Brundholme Lead Mine

Glenderaterra Beck, a tributary of the River Greta, flows between the massifs of Skiddaw and Blencathra. Waking up to rain and cloud covering the high fells, I explored the mine workings alongside the beck. The ruins tell of a history of hope, hardship and disappointment. Work first began at the Brundholme Mine in 1872 but abandoned later that decade. These early miners were chasing a vein of lead ore, but which also produced small amounts of copper and baryte. The spoil on the right indicates the site of this 180 feet deep shaft. In 1907 a new shaft was sunk by the Brundholme Mining Syndicate Ltd. (the spoil heap on the left) but by 1910 work had stopped with the company going into liquidation soon afterwards. The royalty was re-leased in 1917 and the shaft deepened to 234 feet but work finally ceased after three years with no appreciable output.