On a recent visit to Nenthead Mines, near Alston in Cumbria, I took the opportunity to have a look around the site.  The visit was organised to collect some items which had been on loan the Nenthead Museum for a display now being dismantled.

The remains of the Smelt Mill

The site was run by The North Pennine Heritage Trust, which unfortunately went into liquidation in 2012. The future of the site had been uncertain, however, a new trust has now been formed. Members of the new Nenthead Mines Conservation Society have had the site open to visitors several times this year and are now busily preparing for next years visitor season.

Looking underground from the mine entrance

Our visit was on a typical North Pennine day, with plenty of rain! The sight is fascinating with a plethora of industrial archaeology scattered around the valley. More adventurous visitors can go on an, hour long, underground guided tour through the old lead workings.

More details can be found at http://www.nentheadmines.com

The Assay House where the lead ore was weighed and recorded

The scars left on the Pennine landscape after several hundred years of mining