Project Profile

Red Scar Lead Mine

The Trials and Tribulations of the Grimwith Mining Company

Red Scar Lead Mine is a small, nucleated single-phase mine complex which was operated by the Grimwith Lead Mining Company between 1863 and 1877. It is located on the east bank of Gate-Up Gill, a small stream that runs down from the surrounding upland and today feeds into Grimwith Reservoir. The gill also marked the division between the Greenhow mines on the east bank and the Duke of Devonshire's Grassington mines on the west. Running east to west across the area were a series of important lead rich mineral veins, the most important being the Bycliffe - or Black Vein - and the Middle Vein. Initially, the Grimwith Directors were hoping to drive a cross-cut to intercept with one of these, the Middle Vein, which had been clearly identified traversing the surface on the other side of the gill.

The Middle Vein was the most lucrative of the veins being worked by the Grassington mines, and it was perhaps not surprising that the Grimwith Directors and shareholders had great hopes for their new venture. However, a series of issues hampered the mine's progress, not least that the Middle Vein remained elusive, apparently changing its course underground to ribbon out. Eventually the mine did go into production in 1872, by which time the company was already in serious debt. Continuing low yields and problems with flooding finally saw the mine close in 1877 and there was no further activity on the site.

As a result of this limited phase of use, coupled with its remote location, the remains of the mine have been very well preserved. The site encompasses elements relating to all the main stages of lead production (except smelting) and includes features associated with gaining the ore (both level/adit and a shaft), pumping and power transmission (waterwheel and leats), transport (tracks and pathways), dressing the ore (running buddle and dressing floor), accommodation (lodge house and offices), site maintenance (workshop), storage (bouse stead) and waste management (spoil tips). All of this has contributed to the site being designated as a Scheduled Monument in 1997.

Unfortunately, in recent years there has been an accelerated rate of decay, clearly illustrated by a comparison of standing remains with photographs taken of the site in the 1970s. These show a rapid decline of the standing structures; most significantly, the lodge house and office building which has been reduced to a semi-ruinous state within only the last 20 years or so. Other issues affecting the site include problems with bracken coverage, burrowing animals, erosion and flood damage, all contributing to the inclusion of the site on the English Heritage Monument at Risk Register (medium risk).

Northern Archaeological Associates (NAA), working together with a team of specialists including ecologists, conservation architects and a structural engineer, were commissioned by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) to undertake an Archaeological Management Plan for the Red Scar Lead Mine, Appletreewick, North Yorkshire. This work was undertaken on behalf of Grimwith Estates as part of a Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement funded by Natural England. It comprised an archaeological topographic survey, buildings survey, structural assessment, protected species survey and a general conditions assessment, with the intention of provisioning an integrated long-term management programme for this nationally important site.

The greatest factor threatening the future of the mine was, undoubtedly, the physical condition of the standing structures. A detailed, building-by-building assessment was made by a structural engineer of each of the major extant features and a list of recommendations for remedial action drawn up. As might be anticipated, the largest and most significant structures - the lodge house and wheel housing - were those in greatest need of repair and also the most costly. To this end, the architects, Spence & Dower LLP, recommended a phased approach to consolidation work. This considers both short-term measures, which could be undertaken relatively cheaply, and longer-term programmes which might involve considerable investment.

With regards to the wider issues affecting the site, NAA produced a phased plan outlining recommendations to facilitate its future management. In particular, this looked at issues of erosion and flood damage which were perceived to be the greatest existing threat to both above, below and underground archaeology.