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Force Crag Mine, Above Derwent
Force Crag Mine
site name:-   Coledale Valley
civil parish:-   Above Derwent (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   mine
locality type:-   lead mine
locality type:-   zinc mine
locality type:-   barytes mine
locality type:-   iron mine (?) 
locality type:-   museum
coordinates:-   NY19972162
1Km square:-   NY1921
10Km square:-   NY12
references:-   Adams, John: 1988: Mines of the Lake District Fells: Dalesman Books (Lancaster, Lancashire):: ISBN 0 85206 931 6

photograph
CDZ01.jpg (taken 16.9.2015)  
photograph
CDZ03.jpg (taken 16.9.2015)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 63 11) 
placename:-  Forcecrag Mines
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
"Forcecrag Mines (Iron) / Level / Tramway"
evidence:-   old text:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Force Crag Mine
item:-  psilomelane; barytes; blende; iron pyrites; galena; cerussite; stolzite; silver; lead ore; barium ore
source data:-   Book, Mines and Mining in the English Lake District, by John Postlethwaite, Keswick, published by W H Moss and Sons, Whitehaven, Cumberland now Cumbria, 1877; published 1877-1913.
image PST3p103, button  goto source
page 103:-  "FORCE CRAG MINE."
"This mine is situated at the head of Cowdale Valley, about two-and-a-half miles from Braithwaite. The bearing of the vein is nearly due east and west; and the minerals which it produces are psilomelane, sulphate barytes, blende, iron pyrites, galena, cerussite, and stolzite, or tungstate of lead. This is the only mine in which stolzite has ever been found. The galena contains about 35 ounces of silver per ton."
"The deposits of sulphate barytes which occur in the Force Crag vein are amongst the most remarkable mineral deposits that have ever been found in the Skiddaw Slates; they commonly measure from three to five feet in thickness, and one was found in 1872 which measured ten feet in thickness. Some of the barytes is very"
image PST3p105, button  goto source
page 105:-  "pure and white; but a great deal of it is coloured by the psilomelane with which it is associated, and with iron."
"The psilomelane also occurs in considerable quantities, but very little of it can be obtained in a pure state."
"The mine was opened, or probably re-opened, by Mr. Walton, of Alston, and Messrs. Dowthwaite &Cowper, of Keswick, and others, about eighty years ago; there is no definite information on this point, but the author can remember that in the year 1846 some of the proprietors had become tired of their enterprise and the mine was stopped three months in order that the Company might be wound up, and a fresh lease taken out in the names of those who were prepared to carry on the work, which they did for about thirty years, and succeeded in raising a large quantity of very valuable ore. Three levels were driven along the vein, 15 and 24 fathoms apart, near the base of the mountain (Grisdale Pike), and a great deal of ground excavated, especially in the extensive old stope, where the most productive part of the orey ground lay. A considerable quantity of ore has also been raised at three other points above the lowest level."
"Messrs. Walton &Co. paid very little attention to the barytes, as it was scarcely saleable during the greater part of their tenure; but in later years it has been more extensively used in the manufacture of plate glass, and for the more questionable purpose of adulterating white lead, consequently the mineral has been in greater demand."
"After a short interval of inactivity the mine was taken up again by a Company of local gentlemen, for the purpose of raising barytes. They commenced operations in the low level, but afterwards discovered that the mineral was much more plentiful higher up the mountain; therefore the old mine was abandoned, and two more levels were driven still higher up the mountain, and large deposits of barytes discovered."
"A mill was erected at the mine, and another rented in the village of Braithwaite, for the purpose of grinding the mineral, and an apparatus for bleaching it was constructed at the mine; but these works were not remunerative, and the mine was abandoned in 1880."
"In 1906 the mine was again taken up by Messrs. Meakin, Dennison and J. F. Lobb, who cleared and put into workable condition the three lowest levels, Nos.1, 2 and 3, erected a good modern crushing and dressing plant, propelled by a Pelton Wheel, but it proved to be unequal to the task allotted to it, the presence of so much barytes, dolomite and manganese associated with the blende, rendered almost impracticable, with the machinery and appliances in use, the production of pure marketable ore."
evidence:-   old map:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Force Crag Mine
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District Mining Field, Westmorland, Cumberland, Lancashire, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by John Postlethwaite, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913.
image
PST2NY12.jpg
"Force Crag Mine"
mine symbol 
item:-  JandMN : 162.2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   mine plan:- Postlethwaite 1877
placename:-  Force Crag Mine
source data:-   Print, drawing, mine section, Section of Force Crag Mine, Above Derwent, Cumberland, scale about 1 to 1400, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913.
image  click to enlarge
PST323.jpg
On p.104 of Mines and Mining in the English Lake District, by John Postlethwaite. 
printed, upper right  "SECTION OF FORCE CRAG MINE. / Scale: About 20 fathoms to 1 inch."
item:-  JandMN : 162.25
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Force Crag Mine
item:-  psilomelane; barytes; blende; iron pyrites; galena; cerussite; stolzite; silver; lead ore; barium ore
source data:-   Book, Mines and Mining in the English Lake District, by John Postlethwaite, Keswick, published by W H Moss and Sons, Whitehaven, Cumberland now Cumbria, 1877; published 1877-1913.
image PST3p103, button  goto source
page 103:-  "FORCE CRAG MINE."
"This mine is situated at the head of Cowdale Valley, about two-and-a-half miles from Braithwaite. The bearing of the vein is nearly due east and west; and the minerals which it produces are psilomelane, sulphate barytes, blende, iron pyrites, galena, cerussite, and stolzite, or tungstate of lead. This is the only mine in which stolzite has ever been found. The galena contains about 35 ounces of silver per ton."
"The deposits of sulphate barytes which occur in the Force Crag vein are amongst the most remarkable mineral deposits that have ever been found in the Skiddaw Slates; they commonly measure from three to five feet in thickness, and one was found in 1872 which measured ten feet in thickness. Some of the barytes is very"
image PST3p105, button  goto source
page 105:-  "pure and white; but a great deal of it is coloured by the psilomelane with which it is associated, and with iron."
"The psilomelane also occurs in considerable quantities, but very little of it can be obtained in a pure state."
"The mine was opened, or probably re-opened, by Mr. Walton, of Alston, and Messrs. Dowthwaite &Cowper, of Keswick, and others, about eighty years ago; there is no definite information on this point, but the author can remember that in the year 1846 some of the proprietors had become tired of their enterprise and the mine was stopped three months in order that the Company might be wound up, and a fresh lease taken out in the names of those who were prepared to carry on the work, which they did for about thirty years, and succeeded in raising a large quantity of very valuable ore. Three levels were driven along the vein, 15 and 24 fathoms apart, near the base of the mountain (Grisdale Pike), and a great deal of ground excavated, especially in the extensive old stope, where the most productive part of the orey ground lay. A considerable quantity of ore has also been raised at three other points above the lowest level."
"Messrs. Walton &Co. paid very little attention to the barytes, as it was scarcely saleable during the greater part of their tenure; but in later years it has been more extensively used in the manufacture of plate glass, and for the more questionable purpose of adulterating white lead, consequently the mineral has been in greater demand."
"After a short interval of inactivity the mine was taken up again by a Company of local gentlemen, for the purpose of raising barytes. They commenced operations in the low level, but afterwards discovered that the mineral was much more plentiful higher up the mountain; therefore the old mine was abandoned, and two more levels were driven still higher up the mountain, and large deposits of barytes discovered."
"A mill was erected at the mine, and another rented in the village of Braithwaite, for the purpose of grinding the mineral, and an apparatus for bleaching it was constructed at the mine; but these works were not remunerative, and the mine was abandoned in 1880."
"In 1906 the mine was again taken up by Messrs. Meakin, Dennison and J. F. Lobb, who cleared and put into workable condition the three lowest levels, Nos.1, 2 and 3, erected a good modern crushing and dressing plant, propelled by a Pelton Wheel, but it proved to be unequal to the task allotted to it, the presence of so much barytes, dolomite and manganese associated with the blende, rendered almost impracticable, with the machinery and appliances in use, the production of pure marketable ore."
evidence:-   old map:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Force Crag Mine
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District Mining Field, Westmorland, Cumberland, Lancashire, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by John Postlethwaite, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913.
image
PST2NY12.jpg
"Force Crag Mine"
mine symbol 
item:-  JandMN : 162.2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   mine plan:- Postlethwaite 1877
placename:-  Force Crag Mine
source data:-   Print, drawing, mine section, Section of Force Crag Mine, Above Derwent, Cumberland, scale about 1 to 1400, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913.
image  click to enlarge
PST323.jpg
On p.104 of Mines and Mining in the English Lake District, by John Postlethwaite. 
printed, upper right  "SECTION OF FORCE CRAG MINE. / Scale: About 20 fathoms to 1 inch."
item:-  JandMN : 162.25
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   mine drawing:- KDMRS 1979-82
placename:-  Force Crag Mine
source data:-   Geological Outing of the Kendal and District Mine Research Society to Force Crag Mine, Above Derwent
image  click to enlarge
KMR18.jpg
"FORCE CRAG MINE"
item:-  private collection : 82
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
CDZ02.jpg (taken 16.9.2015)  
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BPJ42.jpg (taken 23.6.2008)  
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BOR85.jpg (taken 13.2.2008)  
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BOR91.jpg (taken 13.2.2008)  
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BOR86.jpg (taken 13.2.2008)  
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BOR87.jpg (taken 13.2.2008)  
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BOR88.jpg (taken 13.2.2008)  
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BOR89.jpg (taken 13.2.2008)  
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BOR90.jpg (taken 13.2.2008)  

photograph
BPI52.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
photograph
BPI53.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
photograph
BPI59.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
photograph
BPI58.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
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BPI61.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
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BPI54.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
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BPI55.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
photograph
BPI56.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
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BPI57.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
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BPI63.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
photograph
BPI60.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.
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BPI62.jpg  copyright images courtesy of Stuart Holme.

photograph
BXQ76.jpg  About 1916.
(taken 16.11.2012)  courtesy of the Royal Oak, Braithwaite
photograph
BXQ77.jpg  About 1916.
(taken 16.11.2012)  courtesy of the Royal Oak, Braithwaite
photograph
BXQ78.jpg  About 1916.
(taken 16.11.2012)  courtesy of the Royal Oak, Braithwaite
:-  
 An ore analysis report was made in 1578, but whether it was worked then is not known; there has been a mill on the site since 1840; the mine operated up to the mid 1980s.
Two workings, High Force Workings and Low Force Workings, exploit the Force Crag Vein: barytes, barium sulphate, BaSO4; sphalerite, zinc blende, ZnS; and galena, lead sulphide, PbS - the last bearing silver.

: 2015 (?): Mines in Cumbria: Cumbria RIGS
Adams, John: 1988: Mines of the Lake District Fells: Dalesman Books (Lancaster, Lancashire):: ISBN 0 85206 931 6
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