Loads of lead Ore from the Long Rake. recorded as being in production. A short time later, in 1617, a dispute on Moss Rake was referred to arbitration and the names A Barmote Court case held in early 1673 states that Francis of the miners involved suggest that the mine was located at the Bennett, Richard Torre and Robert Durham Complainants extreme western end of the vein alongside the Peakfrom Forest - against Richard and Thomas Wragg Defendants. The Defendants Bradwell boundary (possibly SK 127 794). have entered into the Plaintiffs first Taker Meer at the Lords Meer lying in ye west end near ye Shackpitt called ye new vein Over 50 years later, in 1669-1670, a complaint about trespass and carry away One Hundred Loads of lead Ore to the value of was heard at the Barmote Court in Peak Forest. The two court £100. The Jury found for the Plaintiffs. This could be a reference hearings, one for Bradwell Liberty and the other for Peak Forest to Long Rake in the vicinity of the large natural pothole now Liberty, and concerning a mine commonly called Beverleys known as Batham Pot (SK 152 808). Grove near Ashenholme Pitt suggest that the mine could also have been located close to the Peak Forest - Bradwell boundary. On Cop Rake, in 1674, 40 loads (10 tons) of ore were removed It is possible that this is the same mine as that recorded above illegally. Unfortunately no specific mine was noted on this in 1617. occasion. In September 1662, the diarist Edward Browne visited Bradwell Botham Grove at Outland Head on Moss Rake was at work and left a fairly detailed description of the workings of the lead in 1673. A few years later, in 1685, John Turner was accused mines at that time ….wee tooke some notice of the lead mines of of selling ore before payment of Lot and Cope at his mine on which there are a vast number all about these hills that which Hartle Rake. Hartle Rake was the name given to a portion of wee went to was about twenty fathom deep some are more some Moss Rake (centred SK 168 809). less the diameterDownloaded of the hole through which they descend was not above a yard when they find oare they may follow it 11 Prior to 1694 a fan was installed at Moorfurlong Mine by Henry or 12 yards and no more from the bottom of the hole they have Jowle of Peak Forest, because the miners were wanting winde first sunk, least they should fall into one anothers workes wee to carry on their works - he - sett them a ffan to gain winde. tooke some pieces of lead as it came out of the lead mines some This is the earliest documented reference to a fan being used for clear like christall but very rare we happened of one very bright. ventilation within the orefield. (Browne, 1662). In May 1730 a viewing by members of the Grand Jury was During 1671-1672 New Rake was recorded during several called by Robert Hallom and the rest of his partners called four Barmote Court disputes, one involving the illegal removal of of the twenty four men to view a parcell of ground att Edentree 100 loads (25 tons) of ore.

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