A Taste of the
Peak District
Peak District local information, Odin mine, possibly the oldest named mine in the Peak District …
Odin mine - probably is the oldest mine that was given a name in Derbyshire, it was mentioned in 1280 when a poacher (John of Bellhag) was tried for hunting in the royal forest "at the entrance to Odin". The following image shows Odin Cave, an ancient cave shelter in the vicinity of the mine ...
Don't bother going in, it is usually wet, really muddy and very slippery (a couple of pictures I took in there make it look like the inside of some giant saliva-filled mouth!). If you do go in don't blame us for any mishaps, on your own head be it! Odin mine comprised 3 main levels and was driven about 500 metres into the hillside. The bounty was galena - lead ore, a sample of which is pictured below (not taken from the Odin mine I hasten to add, since it is a protected archaeological site) ...
The main levels were connected by a number of vertical shafts and there were several entrances, now capped for safety. There is no historical evidence as to when the mine was first worked although it seems possible that it was first worked by the Romans in their quest for lead. Anglo Saxons could conceivably have worked the mine too, given the name. It was definitely worked in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the Bagshawe family holding a stake in the mine for about 150 years.
In common with other mines, fortunes were changeable, in 1706 a rich vein was found an there were over 40 miners employed. In the days before explosives had been developed, the ore was extracted by use of fire. Big fires were lit underground, left to burn overnight and the following day, the hot rock was treated with water. The sudden cooling caused the rock to crack which made it easier to dig it out of the ground. There was also a surface working. To the right of the cave entrance, there is a deep cleft, this was once a vein of galena bearing rock. The stream that used to flow through was diverted by constructing a leat that kept the workings dry. The mine suffered from drainage problems but a sough proposed in the 1770s was not completed until the 1840s, about 30 years before the mine effectively closed.
The spoil was used to construct a road between Sheffield and Manchester and was found to contain baryte and fluorite which led to the re-opening of the mine for a couple of years early in the 20th century.
The surface workings where the ore was dressed - sorted, washed and crushed can still be seen (photo below) and seem to have been the realm of women workers. The remains that are seen were constructed in the early 19th century and comprise a circular iron track and crushing wheel.
In addition to the galena, fluorite and baryte, a hardened form of bitumen has been reported from the mine. There are other deposits of this to be found around the Castleton area and in some other parts of the Peak District. For example, the Stoke Sough, driven near Stoney Middleton, produced bitumen in such quantities that it floated on the surface of the water and "took fire from a torch or candle" according to the 'History and Gazetteer of the county of Derby'.
More Peak District, Derbyshire mining information >> or see images of Bell Pit mines in Derbyshire
Disclaimer - (probably not needed but here goes anyway!) We can accept no responsibility for your well being if you visit any of the geological or mining sites mentioned on this web site, they are included only as information. You should ensure that the necessary permissions are sought when entering private property and also take appropriate action to ensure your personal safety.
Reference book ...
Peak
District Mining and Quarrying - at last, a local history book that is
easy to read and holds your interest for more than a few minutes at a time!
Fascinating, well illustrated, non-technical and with a social angle throughout.
I bought mine via Amazon.co.uk with a decent discount off the shop price
(sorry, I don't know if they are still doing the discount).
Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 (2 1/2 inches to the mile for us oldies!) map of the White Peak or Dark Peak (10% discount off list prices through Aqua3).