Coniston Copper Mines

This is a field guide to the relics of copper mining in the fells above Coniston, at Tilberthwaite, Greenburn, and at Seathwaite Tarn above the Duddon Valley.

Poets and writers alike have praised the grand mountainous scenery of Coniston, but apart from a few historians such as Collingwood and Rawnsley they disregarded the endeavours of the ‘old men’ and their subterranean labour. Surely it can be held that the mining industry (and bear in mind that its beginnings are lost in the mists of time) adds a further dimension to the scenario and, dare it be said, spice for the adventurous. Enter some of the galleries in the Coniston Fells and one is at once taken back almost 3000 years in time… further still in other places.

The visitor who deprecates the small amount of environmental disturbance caused by mining often fails to recognise the increasing, and lasting, damage done by tourism. Lakeland has long been an industrial area; many minerals have been mined and some smelted here. Of course the extractive industry is now but a shadow of its former self but old mining sites (even the slate quarries) are undeniably part of Lakeland’s rich pageant.

Because of opportunities these old mine sites present for the study of industrial archaeology, for adventure, mineral collecting, geology etc., there is an ever increasing awareness being demonstrated by widely varying sections of the public. One could say, a new sport has come into being as more and more persons of all age groups, not contenting themselves solely with surface exploration and fossicking in old dumps, are going below ground. Undoubtedly people unfamiliar with old mines (or caves for that matter) are entering old workings and putting themselves unwittingly at risk. In the meantime mountain rescue teams are wisely equipping themselves for underground rescue.

It is not the express intention of this book to advise the reader to enter old mineworkings. Of course many do - how else do the names of fools appear on tunnel walls in paint or smoke from carbide lamps? How else the needless rubbish strewn along the floors?

Note has been made of the workings that the writer considers safe. Safe, however, is purely relative and it must be pointed out that inept behaviour, even in these safe workings, can give rise to danger. This cannot be underestimated! Larger parties of children below ground in the charge of too few teachers (possibly themselves inexperienced) are potentially in danger.

To minimise the risk of accident, explorers should wear helmets and have reliable lighting, preferably fitted to the helmet in order that the hands be free. Cheap plastic torches just will not do. Footwear should have good treads on the soles. Details of the intended trip should be left to someone in case of none-return. If going below ground it is a good thing to leave some form of indication at the entrance. If electron ladders are to be used, do not scorn a lifeline. Single rope technique is too expansive a subject to enter into here. Absolute care should be taken with the ropes and they should be inspected regularly. Old timber is always suspected and in certain workings the floors of the tunnels have been mined away and replaced with wood… they are thus false! It is advisable to join a club or society and it is surprising how much can be achieved if one does so. Much of this is common sense and in the end it is up to the individual. Mine exploration has a pretty clean record – let’s keep it so.

There is one other point to note. This guide directs the visitor high into the fells. Conditions can be treacherous at high altitudes, especially in the colder months, even when the valley bottoms are pleasant. The reader is therefore well advised to take heed of the advice given to fell-walkers with reference to protective climbing.

Obey the country code.

E.G. Holland
Old Stainton Hall
1981