UK Grid Reference: NY395119
Latitude: 54°29'55"N
Longitude: 2°56'3"W
This location is the only recorded occurrence of fluorite in this particular part of Cumbria.
I was told by a local gentleman that this mine was worked by the Shaw family in the 1940's and that most of the fluorite came from one certain part of the mine. Good specimens are quite rare.
This old lead mine is situated in the woods on the southern slopes of Hartsop, overlooking Dovedale Beck, and it takes its name from the nearby manor house of Hartsop Hall. The earliest workings are thought to date from the late 17th century. Since then the mine has had a rather chequered history, working sporadically until it was taken over in 1931 by the Shaw family. Work here finally ended in 1942 due to the war. It was intended that the work would restart at the mine following the war, however after the death of Lord Lonsdale the land, including the mine, was sold to the National Trust in 1944. The National Trust then imposed numerous restrictions on the mining operation which meant that any future work at the site became impractical.
The main lead vein which varied in width from a stringer to up to 3 ft thick yielded up to 30 ounces of silver per ton which was much higher than the lead from the nearby Greenside mine.
Today there is still a lot to see at the site with the remains of the old bothy, mill site and office as well as substantial dumps.
References
Tyler, I.(2006), The Lakes & Cumbria Mines Guide, 61.
Tyler, I.(2001), Greenside And The Mines Of The Ullswater Valley, 147.
Adams, J.(1995), Mines of The Lake District Fells, 135.
Mineral List
11 entries listed. 11 valid minerals.
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