Mining History: The Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society. Volume 18, No. 3, Summer 2012 A HISTORY AND GAZETTEER OF THE LEAD MINES WITHIN HARTINGTON LIBERTY, DERBYSHIRE: 1191 - 1890 Chris Heathcote Abstract: The limestone area between Buxton in the north and Hartington in the south contains many lead mines located on many separate veins. This paper notes these and provides, where known, any historical details, ownership, ore output and probable locations. Introduction (centred SK 070 690) and on Hill Head (centred SK 070 700). The surviving Barmasters’ Books of Entries for Hartington and The area is crossed by numerous faults trending generally from the Granges Liberty are located in Derbyshire Record Office southeast to northwest, a few of which have been mineralised. (DRO) at Matlock (1 book) and in the Devonshire Collection The Lower Millers Dale Lava is present on the eastern slopes at Chatsworth House (Chats. Dev. Coll.) (2 books). The Book of Grin Hill around Fern House Farm (centred SK 056 717). of Entries located in DRO covers the years 1774-1809 (DRO The limestones dip steeply beneath the shale cover in the west, D504 B/L30) and the books held at Chatsworth House cover the dip varying from 25 degrees at Burbage (centred SK 043 the years 1832-1843 (C Series 158) and 1848-1937 (C Series 725) to 45 degrees near Thirklow (centred SK 050 690). Further 192). Various documents from the Barmasters’ Collection also south the visually impressive Chrome and Parkhouse Hills are held at Chatsworth House (Chats. Bar. Coll.) have also been remnants of apron reef structures with the Bee Low Limestones consulted along with aerial photographs, the geological maps continuing southward. For a more detailed geological assessment and historical maps of the area. of the area see Aitkenhead, Chisholm and Stevenson (1985). The ownership, dates, meers freed and location of the mines is The Mines and Veins given in Appendix 1. The ore output from each of the mines is The workings on the western side of Grin Hill, Burbage and detailed in Appendix 2. Ladmanlow. This area has, by far, the greatest concentration of individual Also discussed is the occurrence of lead ore discovered and mineral veins in the whole of the area under discussion. The mined during the exploitation of coal seams and also from mines/veins have previously been discussed by Rieuwerts within the natural cave system of Pooles Cavern. Brief historical (2007,www.pdmhs.com 2008) and it should be stated at this point that further notes concerning the prominent landmark known as Solomon’s discussions have slightly altered various aspects of the original Temple (Grin Low Tower) are also given. 2007 publication by using further map and documentary evidence concerning the locations of Saw Grove and the c1726 A large part of this paper builds on the extensive research turnpike road. This ‘new’ evidence is presented here and will be undertaken by Jim Rieuwerts in compiling an unpublished noted where necessary. report for the Peak Park Joint Planning Board concerningfrom the whole of Hartington Liberty (Rieuwerts, 2008) and also on his It should also be stated that in the mid to late 19th century many recent publication, the final section of which discussed the lead veins were freed by several groups of miners, mainly around mines/veins and soughs in the Burbage and Chrome Hill areas Ladmanlow and Grin End (alongside the present Leek to (Rieuwerts, 2007). I am greatly indebted to him for allowing his Buxton road), and that these veins were seldom given individual material to be used throughout this paper. names and it is highly unlikely that they were ever worked on a commercial scale. It is most probable that they were freed It should be noted at this point that even though the Barmaster to prevent other miners from claiming them. For clarity and has made many entries concerning the mines and veins within continuity they will be mentioned briefly at the end of this the area under discussion, these are often lacking in specific section. details, are sometimes contradictory and often confusing. In the appropriate sections of this paper the layout of the veins will The earliest record yet found dates from 1662 when Anthony be described as accurately and as clearly as possible given the Clayton held a 1/6th share in Rushy Gutter and the following available documentary and map evidence. year he held a 1/12th share in the Saw Groves (Rieuwerts, 2007, 2008). The location of Rushy Gutter is problematic and will be It is known that a considerable amount of barytes (caulk, paint discussed in greater detail later in this section. The location of stones) was mined from the western side of Grin Hill and Saw Grove, certainly by 1775 at least, is shown on a map dating around LadmanlowDownloaded and Stanley Moor during the mid to late 19th from this time, as being at SK 0405 7242 to the south of the century, initially by individual miners, and later by the Buxton cottage known as Grove House and to the east of the end of the Lime Firms Company Limited. This aspect has been discussed present Anncroft Road. Rieuwerts misplaced Saw Grove to the in greater detail in an earlier paper (Heathcote, 2010). north of Grove House. It will be seen that the correct positioning of Saw Grove in fact places the adjoining veins (Chance Veins For clarity and continuity the veins will be noted in an east and Saw Rake) slightly further west than shown by Rieuwerts to west and north to south format, wherever possible. Grid (2007). references will be given for all features/mines/veins of note. Although the ore measurements reveal that several mines in Geology - A brief overview this area were in spasmodic production from the 1730s onwards The larger part of the bed rock beneath the area under discussion (Rieuwerts, 2007, 2008) it is not until 1752 when Chance Vein comprises the Bee Low Limestones with isolated outliers was freed for ‘new’ By the Lords Mear sold at Chance Myne in of Monsal Dale Limestones to the north of Greensides Farm Hartington Liberty to Mr. Hodgson and Co. £10/0/0 (Rieuwerts, 23 2007, 2008). A single document (Chats. Dev. Coll.) written Macclesfield Road at Burbage (SK 044 728). This portion of during 1752 details the partners at the mine and what shares the road was covered with massive lime ash waste tips during they held (see Appendix 6). Two years later, following good later working of the Grin limestone quarry. Zachary Mine could output at the mine, a sough, variously known as Chance or Gate be located within this much tipped over area. Two months later Sough, was started to relieve the workings from water when the mine is recorded again when The Proprietors of Zachary Francis Clark, miner, was paid 3/- …to View and Value the Lords Mine gave one dish of ore to free a Founder Meer in a New Vein Mear in a Vein that Mr. Hodgson and Partners are driving in discovered in a Stone Pitt Hole (24/08/1774: DRO D504 B/L 30). for a sough to relieve Chance in Hartington Liberty (Rieuwerts, Five years later the mine is mentioned again when the Barmaster 2007, 2008). Chance or Gate Sough will be discussed in greater gave to Jasper Brock …Five Meers of Ground as Takers ranging detail later in this section. Northwardly from Zachary Possessions (06/09/1779: DRO D504 B/L 30). Eight years later the Hartington Barmaster Gave Chance Vein and the closely parallel Saw Rake feature in many to Mrs. Brock Five Meers on the Zachary Vein as Takers at her later instances by the Hartington Barmaster. In 1779 the Barmaster own Stowes for this Vein (05/05/1787: DRO D504 B/L 30). No gave to Jasper Brock …Four Meers of Ground as Takers more entries concerning this mine have been found. Eastwardly from Chance Possessions (06/09/1779: DRO D504 B/L 30). The exact location of these meers remains unknown. Another vein that features often and is connected to the above, Two years later more detail is given concerning Chance Vein Chance Veins and Saw Rake, is Rushy Gutter Vein. This old when the Barmaster gave to Henry Millward of Buxton …two vein is first noted by the Barmaster in mid-1788 when he gave or more veins called Chance Veins with Thirty Five Meers of to Job Elliott Two Veins upon Grin Common with Sixteen Meers Ground on each ranging Northwestwardly up Buxton Common on each ranging East from the Rushy Gutter on the West Side and Thirty Five Meers ranging Southeastwardly to the South of Grin Common and Two Meers ranging West from the same Side of Grin Common (09/09/1801: DRO D504 B/L 30). It is Gutter (07/07/1788: DRO D504 B/L 30). The terminology used clear from this entry that Chance Vein was in fact comprised of suggests that the Rushy Gutter is a natural feature, possibly a several closely spaced parallel veins. By using the information shallow drainage valley. Further map evidence coupled with given in this entry, along with others concerning associated the documentary evidence places this vein, and other parallel veins and Chance or Gate Sough, it is possible to locate Chance veins, further to the south than shown by Rieuwerts (2007). The Vein/s with a certain amount of accuracy. The northwestern end Ordnance Survey map dating from 1898 (Derbyshire Sheet XXI of the vein terminated adjacent to Plex Farm at SK 037 733 - 4.