Description

This new book by local authors Alistair Cameron and Liz Withey is the definitive illustrated guide on the history of ore mining in the Lake District.

The Lake District Mountains are full of mineral veins. Many have been discovered and worked over the past 1000 years, and many still remain to be discovered. The range of minerals that has been worked in the mountains in our area is extensive. The ones most commonly mined are those that contain copper, lead, zinc, iron and barytes (barium) but some rare metals such as antimony, nickel, cobalt and tungsten have also been obtained in smaller quantities. Some sites worked more than one ore.

Today, remains of this past extensive industry lie abandoned on the mountainsides and are now considered to be an iconic reflection of The Lake District’s industrial past. During the drafting of this book, the major project at Coniston on the conservation of many of the structures associated with the Coniston and Tilberthwaite copper mines has been underway and is thoroughly applauded. At the same time other sites are being developed for visitor appreciation including the mill at the Force Crag Mine, Coledale. Further into the future it is hoped that similar possible interpretation projects may take place at other important historic sites including at Greenburn copper mine, Little Langdale and the Stoneycroft mine and smelter, Newlands.