Notes on Mining Leats” British Mining No.37, NMRS, Pp.19-45
BRITISH MINING No.37 BRITISH MINING No.37 MEMOIRS 1988 Bird, R.H. 1988 “Notes on Mining Leats” British Mining No.37, NMRS, pp.19-45 Published by the THE NORTHERN MINE RESEARCH SOCIETY SHEFFIELD U.K. © N.M.R.S. & The Author(s) 1988. ISSN 0309-2199 NOTES ON MINING LEATS R.H. Bird “.... the means of putting to work many mines that would otherwise remain unworked, or if worked, could not be worked with profitable results.” Absalom Francis. 1874. SYNOPSIS Watercourses supplying mining works have been in use for centuries but their complexity increased during the 19th century, particularly in mining districts which were remote from coal supplies used for steam engines but which had sufficient river systems (or streams) of a dependable nature. Their role in Britain’s mining areas is discussed, with examples from overseas locations. An attempt is made to outline their construction methods and costs. In an age when water power reigned supreme and, indeed, for some time thereafter, mills and manufacturing industries were dependant on a steady supply of water to drive that prime mover, the water wheel. Flour mills, fulling mills and the early ferrous metal industries were sited next to reliable river or stream courses and could thus utilise this water source with little difficulty. Sometimes, the configuration of the stream was inconveniently placed for the mill site and the miller was forced to construct a ditch, from a dam upstream of his mill, and by this, lead the water to his wheel. After driving the wheel, the water was returned to the stream directly or through another ditch, the tailrace.
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