Hanneke says:

There is still a lot of industrial archaeology left on Grassington moor. Whilst walking and exploring on the moor I heard the echoes of the hard toil from the men and children who worked in the leadmines. Around Yarnbury there is enough to explore and then around the chimney there is a lot more. We are very lucky to have it on our doorstep.

 

In the first picture, the larger hole is the main shaft and the smaller hole behind is the access shaft. Imagine a pit head winding gear over the main shaft to remove ore and a ladder peeping out of the smaller hole for the miners to go underground.

The condenser flue runs from the Cupola Smelt Mill to the Chimney. This shaft serves two purposes: Firstly to take noxious mercury and sulfur gases away from the workers at the Smelt Mill and secondly allow lead particles to settle out of the cooling gases. Periodically boys would be sent up the shaft to sweep out the lead partilces.

Lead Mine – Main shaft with Miners entrance behind.
Photo by Hanneke

Lead Mine – Dressing floor with Mine Captain’s house behind.
Photo by Hanneke

Adit driven into hill side
Photo by Hanneke

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Photo by Hanneke

Condenser Flue
Photo by Hanneke

Sunrise over the chimney
Photo by Hanneke

Collapses on the Condenser Flue
Photo by Hanneke

Cupola Smelt Mill Information board
Photo by Hanneke