button to main menu  Old Cumbria Gazetteer
Old Brandley Mine, Above Derwent
Old Brandley Mine
Minersputt
site name:-   Skelgill Bank
locality:-   Brandelhow (?) 
civil parish:-   Above Derwent (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   lead mine
locality type:-   mine
coordinates:-   NY247204
1Km square:-   NY2420
10Km square:-   NY22
references:-   Adams, John: 1988: Mines of the Lake District Fells: Dalesman Books (Lancaster, Lancashire):: ISBN 0 85206 931 6

evidence:-   old text:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Old Brandley Mine
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 PST3p106, button  goto source
page 106:-  "OLD BRANDLEY (OR BRANDLEHOW) MINE."
"Is about half-a-mile north of Brandley Mine, and upon the same vein. It has been extensively wrought at the ridge of the mountain (Catbells), and for some distance below; and has no doubt produced a large quantity of ore; but at the lower part of the mountain the vein is contracted and poor."
"There is some doubt as to the validity of its claim to the appellation "Old," because it does not wear an appearance of greater antiquity than Brandley Mine. The ground which has been cut away at the ridge of the mountain has evidently been done before the use of gunpowder was known, and probably before Brandley was opened, but the remainder is of comparatively recent date. Under Keswick Mining Co., a lower level was driven for a distance of about 100 fathoms, for the purpose of cutting the deposits of ore which had been wrought above; but it has not been extended far enough, as will be seen from the section. The vein, however, is divided, and there is"
image PST3p108, button  goto source
page 108:-  "some doubt as to whether or not the level has been driven upon the branch from which the ore was obtained above."
"On the western side of Catbells (Skelgill Bank) there are traces of a number of old open-works on the course of the vein, but they cannot have penetrated far into the mountain as very little debris has been brought out."

evidence:-   old map:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Old Brandley 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
PST2NY21.jpg
"Old Brandley Mine"
mine symbol 
item:-  JandMN : 162.2
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   mine drawing:- KDMRS 1979-82
placename:-  Old Brandlehow Mine
item:-  Coates Level
item:-  quartz
source data:-   Geological Outing of the Kendal and District Mine Research Society to Old Brandley Mine, Above Derwent
image  click to enlarge
KMR34.jpg
"OLD BRANDLEHOW MINE / No2 LEVEL"
image  click to enlarge
KMR35.jpg
"OLD BRANDLEHOW MINE"
item:-  private collection : 82
Image © see bottom of page

:-  
East flank of Skelgill Bank. An early mine. Abandoned about 1873.
Brandlehow Lode, argentiferous galena, blende, cerussite in quartz and baryte, includes flourite.
This mine could be the elizabethan workings called Minersputt.

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

button to lakes menu  Lakes Guides menu.