Description and History of Site:-
There are three sites where lead ore was unsuccessfully trialled. The Lead Mine Moss workings are the largest and most obvious with two linear opencast workings with adjacent spoilheaps with traces of barytes and galena visible among them.

Just north of this site, on Green Edge, is a very small failed trial working consisting of a small depression marking where the ore was dug (possibly from a shaft) and a small spoilheap with an adjacent stone structure (called a coe) - they served the dual purpose of safe and dry storage for powder and a tool store. At the opposite, western, end of the (unproductive) lead vein is a small adit approached along a 6m-long cutting and a 4m-high spoilheap with specimens of barytes and quartz visible.

On the northernmost mineral vein is a further failed trial working consisting of a shallow shaft adjacent to an elongated rectangular open cut and a spoilheap with specimens of copper carbonate (Malachite) and
copper pyrites (Chalcopyrite). The lord of the manor, Henry Bouch, entered into a 21-year agreement in 1703 with John Blackburn by which the latter was granted rights to 'digg,delve, trench, sink shafts, drive levels or opencasts ... and getting lead ore' on this part of Ingleborough Fell. Blackburn duly mined, recovered lead ore, and sent it for assay at Marrick smelt mill in Swaledale ... but the ore 'proved good for nothing'.

In 1835 the Ingleborough Estate signed a similar agreement with Joseph Thompson to 'try for mines of ore' but no records have been located to explain the outcome.

Further Reading and References:-
Agreement dated 13 May 1835 for a 21-year lease. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield, WYL 524; Craven Museum Skipton, Raistrick Collection 2000.1202.

Tyson, L.O. 1986. 'Lead Mine Moss', Dalesman vol. 48, July, p. 289.

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Key Words :- disused lead mine trial workings

Viewing the Site :- Open Access under the CRoW Act 2000

Address :- Ingleton, Carnforth, North Yorkshire, LA2
Grid Ref :- SD 725 745
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.165558 , Long -2.422688
Local Authority :- Craven District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI
Site Condition :- Earthworks only
Site Dates :- unknown - unknown
Record Date :- 21 February 2018

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © David Johnson