An Account of the Mining District of Alston Moor, Weardale and Teesdale, with additional drawings and photographs (Aziloth Books)

by Thomas Sopwith

Overview

In the early 1800s Thomas Sopwith spent four years in and around Alston Moor, high in the North Pennines of England. A keen traveller, geologist and antiquarian, he made three major journeys across the area, from Hexham to Alston, then down the Tees to Barnard Castle, before returning to Alston via the valley of the River Wear. His account is full of fascinating tales and anecdotes regarding the people and places of the Dales, but is important chiefly for his detailed account of the lead mining districts, their strata, mineral veins and methods of lead extraction. Sopwith's unique account is an important source of information for all those interested in the mines and spar sites of the area.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781909735583
Publisher:	Aziloth Books
Publication date:	02/09/2015
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.27(d)

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 8

General Situation and Extent of the Mining Districts. - Of the Pennine

Chain of Mountains, and of the principal Dales. - Characteristic Features

of the Scenery - Limit of Cultivation. - Rivers and Mountain Streams -

Hills. - Duration of Snow Storms - Climate - Roads, &c

CHAPTER I. FROM HEXHAM TO ALSTON 14

West-Boat Chain-Bridge. - Haydon Bridge. - Langley Castle. - Smelt

Mills. Staward Banks. - Whitfield. - Vale of South Tyne.

CHAPTER II. ALSTON MOOR 19

History. - Royal Charters (from Hodgson’s Northumberland.) - Privileges

of Royal Mines. - Decay of Forests, &c - Form and Extent of the

Manor. - General Description. Town of Alston. - Church Curious Inscription.

1. III. TYNEHEAD, NENTFORCE LEVEL, &c. 25

Geological Phenomena Clargill Force Eshgill Force - Waterfall.

Dimensions and Extent - Nentforce Level. - Romantic Entrance Subterraneous Excursion in Boats, &c.

CHAPTER IV. ROMAN STATION AT WHITLEY 28

Walk by Tyne Side - Bed of the River. - Randalholme Hall History,

Antiquities, and Inscriptions of the Station. - Maiden Way, or

1. Military Road.

CHAPTER V. CROSSFELL MOUNTAIN 35

Ascent Prospect; - Sunrise. Western Descent - Dufton Pike, &c

CHAPTER VI. HARTSIDE 41

Prospect Comparison of other Mountain Views at Stirling,

1. Eildon Hills, and Cheviot - Helm Wind, &c.

CHAPTER VII ALE-BURN CAVERN 46

Ale-Burn Cavern. - Hudgill-Burn Cavern,

CHAPTER VIII. GEOLOGY 55

Comparative magnitude of the Earth, and its Strata - Brief notice

of Geological Theories - Importance and interest of the Science

1. and Secondary Formations, &c.

CHAPTER IX. STRATA OF THE MINING DISTRICTS 61

Familiar Illustration of the Arrangement of Strata. - Rise and Dip of

Strata. - General Division of Strata. - Grindstone Sill. Fell-top

Limestone Coal Upper Coal Sill Upper and Lower Slate Sills. -

Firestone Sill. - Pattinson’s Sill-Little Limestone. - Great Limestone.

- Tuft. - Limestone Post. - Quarry Hazel - Girdle or Till Bed Four-

fathom Limestone. - Coal Nattrass Gill Hazel. - Three-yards

Limestone. - Six-fathom Hazel. - Five-yards Limestone. - Slaty Hazel

- Scar Limestone - Cockle-Shell Limestone. Tyne-Bottom Plate - Tyne-

1. Limestone - Whetstone Bed - Great Whin Sill.

CHAPTER X. MINERAL VEINS 71

Comparative Magnitude of Veins. - Various Names of Veins.

- Prior Formation of Veins or Cross Veins. - Hade and Throw of

Veins - Contents of Mineral Veins - Great Sulphur Vein. -

Spar. - Galena - Silver - Copper. - SlipVein - Gash Vein - Flats

CHAPTER XI LEAD MINES 80

Progress of Mining. Old Method of working Mines - Nent-force

Level - Ventilation of Mines - Discovery of HudgillBurn Mine -

Present Mode of working - Mines Mine Shops. - Visit to a Lead

Mine

TEESDALE 96

Yadmoss - Cauldron Snout Tees Force. - Winch Bridge - Middleton

1. Teesdale. - Barnard-Castle. . .

WEARDALE 111

Durham - Cathedral - Neville’s Cross - Brancepeth Castle - Bishop-

1. - Stanhope - Head of Weardale - Nent Head. - Nent Hall Hudgill Burn - East and West Allen. - Vale of Derwent, &c.