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Nent Force Level
site name:-   Nent, River
locality:-   Nenthead
locality:-   Alston
civil parish:-   Alston Moor (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   drainage level
locality type:-   canal
10Km square:-   NY84
1Km square:-   NY8040
10Km square:-   NY84


photograph
CEV71.jpg  Plaque, in town hall.
(taken 15.4.2016)  

hearsay:-  
The level was an underground canal built from Alston towards the mines at Nenthead to provide drainage, to intersect new veins of ore, and to be a canal to extract ores. Its outflow was on the River Nent at Alston. The section from the portal in Alston to Nentsberry Haggs shaft, 3.5 miles, is a canal. The project began from Alston in 1776. Various engineers were involved, including Richard Walton and John Smeaton, working 1776 to 1842, for the proprietors, the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital. The waterway was wide enough to carry boats. Kelly's directory declared:-
"The Grand Aqueduct, called Nent Force Level, cut by order of the Trustees of the Hospital, extends to Nent Head, a distance of five miles underground. Several boats are kept in it, and guides are in readiness at any of the inns for those who wish to explore these subterransous wonders. Its mouth is near the town of Alston, where the River Nent forms a very romantic waterfall."
The Alston exit, Nent Force Level Portal, was destroyed by quarrying in the 20th century.

Wilkinson, Peter: 2001: Nent Force Level and Brewery Shaft: North Pennines Heritage Trust:: ISBN 0 9541845 0 5
Jenkins, Stanley C: 1991: Alston Branch, The: Oakwood Press (Headington, Oxfordshire):: ISBN 0 85361 400 8
: (19th century, late): Kelly's Directory of Cumberland

mapping:-    Nent Force Level Portal, Alston
 Jockeys Shaft, Alston
 Gossipgate Shaft, Alston Moor
 High Nent Force Shaft, Alston Moor
 Watergreens Shaft, Alston Moor
 Blagill Foot Shaft, Alston Moor
 Foreshield Shaft, Alston Moor
 Lovelady Shield Shaft, Alston Moor
 Nentsberry Haggs Shaft, Alston Moor
 Wellgill Shaft, Alston Moor
 Brewery Shaft, Nenthead

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