Been a while since I've posted a report so I thought I might as well do one. Some of the photos are not great as they are just quick phone snaps as I wasn't planning to write a report on it.
This is mainly about Ecton mines but I've thrown another small one in nearby as it's really not worth its own report.
History:
Ecton hill was worked for copper from the Bronze age until 1891, a period of 3500+ years. As is usual in the mining business many people lost a fortune in the devolpment of the mine, the duke of Devonshire who owned the mine in the 18th Century made hundreds of thousands of pounds from the mine. In its heyday it was the deepest mine in Britain, dropping 300ft to the river lever and then another 1,000 below that. In 1788 a Boulton and Watt engine was installed on top of the hill, the engine house still survives and is believed to be the oldest remaining engine house for winding out ore. Ecton is one of the earliest mines in Britain to use gunpowder to blast (from 1660 onwards.) From 1814 underground steam engines were used to pump out water which used the older workings to vent steam out to the surface.
Copper reserves began to run out in the early 19c forcing miners to do costly development work to try and find ore. In the first quarter of the 19th century the Duke amalgamated all the workings on Ecton hill in his quest to save to costs and find more ore. From the 1850s the deep level was allowed to flood up to river level, the mine then closed in 1890.
Wiki
The main Ecton mines were:
- Ecton Deep Level
- Clayton mine
- Bag mine
- Chadwicks Mine
- Water Bank mine
Diagram from: Here
Ecton Copper mines is now looked after by the Ecton mine Educational trust who also control underground access.
Gated entranace to Apes Tor level, the gate was open but the shaft is concreted over but Its still open to the surface.
The National trust information board
The house on the path up the hill. I think this was either a managers house or a workshop for the mine.
The entrance the Clayton mine next to the road
On top of the hill there is many open shafts/workings which go deep into the hillside. In the background you can see the 1788 winding house which had a shaft next to it (now capped) The hole in the foreground is where the copper deposit reach the surface. (See map above)
The next staft along, in the foreground is the remains of the shaft down to Clayton mine with the workings up to the surface behind. In the background is the beautiful Manifold valley, at the bottom is the river and the mine continues a further 1000ft below that.
I didn't walk up the hill on this occasion and I can't find the ones from a previous visit so now we head down the hill towards Dutchmans level.
The gated level is located above a spoil heap halfway up the hill. It's sealed and I believe it provides water to the houses below.
There is also this structure which is part of the ore process. The area is marked 'old smelting tanks' on OS maps.
WHEY LEVEL(Birches Level)
The only readily accessible level at Ecton is the Whey level which was originally known as Birches level. It is just a straight tunnel with no other workings so I assume it was probably a trial. It was later used by the Creamery at Ecton to store Whey.
It's right next to the road with a stile outside so it's got of load of crap in it. Inside there are remains of the walls that were used to contain the Whey as well as 'tide lines' on the wall marking how deep it was.
Swainsley Copper mine
A short distance down the road is Swainsley Wood copper mine, I can't find any information about it but due to its short length I assume somebody was trying to cash in on the wealth at Ecton.
Inside is some very cold waist deep water, luckily I had some waders in the car.
I did take some more picture, I just wish I knew where they were!
This is mainly about Ecton mines but I've thrown another small one in nearby as it's really not worth its own report.
History:
Ecton hill was worked for copper from the Bronze age until 1891, a period of 3500+ years. As is usual in the mining business many people lost a fortune in the devolpment of the mine, the duke of Devonshire who owned the mine in the 18th Century made hundreds of thousands of pounds from the mine. In its heyday it was the deepest mine in Britain, dropping 300ft to the river lever and then another 1,000 below that. In 1788 a Boulton and Watt engine was installed on top of the hill, the engine house still survives and is believed to be the oldest remaining engine house for winding out ore. Ecton is one of the earliest mines in Britain to use gunpowder to blast (from 1660 onwards.) From 1814 underground steam engines were used to pump out water which used the older workings to vent steam out to the surface.
Copper reserves began to run out in the early 19c forcing miners to do costly development work to try and find ore. In the first quarter of the 19th century the Duke amalgamated all the workings on Ecton hill in his quest to save to costs and find more ore. From the 1850s the deep level was allowed to flood up to river level, the mine then closed in 1890.
Wiki
The main Ecton mines were:
- Ecton Deep Level
- Clayton mine
- Bag mine
- Chadwicks Mine
- Water Bank mine
Diagram from: Here
Ecton Copper mines is now looked after by the Ecton mine Educational trust who also control underground access.
Gated entranace to Apes Tor level, the gate was open but the shaft is concreted over but Its still open to the surface.
The National trust information board
The house on the path up the hill. I think this was either a managers house or a workshop for the mine.
The entrance the Clayton mine next to the road
On top of the hill there is many open shafts/workings which go deep into the hillside. In the background you can see the 1788 winding house which had a shaft next to it (now capped) The hole in the foreground is where the copper deposit reach the surface. (See map above)
The next staft along, in the foreground is the remains of the shaft down to Clayton mine with the workings up to the surface behind. In the background is the beautiful Manifold valley, at the bottom is the river and the mine continues a further 1000ft below that.
I didn't walk up the hill on this occasion and I can't find the ones from a previous visit so now we head down the hill towards Dutchmans level.
The gated level is located above a spoil heap halfway up the hill. It's sealed and I believe it provides water to the houses below.
There is also this structure which is part of the ore process. The area is marked 'old smelting tanks' on OS maps.
WHEY LEVEL(Birches Level)
The only readily accessible level at Ecton is the Whey level which was originally known as Birches level. It is just a straight tunnel with no other workings so I assume it was probably a trial. It was later used by the Creamery at Ecton to store Whey.
It's right next to the road with a stile outside so it's got of load of crap in it. Inside there are remains of the walls that were used to contain the Whey as well as 'tide lines' on the wall marking how deep it was.
Swainsley Copper mine
A short distance down the road is Swainsley Wood copper mine, I can't find any information about it but due to its short length I assume somebody was trying to cash in on the wealth at Ecton.
Inside is some very cold waist deep water, luckily I had some waders in the car.
I did take some more picture, I just wish I knew where they were!
